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Transit ready to rough it
Page 20
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• Ford is set to join the fourwheel-drive panel-van market with a Transit using a fullyengaged 4x4 system similar to that of the Sierra saloon.
While the County Tractors conversion will continue for those operators requiring a vehicle suitable for more severe off-road conditions, the new Transit is 'likely to follow the new range of SEVEL 4 x 4s in having a wider range of applications.
Ford's director of CV sales, Dr John Hackworth, predicted last week that the new Transit variant should surface in one to two years.
The move ties in with earlier reports that a Transit with a Sierra-type 4x4 system was on trial with the police. The Sierra utilises a viscous coupling as an inter-axle diff lock, and has a permanent 33/66 front/rear torque split. This makes it different from the SEVEL 4 x4s, which use the viscous coupling both as the diff-lock and as the means of splitting the torque.
Using such a system should enable the Transit to appeal to a wider range of customers than are catered for by the County conversion: the 4 x4 Sierra should allow the occasional off-road excursions, as well as improving all-weather on-road handling. Another benefit over the County system is likely to be a bigger range of models, as the County is restricted to van or chassis-cab versions of the LWB 160 model. The new Transit should be cheaper too — the County conversion adds over £5,000 to the cost of a standard Transit.