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Making the hybrid FWD-only seems like a missed opportunity Wonder if they'll do a single cab with a longer bed

• mywittyname 5y ago
  It doesn't look like Ford offers AWD as an option on any of the Transit Connects. I suspect that fleet buyers don't care about AWD and aren't willing to pay the premium and fuel economy penalty for the option.
  • arprocter 5y ago
    I'm not really up to speed on Ford's AWD system, but if the frame already supports drive to the back axle then I would've thought RWD would be doable, and more desirable in a truck I guess it could be a limitation of the hybrid engine
    • throwaway0a5e 5y ago
      They're working with the Focus platform here. They don't have a drop in RWD drivetrain for that. It would be a substantial engineering effort. Releasing this vehicle for North America is already kind of a gamble and I'm not surprised they're being conservative and sticking to the existing drive-trains for that platform.
      • arprocter 5y ago
        The cynic in me thinks this will just allow them to drop the hybrid model when 'it sells badly', although I guess someone's buying FWD CR-Vs and RAV4s - they're both in the top 10 sellers
    • mywittyname 5y ago
      RWD is doable, but they'd have to completely redesign the transmission/hybrid system to accommodate AWD/RWD. And that would add a lot of costs. Ford uses a GKN differential in C2 AWD applications and it's not a cheap unit. FWD works just fine on the Transit Connect, which is what this is intended to compliment/replace. I've driven minivans loaded to the gills with crap and never found FWD to be a problem there.