FORD BRINGS CUSTOM TRANSIT CONNECT WAGONS TO MAKER FAIRE 2014; MAKERS GET A CHANCE TO MEET THE UNMINIVAN

May 14, 2014 by Ford

◾Two new custom Ford Transit Connect Wagons, Hackmobile and Happy Mutant Mobile, will be on display at Maker Faire – an all-ages event for the do-it-yourself enthusiast

◾Ford and MAKE magazine teamed up in the construction of Hackmobile, the ultimate Transit Connect Wagon for the do-it-yourselfer, and Happy Mutant Mobile, which was personalized for the Web-based magazine Boing Boing

◾All-new Ford Transit Connect Wagon, the #unminivan, is available as a five- or seven-seat vehicle that can be paired with one of two fuel-efficient engines – a 1.6-liter EcoBoost® or a 2.5-liter four-cylinder

Ford and MAKE magazine will show two creative takes on personalizing the all-new Transit Connect Wagon as part of Maker Faire, an all-ages event celebrating the do-it-yourself spirit.

MAKE magazine put on the first Maker Faire in 2006 in the San Francisco Bay Area, bringing together tech enthusiasts, crafters, educators, hobbyists, engineers and artists. It has since grown, with several Maker Faire events taking place around the world. Last year, about 195,000 people attended the two flagship Maker Faire events, held in San Francisco and New York. This year, Maker Faire events will take place in more than 60 cities in North America and beyond.

Hackmobile and Happy Mutant Mobile Transit Connect Wagons will make a public appearance on Thursday, May 15, at TechShop in San Francisco before going on display at Maker Faire, Saturday and Sunday, May 17 and May 18, at San Mateo Event Center in San Mateo, Calif. The vehicles will also be on display at Maker Faire in New York later this year.

'Transit Connect Wagon is exactly what customers want it to be,' said Minyang Jiang, brand manager for Ford Transit Connect Wagon. 'Whether it's used as a people mover or to carry cargo, the spirit of the vehicle is in how it can be transformed by its owners to express their passions. We think these two vehicles are a perfect example of the unminivan, of how to inspire the imagination in a new way.'

Hackmobile, a fabricating workshop on four wheels, was the winner of MAKE magazine's Ultimate Maker Vehicle Challenge, a competition that saw 10 teams vie to create the ultimate Ford Transit Connect Wagon for the do-it-yourself enthusiast. As part of winning the contest, Ford commissioned California-based builder CGS Motorsports to build Hackmobile.

The winning design team, Twin Cities Maker, is part of a Minnesota-based community nonprofit that operates a shop called Hack Factory, where members build projects and hold classes for the community.

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The concept was for a Transit Connect Wagon to be designed and built around a machine the team dubbed 'The Fabber' due to its use as a multipurpose tool in fabricating. Hackmobile has shelving and storage for tools to do woodworking, metalworking and 3D fabrication.

Happy Mutant Mobile was developed in collaboration with MAKE magazine and Boing Boing, a Web-based magazine devoted to technology and culture.

Boing Boing's editors designed Happy Mutant Mobile to be as original as its name, serving as an official vehicle for the site.

The custom-designed exterior features a large screen that can roll down to show outdoor movies, a hood ornament that blows bubbles and LED signs mounted to the roof.

The interior is decorated in dark custom woodwork and green leather upholstery. It houses a mix of oddities and knickknacks, a 3D printer, camera equipment, magazine rack and computer equipment.

Theresa Contreras of California-based LGE*CTS Motorsports, which served as builder on the project, said the whimsical design features, like the bubble machine on the hood, make it one of the most unique builds the team has worked on.

'Transit Connect is a great platform for any build of this magnitude, or for the weekend warrior, for that matter,' Contreras said. 'It's amazing that the minute everyone lays eyes on this vehicle, they start thinking about how they would use it. I've heard everything from office desks to mountain bikes to band equipment. The unminivan can be a vehicle for everyone.'

The 2014 Transit Connect Wagon went on sale in North America earlier this year as an affordable alternative to customers looking for something new and functional in a five- or seven-seat people mover. With its dual sliding side doors, fold-flat second- and third-row seating, a maximum payload of 1,270 pounds, more than 100 cubic feet of cargo space, choice of a rear liftgate or side-hinged cargo doors and a starting MSRP of around $25,000, Ford Transit Connect Wagon takes adaptability to a new level.

About MAKER MEDIA

Maker Media is a global platform for makers, connecting them with each other, and providing them with valuable resources, products and services. Through media, events and ecommerce, Maker Media serves a growing maker movement that is global in scope. Whether as hobbyists or professionals, makers are creative, resourceful and curious, developing projects that demonstrate new ways of interacting with the world around them. The launch of MAKE magazine in 2005, followed by Maker Faire in 2006, jumpstarted a worldwide Maker Movement, which is transforming innovation, culture and education. Maker Media also develops 'getting started' kits and books that are sold in its Maker Shed store as well as in retail channels. Maker Media spun out of O'Reilly Media on January 1st, 2013 and received venture funding from O'Reilly AlphaTech Partners, Floodgate Partners and Collaborative Fund. The company is located in Sebastopol, CA.

About Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 183,000 employees and 65 plants worldwide, the company's automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford and its products worldwide, please visit corporate.ford.com.