Tuesday 12th April 2011

Ford Unveils New Transit SuperSportVan

...and this one actually has some nifty under-bonnet poke

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Ford has revealed a unique Transit at the commercial vehicle show in Birmingham - the Transit SuperSportVan (SSV).

Now, there's a lot of love on PH for the humble Tranny (not that sort), - as our recent spot of a pristine Mk1 Transit proved - and faster versions of Ford's hauler have always appealed rather more.

Sadly, however, the SSV doesn't quite reach the heady heights of power and poke that the old Super Van series, which culminated back in the 90s with a 3.5-litre Cosworth F1-engined version with 650bhp.

But it is a rather more serious proposition than the recent Transit SportVans, which have basically been little more than a set of natty wheels and some sporty stripes. This is because Ford has taken the smallest, shortest and - crucially - lightest version of the Transit body, and plonked in its range-topping, five-cylinder, 3.2-litre, 200hp Duratorq TDCi engine, which normally serves in the 4.25-tonne Transit Jumbo (yes it really is called that).

Crucially, this chunky five-pot also delivers 347lb ft of torque between1700rpm and 2500rpm, which should make for some rather surprised hot hatches at your local traffic light GP. Shame it's only a one-off, really...

 

[TAHodgson]

Surely if someone REALLY wanted one of these, it wouldn't be too difficult to drop the larger engine into the smaller body?
Quite like the idea myself!

[Johnpidge]

White van man special

[v8will]

I think Ford seriously underestimate the market for vehicles such as this. At a sensible price of course.

[TheOrangePeril]

It's a shame that this road-sensible proposition is currently billed as a one-off. Why not chuck some monstrous 302 in there and make it a real beast with twice the power for the shows, and sell this one!?

p.s. "...smallest, shortes and - crucially..." letter t?

[130R]

This would be fairly humorous to drive, especially around warm hatch drivers and rep mobiles.

[Animala]

So Ford europe doesn't feel like remaking the Capri but they're pissing around making sports vans?

....awesome!!!

[louiebaby]

The 3.2l can also be had in the Medium Wheelbase, Medium Height van.

It doesn't look as cool, but it should still shift a bit...

[Fetchez la vache]

v8will said:

I think Ford seriously underestimate the market for vehicles such as this. At a sensible price of course.

Definitely!

[Riggers]

TheOrangePeril said:

It's a shame that this road-sensible proposition is currently billed as a one-off. Why not chuck some monstrous 302 in there and make it a real beast with twice the power for the shows, and sell this one!?

p.s. "...smallest, shortes and - crucially..." letter t?

...and now comes with an added letter 't'

[MB 1]

This is all we need...

Already agressive van drivers (ok not all of them) with more power not to let you past them. People carrier drivers are just as bad. Seems to be some sort of chip...

They forget they can't brake or handle properly.

[monthefish]

I'm confused.

Is this a production vehicle or a Supervan? (a la Supervan 1, Supervan 2 etc)


The article says "Ford has revealed a unique Transit" suggesting it is a one-off, but the performance stats are pretty pathetic compared to the preivous Supervans, suggesting a production run...

[camel_landy]

I'm guessing it's the combination of getting the various approvals whilst keeping it affordable might be one of the stumbling blocks... Hence the 'One-off'.

However, I wouldn't see a problem of Ford putting out the bits necessary, in kit form, for someone who wants to do the conversion themselves.

M

[Snoop Bagg]

monthefish said:

I'm confused.

Is this a production vehicle or a Supervan? (a la Supervan 1, Supervan 2 etc)


The article says "Ford has revealed a unique Transit" suggesting it is a one-off, but the performance stats are pretty pathetic compared to the preivous Supervans, suggesting a production run...

Bring back the Supervan, enough of this B.S. already!

[Goodfella 555]

MB 1 said:

People carrier drivers are just as bad. Seems to be some sort of chip...

Agreed with your point re people carriers, Zafira owners are generally completely pathetic in their behaviour... Disagree slightly with your point 'this is all we need' because there are many fairly quick vans already out there, i have seen countless Vitos and Sprinters doing over 100 on motorways...

[JRM Rossi]

You would never catch the ppppps then, the police cant catch them now in a diesel transit ! lol

[Liquid Knight]

Not a proper "SuperVan" is it? It's just a tweaked and painted stock shed. Wrong wheel drive as well.


Come on Ford make a proper "SuperVan" next time. 70's V8 power, 80's F1 power and so on not something we can buy where's the fun in that?

[renrut]

Is the 5 pot Duratorq related to the 5 pot in the ST and RS Focus? In which case why not go with a 300bhp petrol one? Or is petrol power no longer cool?

[Kidders]

renrut said:

Is the 5 pot Duratorq related to the 5 pot in the ST and RS Focus? In which case why not go with a 300bhp petrol one? Or is petrol power no longer cool?

Its not related, it is literally a 5 pot version of the 4 cylinder Duratorq Puma already in the Transit. It was originally destined to go into a Jag before they used the PSA based 2.7 V6.

This must be RWD, as the Jumbo version is, unless they have used a gearbox with enough strength to take the torque in a FWD configuration.

[SimonSaid]

No no no, this isn't right at all.

THIS is a Supervan goddamnit!



Best of the three (now four-ish) I reckon, though in part due to favourite-Matchbox-toy emotional bias.

[pSyCoSiS]

The 90s one was definitely the best version!