New Ford Transit Skeletal Chassis Cab Delivers Low Load Floor For Easier Deliveries And 200Kg Additional Payload

by Ford | July 27, 2018

•New Transit chassis cab derivative with a special low-height chassis is ideal for conversions requiring a low load floor for easy access

•Skeletal chassis also delivers 200kg weight saving over standard chassis cab for enhanced payload and reduced cost of ownership

•Transit skeletal chassis cab is available to order now from Ford's network of 115 UK Transit centres

BRENTWOOD, Essex, July 27, 2018 – Ford has introduced a new Transit skeletal chassis cab derivative that provides a versatile, low-height platform for a wide variety of body conversions – ideal for applications ranging from general delivery and distribution to removals.

The new skeletal Transit offers a 100mm lower chassis height than the standard front-wheel drive chassis cab model, providing easier access to the load floor. A lower step height also removes the need for a separate tail lift. It is available to order now from Ford's national network of 115 Transit Centres.

With a 200kg weight reduction compared to the equivalent chassis cab, the optimised design of the skeletal chassis also provides operators with a significant payload advantage – particularly in combination with lightweight body conversions – in addition to the potential for enhanced fuel efficiency.

The skeletal chassis derivative will build on the success of the Transit two-tonne model, which continues to generate increased demand in the UK and across Europe. Transit has achieved 52,000 sales for 2018 year-to-date, 20,000 of those in the UK alone.

'Ford's Transit is already legendary for its huge range of body styles, drivelines and size variants, and this new model takes our offering a significant step further,' said Hans Schep, general manager, Commercial Vehicles, Ford of Europe. 'The new Transit skeletal chassis opens up exciting new opportunities for grocery delivery vehicles and other low-floor body conversions where ease of access is paramount.'

The skeletal chassis model is based on a front-wheel drive Transit platform, and features an open-backed cab design that supports easy walk-through from the cab to the load space of the converted body.

Customers can specify a choice of three different wheelbase lengths to suit a variety of body conversions, with a wide-track rear axle for the longest variant and an optional wide-track rear axle for the 2 shorter variants. All versions offer a gross vehicle mass of 3.5 tonnes.

The Transit skeletal chassis derivative is offered with Ford's powerful and fuel efficient 2.0-litre EcoBlue diesel engine in 130PS or 170PS outputs, paired with a standard six-speed manual transmission. Customers can also choose a six-speed automatic transmission, ideally suited to urban delivery applications.

Photo credit: Ford
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