Earlier today, a report surfaced following a meeting between Ford and its dealer network, one that reportedly showed off a number of future models via renderings, photos, and mock-ups. This included a variety of potential Ford Mustang variants, including a four-door sedan, an off-road-focused model, an RTR-modified EcoBoost, and a possible Shelby GT500 replacement. However, those dealers were also shown something else that’s rather interesting – a small van based on the Ford Maverick compact pickup.
According to Automotive News, a physical prototype of this Ford Maverick based van was actually pushed on stage, after which the automaker informed dealers that it was slated to debut as early as 2025. FoMoCo didn’t share timing in terms of production or even what this mysterious van might be called, but did note that it’s slated to replace the Transit Connect, which was discontinued in North America following the 2023 model year.
Previously, Ford planned to build a next-generation Transit Connect at the Hermosillo Assembly Plant in Mexico alongside the Ford Bronco Sport and Ford Maverick, as Ford Authority reported in 2021, which was slated to ride on the C2 platform that underpins both of those models. However, Ford ultimately decided not to pursue that avenue amid falling compact van sales in the U.S.
Regardless, the Transit Connect lives on in Europe, albeit as what is essentially a rebadged Volkswagen model stemming from the partnership agreement those two automakers forged a few years ago. In the meantime, there are still around 1,000 new, last-gen Ford Transit Connect models for sale at various dealers across the U.S., as Ford Authority recently reported, giving those in the market for a small Blue Oval van the chance to get one before this new Maverick-based model arrives.
We’ll have more on this new van soon, so be sure and subscribe to Ford Authority for around-the-clock Ford news coverage.
Comments
And of course it will come with a huge price raise. Its genius though. DIY people will really love it because you can lock your tools inside
Didn’t the article say small van sales were declining. So why bring out this vehicle when Ford had the top selling small van with the Transit?
Farley … don’t wait till 2025, do it now !
You do realize it takes more than the wave of a hand to make an entirely new vehicle and put it into production, right? Evidently, not.
The van is already for sale in the EU. In France it’s called the Tourneo Connect … consider the hand waved. Only problem … manufacturing capacity, been writing for the auto/farm equipment industry for over 45 years … Ford has got to get it’s act together and stop the shared platform factory as is the problem in Mexico where both the Bronco Sport an Maverick. Ford owned the Mini-Van business in the last two models years of the Transit Connect … Farley has got to make the decision to start production, or do as in the past import from Turkey where the production once was. Next thing Farley needs to grasp is you can’t SUV your way to financial security … the Chevy Trax and two Buicks the Invista an Encore GX are proof of that … the three mentioned are actually station wagons, not SUVs, and are why they are so popular. I’m about to take delivery on a Trax in the next few days, as far as the Insurance companies are concerned they are station wagons and on your state license plate registration card named as such. Been driving a ’13 C-Max (bought new) and it was marketed as a SUV/Crossover … Progressive insurance for 11+ years … calls it a station wagon. The Trax has the same interior volume as the Ford Escape, and my LT Trax cost close to $9,000,00 less. Soon GM will start talking about the Chevy Montana that currently is sold in the South American market, the Montana shares the same platform as the Trax … wife wants one now. I surprised the Montana isn’t being sold today as it’d help with GM’s CAFE numbers and when it was designed was built for the US market … again, a wave of the hand and it’d be for sale in the States. In closing this … I’d prefer a new Transit Connect, they (FMC) likes to play games about new models and when they will be available, and I committed to the Chevy. Unlike Ford when I commit to a deal I follow thru. If I could speak 1 on 1 w/Farley … I’d tell him it’s harder to revive a past vehicle name plate than to keep it around. International Harvester in the past marketed a tractor family call the McCormic Deering (long before John Deere began tractors) that sold well into the 1970’s … they dropped the line when Case/IH began … a foreign company bought the McCormic branding as done well with it, but it took close to 10 years to get the brand recognition it deserves, today they are a big thorn in Case/IH’s side. The Transit Connect name is still around, had Farmey waited longer it’s be hard, might still be.
As mentioned in the article the one they sell in Europe is a rebadged VW. The gov’t closed the loophole that Ford used to avoid the chicken tax on the previous version so no they can’t import the European version.
Because it is a VW there is no plant in the US that is set up to make it and it would be too low volume to support a line on its own. That is why the Bronco Sport and Maverick came to be, the thought that between the 3 there would be enough volume to make a plant profitable. Well the Bronco Sport and Maverick both sold more than originally expected. Now that they have added a 3rd shift to that plant there is some capacity to make the Transit a worth while endeavor. The fact that Nissan and Ram have dropped their vans means that they will once again be the only game in town.
This van’s design was ready to go to tooling for the 2024 model year. I doubt that they will do much tweaking of that design. So it should only require sending it to tooling, which yeah could take a year, hence the talk of bringing it to market in 2025, I’m guessing as a 2026 model.
One factor was the threat of strike when Ford said they would pull this out of Valencia, that plant also made engines which was the leverage. Then with the VW deal and the low volumes it had no champion in the US. This was well into development along with the Maverick, recall one hurdle was wagon version seating vs hybrid battery location, as marketing needed stow away 2nd row.
Well … decided to look at Ford of France’s website. It’s called the Tourneo Connect there an offered in long an short wheel based models. Also as a plug in hybrid. Ford, make this happen, make mine a SWB, plug in hybrid, in deep blue, XLT trim.
Tourneo Connect is based on VW MQB platform, not the Maverick platform.
I’m guessing what they’re looking at is more like the Transit Courier that was recently introduced in Europe.
This was supposed to happen earlier. Revamp of the Transit Connect, without really discontinuing it. Was to be moved to Mexico along side with the Sport, Escape, and Maverick, and share the same platform. Said it was scrapped because of declining sales of that segment. Give me a awd passenger van and I’m all in.
Many factors led to that decision, including the pandemic and unexpected popularity of the Maverick. If they’re *just now* able to meet Maverick demand, how do you think a less profitable van would’ve made it?
The Sport? Escape moved to Mexico? Put down the crack pipe.
There is no way in hell I would buy a rebadged VW. I’ll keep my 2021 Transit Connect Titanium passenger van. It replaced a 2003 Grand Caravan, so when the Transit is 18 years old, I’ll see what Ford has to offer then.
This won’t be a rebadged VW it will be based on Ford architecture and use Ford powertrains.
I would really love to see a hybrid Transit van on the Maverick platform. I have been considering a Maverick myself. I think Ford should do the AWD 4k towing package for Transit van and it becomes a perfect RV or family van to tow a small boat or trailer.