Ford has introduced the 2013 Transit Connect Wagon, which will be the first seven-seater "people mover" expected get more than 30 mpg on the highway and rated to haul 1,200 pounds of payload.
Beating its traditional minivan rivals on both efficiency and space, they hope to lure buyers who want an affordable vehicle that can efficiently transport people like a minivan.
The 2014 Ford Transit Connect Wagon will be offered with a choice of three trim levels (XL, XLT, Titanium) and two wheelbase lengths. The car can also tow up to 2,000 pounds and the interior offers more than 100 cubic feet of cargo space.
"It's anything but a minivan," said David Mondragon, Ford's general manager of marketing. "In our mind, it's a people mover. We think of it as more of a utility, or kind of a hybrid sport utility, than a minivan."
The customers will be able to choose from a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine (168 hp and 167 lb-ft of torque) and an optional 1.6-liter EcoBoost (produces 173 hp and 177 lb-ft of torque) with both of them being connected to a 6-speed automatic.
The 2014 Ford Transit Connect Wagon on display at the unveiling, one sported a bright red color and the other a lime green tint. Some features that will be available a full-glass panoramic roof, Sync with MyFord Touch, rear view camera, a 6.5-inch touch screen and an electric windshield defroster.
Ford will unveil the wagon to the public at the 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show, and begin shipments from the factory in Valencia, Spain, late next year.
[alert style="green"] 2014 Ford Transit Connect Wagon photos [/alert]
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