Zastava_101

http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/08/h...ling-e-series/

When it launches the North American Transit in 2013, Ford says the new van will be available in multiple body styles, with different roof heights and with multiple engine options, greatly expanding the choices available to its commercial customers. And those who just want to buy a plain, white E-Series will still be able to do so, as Ford will not be discontinuing the model, at least not initially.

"We have a transition plan," said Doug Scott, Ford Truck Group Marketing Manager, but he declined to specify how long Ford will continue to build the E-Series after the Transit goes on sale, saying only that selling both vehicles concurrently, "will give us enough time to prove out Transit and win [customers] over."

3Mach1

This should be interesting. I think Ford is full of it saying they will get 25 percent better mileage because of a scant 300 lbs drop in weight. There is more to it than that. I would bet you wont see a v8 offered but we will see. At some point you have to move on but this is a pretty big gamble because Ford owns this market.

I seem to remember the Sprinter van by Dodge was a pretty big flop.

hi5.0

Probably will have a EB engine of some sort to stay in line with Ford's goal of spreading Eco Boost throughout their vehicle range and upping its' CAFE. Hope Ford is right, considering the numbers of Transit Connect vehicles I see being used by businesses in my area.

Zastava_101

I'm sure we'll get the 3.7, 3.5 EB and 5.0.

Yep, but there are more reasons for that. It was available only with a long wheelbase, only engine choice was a I5 diesel, there was only a manual transmission I believe and it was close to $10,000 more expensive than the E-Series.

Flagstang

Why would they fix something that is working?

3Mach1

Rumor has it the 3.7 and an I5 Diesel will be the only offerings. The EB 3.5 has the power but its really no better on fuel than a 5.0 from what I have read on the truck forums. In fact, its worse when towing. If you make power your going to use fuel.

This change is part of the one Ford plan to limit platforms ect... Still seems like a bit of a gamble to me. I think it will get better fuel mileage but at what cost to towing ect... Sure seems less capable on paper but we will see.

Zastava_101

I think I read somewhere that 40% of all 2011 F-150s were 3.5L EcoBoosts.
So for whatever reason people are buying them.
I never drove one, but from what I have heard they have great below 2,000 RPM torque, almost like a diesel.
Plus, 3.5 EB does have 60 lb ft torque more than 5.0.

Moosetang

If T-Series can do everything E-series does, but more efficiently and with better use of company resources, why wouldn't you do it?

jsaylor

Zoran already hinted at this, but the 3.5L EB is not a 5.0L equivalent in terms of power. What the 3.5L EB brings to the table is ~6.2L Boss level power at ~5.0L fuel economy levels. And worth mentioning here is that the 3.5L EB gets a lot better fuel economy than the 6.2L does in everyday driving.

So, for those who don't feel as though they have to have a V8, and who don't need the power of the 6.2L all the time but who do need it occasionally, the 3.5L is a viable solution that the market seems to have embraced.

As for the Transit, the lukewarm reception the Sprinter vans received on our shores has, at times, made me worry about how well the market will receive this fan. That said, the Transit was designed in Dearborn and is, in its own way, a 21st century E-Series. I do worry about the loss of some of the more powerful engine options the E-Series has offered, but the truth is take rate on these seems to be rather low in more recent years.

ford20

I would expect initial numbers to be low but once people warm up to it and get used to the design of it and the EB proves its self I think they will start to sell as much as the E-Series eventually. I see ADT security systems using the Transit Connects and in NYC I do see a bunch of them, not as many as the E-Series but a decent amount none the less.

97GT12

Corporate Average Fuel Economy.

Ford has to pick and choose what models won't continue and which will continue in what form.

Zastava_101

They could've developed a new E-Series based on F-150.
Transit is not gonna be any more economical than the F-150.

97GT12

CAFE is a game of fractions. Ford would likely aim to maximize F150 sales. To do that it has to sacrifice other models. Every econoline sold for low margin is one less F-150 sold at higher margin.

Moosetang

Don't forget F-150 is getting a massive overhaul in the next few years. I wouldn't be surprised if the next-gun F-150 and T-series of that time did share a great deal.

RocketmanF

Didn't sell numbers like the e-series, but who does? Fed-Ex thought it was right on and it got 27-mpg (actual, as claimed). I have seen some that are starting to develop what looks like some type of paint/rustproofing defect.

RocketmanF

Yep, but there are more reasons for that. It was available only with a long wheelbase, only engine choice was a I5 diesel, there was only a manual transmission I believe and it was close to $10,000 more expensive than the E-Series.[/QUOTE]

"Long ver only" Wrong.
In 2003, it was available in 118", 144" and 158" WB with 16', 18.5' and and 21.5' lengths. This combined with 2 different roof heights for 5 total models. I can't find inside cargo dimensions.
The newer generation, using 2007 for an example, the non-dually rear version was available in 144 and 170 WB with 3 different lengths and 3 different heights (had a "mega roof"! available) for a total of 5 different non-dually wheeled models. The inside cargo legths were 10.5', 14' and 15.4'+. Ford and GM typically offer 9.5' and 11' cargo lengths. The 10' sprinter minimum seems smart considering the number of things that are 10' long, like pipe/conduit.

"only engine choice was a I5 diesel" Correct.
Initially, I5 2.7L diesel was only engine. 27 mpg AVG was do-able (puts my current 5.4L Gas Triton, E-350 XLT Super Duty Extended vers. 14mpg highway to shame). I read a review where they were throwing it around and getting 30 mpg.

"there was only a manual transmission I believe". LOL Wrong, Are you thinking of a UPS truck? 5-spd auto w/OD transmission. It was called a manumatic, since in drive you could do the tiptronic thing and shift up or down by bumping the shifter left or right. I found that quite useful when I drove one through the Great Smokey Mountains. (For downhill. For Uphill, I just set the cruise and it would pull all day at 65/70 without downshifting)

"it was close to $10,000 more expensive than the E-Series". It WAS more expensive and the price went up fast in the following years. I can't say how much more when comparing apples to apples, since last I looked, the diesel engine option in a GM van was a $9,000 option. Just looked at 2012 and it's now more like +$11,000.
Found these price ranges for the Dodge:
2003 $26-32K
2006 $29-35K
2007 $32-38K
2009 $38-45K

Sales were about 20,000 units per year.

New Mercedes only version suppossed to have 3.0L diesel.

I found that there is a Mexican version of the sprinter with a V-12! in it from the Mercedes S-Class (along with beefier trans). It's called the Sprinter-E (Especial :-0). Used for Police and heavy duty (like smuggling illegals)

happy hauling