2010 Ford Transit Connect

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The Transit Connect is a cross between a truck and an SUV. It is a kind of traveling billboard. With its payload capacity of 1600 pounds and over 135 cubic feet of cargo space, the Transit Connect is to your business what the pony was to the Pony Express.

Two sliding side doors and two swing rear doors makes Transit Connect easily accessible for side and rear loading heights.

There are scores of ways to put Ford’s new Transit Connect to use. Whether you are making deliveries, providing a service, hauling children, or moving the in-laws, Transit Connect is there for you.

Wow, does Transit Connect get your attention. You can advertise your business with full body graphics. Talk about having a great profile.

The Transit Connect is street smart, and bred for the city. It slides into parking spaces with little or no care; 39 feet turn curb-to-curb and a height of 6 ft. 8 inches gives it an additional advantage. This vehicle has an attitude matched by fuel economy over 20 mpg, with a price starting around $20,000.

Peter Ulrich runs an upscale floral shop in Dallas, Texas. On the day I drove the Transit Connect, we visited. He had been test-driving the vehicle for some time. “Transit Connect allows me to park nearly anywhere, making deliveries easy whether at a curb or in an alley,” he said.

Transit Connect can carry items up to 6 feet long, or 4 ft 9 inches wide or 4 feet 7 inches tall. Rear doors open wide (180 degrees standard, 255 degrees optional). The 2- passenger XL or XLT van is great for storage. The XL can be 4-passenger and the XLT wagon is 5-passenger.    

Bronwen Weber is a wedding cake designer in Dallas, Texas. Her business, Frosted Art Bakery, has been test-driving the Transit Connect. “The Transit is configured so my cakes can ride smoothly and safely to their destination. The cake, along with all the serving instruments, packs nicely and conveniently in to the truck.” Weber goes on to say that the Transit is the perfect option between a small SUV and large commercial van. She took me out to the vehicle and showed me just how her beautiful cakes fit into the Transit Connect safely and made-to-order fresh, ready for delivery. “Since my favorite color is pink, I just may wrap my delivery van in pink,” she said.

Voice command navigation and keyboard are included with the Ford Work Solution, along with in-dash window CE computer. This system acts like your mobile office when you are away from your real one.

The 2.0 L Duratec 1-4 engine puts out the power to deliver projected best-in-class fuel economy. Convenient, time saving, and economical, all associated with a rolling billboard; these factors make Transit Connect the kind of delivery wagon your small or large business needs in this tight economy.

Durhl Caussey writes an auto column read around the world. He may be reached at this newspaper or dcaussey@sbcglobal.net .