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!