Ford Reveals First Transit Connect LPG

• Factory fit 1.8 Petrol/LPG bi-fuel 115 PS engine with three year/100,000 miles warranty

• Estimated on-the-road retail prices start at £10,122 (excl VAT and after powershift grant)
• Choice of three models, in short and long wheelbases, available to order now
• All models are exempt from London congestion charges
• With LPG now available on all Transit and Transit Connect vans and chassis cabs, Ford has the largest range of commercial vehicles with petrol/LPG bi-fuel engines

The first Ford Transit Connect petrol/liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) bi-fuel reached Britain today. The addition of three Transit Connect LPG models to Ford's commercial vehicle range means that Ford can help operators meet their environmental commitments, not only for fuel use but noise too.

The LWB Transit Connect is the only vehicle available in its market segment as a petrol model. No other vehicle in this size comes as a factory fit petrol/LPG bi-fuel, even as an aftermarket option.

"With congestion charging and nearly 1300 LPG filling stations across Britain, demand for LPG is clearly increasing amongst our customers, fleets and owner-operators alike," said Gary Whittam, commercial vehicles director, Ford of Britain.

"Current demand is around four per cent of our overall sales, but with our factory produced LPG models, covered by our comprehensive warranties and specialist dealer back up, we are well placed to grow with this emerging segment," he concluded.

The fuel tank holds 59 litres of fuel (47 litres usable). It is located in the spare wheel recess and the spare wheel is fixed to the load area side wall on the left hand side. Servicing is the same as petrol models, every 12,500 miles or 12 months.

The 1.8 petrol/LPG bi-fuel 115PS engine comes in three Transit Connect models: T200 SWB, T200 SWB LX, T210 LWB. The engine has a hardened valvetrain for extended durability with LPG operation and a new intake manifold system with a production-fit secondary injector system. All models are in Band 4 on the Powershift register that means they are exempt from congestion charging.

Transit Connect LPG is priced at £1,800 over the equivalent petrol models. After applying for the 70 per cent Powershift grant, the customer cost is £40 over the diesel models. With LPG at around half the price of diesel, operators can be saving after a few hundred miles of use, and that's before any congestion charge savings.

Customers can choose all the options and features available on petrol or diesel Transit Connects, enhancing their chances of finding a dependable vehicle to operate their business.