The new Ford Transit City is the fifth member of the Blue Oval’s growing range of Transit-branded commercial vans, which include (in descending size order) the Transit, Transit Custom, Transit Connect, and Transit Courier.
While all previous Transit models exist in different size classes, the Transit City is roughly the same size as the Transit Custom.
Unlike the Custom, however, the City is offered exclusively with an electric drivetrain, and will be made by Ford’s Chinese joint-venture partner JMC (Jiangling Motors Corporation) in Nanchang.
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The City is based on the JMC Touring EV. While the two share a platform and hard points, the Transit City has unique exterior panels with cleaner body surfaces, and new headlight and tail-light units that are more in keeping with other Transit models.
Inside the cabin there are fewer changes, but the Transit City benefits from a larger 12.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support. Standard features include push-button start, air-conditioning, rear-view camera, and a heated driver’s seat.
Ford says the two vans also have different drive units and battery packs, with the Transit City available, initially at least, with just one drivetrain and battery combo. Under the bonnet there’s a 110kW motor driving the front wheels and this is paired with a 56kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery that lives in the floor.
Ford claims the LFP chemistry is well suited to van life as degradation is minimal even with regular DC fast-charging. The Transit City supports DC charging at up to 87kW and is expected to have a WLTP range of around 254km.
For comparison, the similarly sized E-Transit Custom has a 160kW/415Nm motor driving the rear wheels, and a 64kWh battery pack with a WLTP range rating just a smidge over 300km.
There will be three body styles: L1H1 (short wheelbase, regular height); L2H2 (medium wheelbase, tall roof); and cab chassis.
According to Ford the maximum payload is 1275kg, with the L2H2 variant featuring a load length of over 3.0m and a cargo volume of 8500L.
Although the order book for the Transit City will open soon, pricing has yet to be confirmed, although Autocar understands the range will start at under £30,000 (A$57,700).
If true, it will significantly undercut the existing E-Transit Custom that kicks off at £43,630 (A$84,000). Indeed, it will be cheaper than the diesel Transit Custom, which begins at £33,750 (A$65,000) in the UK.
Deliveries of the Transit City will begin arriving in the UK around the end of the year.