So it's not just the end of diesels in Ford vans, but the end of Ford vans altogether!

Dodge no longer sells the Sprinter, which is now available from Mercedes and Freightliner dealers. But despite the Sprinter's claimed GCWR, it is certainly not in the same class as GM's 3500 van.


Ford officially kills E-series/Econoline, replaces with Transit van
http://jalopnik.com/5866019/ford-officially-kills-e+serieseconoline-replaces-with-transit-van
http://www.autorentalnews.com/Blog/Auto-Focus/Story/2011/12/Why-is-Ford-Killing-the-E-Series.aspx
http://media.ford.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=35710


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Transit
Ford Transit 2006–present (Europe)
Engine 2.2L Duratorq TDCi I4
2.4L Duratorq TDCi I4
3.2L Duratorq TDCi I5
2.3L Duratec I4[18]
Transmission 5-speed manual
6-speed manual
Wheelbase 147.6 in (3,749 mm) – 170.0 in (4,318 mm)
Width 80.0 in (2,032 mm)
Curb weight 1,800 kg (3,968 lb) (2.2L Duratorq, medium wheelbase, medium roof, panel van)

Ford Transit 2013 "prototype" (North America: T-Series)
Mark 8; Eighth Generation

From launch, the Transit has never been officially sold in North America — despite the third generation being largely developed in Dearborn by Ford of Europe engineers. The model's only foray into the Americas so far has been in Mexico where the Transit debuted in 2007. Ford has stated that the eighth generation Transit platform will be global, also acting as a replacement for the long running E-Series (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_E-Series) range in the United States and Canada.[22] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Transit#cite_note-21)

In October 2011, Ford confirmed the North American version, as the United Auto Workers (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Auto_Workers) revealed the retooling of the facility in Kansas City, Missouri (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kansas_City_Assembly) for its assembly. Ford also registered trademark applications for Ford T-250, T-350, T-450, and T-550, which indicates that the Transit will likely follow the same naming scheme as the E-Series to differentiate itself from the smaller, mechanically unrelated Transit Connect (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Transit_Connect) that was introduced in North American in 2010.[/URL] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Transit#cite_note-Car_and_Driver-22)

Due to its four cylinder (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Straight-4) diesel engines, manual transmission (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manual_transmission), lower weight and more aerodynamic design, the Transit is considerably more fuel efficient, although less powerful than the E-Series, which is a mainstay with a V8 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V8_engine) and automatic transmission (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automatic_transmission). Currently the E-Series competes in North America with the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercedes-Benz_Sprinter)—one of the Transit's main rivals in Europe.

In September of 2011 a prototype Transit was spotted in the Austrian Alps being road tested.
[url]http://www.secretnewcars.com/SpyShots/All-new_Ford_Transit_is_a_worldcar
http://www.carsales.com.au/news/2011/commercial/ford/transit/spy-pics-nextgen-transit-26938
"The upcoming seventh-generation Transit marks Ford's 40-year quest to develop and offer a single global van and will be offered with a range of four and five-cylinder petrol and turbodiesel engines. These will range in capacity from 2.3 to 3.2-litres."

E series cutaways will be available until at least 2016.

And...unless Ford does some serious engineering to beef up the Euro design..it ain't gonna fly here with a lot of the typical Ford Van customers.

I have seen several of the North American versions running around Michigan with sensors hung everywhere, MI manufacturer plates and a passenger sitting staring at a laptop while it drives about. Any of the versions I have seen make that Sprinter POS from Benz look downright brawny.

Having experienced the "joys" of Sprinter ownership...I will never buy any commercial vehicle that does not have a real frame and is built with "car" parts. What good is all that space if you cant haul any serious weight or run it reliably for a few hundred thousand miles.

Wentzville Missouri rocks!

E series cutaways will be available until at least 2016.

And...unless Ford does some serious engineering to beef up the Euro design..it ain't gonna fly here with a lot of the typical Ford Van customers Ford appears to be giving up whatever part of the van market that has heavier duty requirements than small parcel delivery (which probably is well over half the US van market).
One of those articles mentioned that individuals accounted for only 5% of Ford van sales.

I can see Ford keeping the cutaways around for a while, but that's a low volume segment too, which on its own probably can't justify van production, especially considering that niche can also be served by cab & chassis trucks.

I looked at the Sprinters when Dodge first started selling them, and though I really liked the oem high roof, after one good long look underneath them I decided they were way too light duty for me to consider, regardless of their claimed GCWR (higher than a GM 1500 van with twice the horsepower). Also, I figured that service support would likely be poor, and junkyard parts non-existent.

I would not be surprised in the future if GM gives us the boot. Chassis cab truck with a cube might be our only option. I hope not.

Fuel mileage requirements for trucks are going to prove to be very tough for vans and trucks of all types. I worked at the Wentzville plant for many years and have owned a lot of vans. Wentzville will be making the new replacement for the Colorado in a few years and I'll bet that is when Gm will look at the future of full sized vans. My van years cover model years 1964 through my last van which was a 1997. Went to fifth wheels and pickups. I had the hippie vans in the 60s and 70s and then started pulling trailers with them. I have a real soft spot for Chevy vans. Lots of changes and progress through the years. Me and the vans :D.

Fuel mileage requirements for trucks are going to prove to be very tough for vans and trucks of all types. I worked at the Wentzville plant for many years and have owned a lot of vans. Wentzville will be making the new replacement for the Colorado in a few years and I'll bet that is when Gm will look at the future of full sized vans. My van years cover model years 1964 through my last van which was a 1997. Went to fifth wheels and pickups. I had the hippie vans in the 60s and 70s and then started pulling trailers with them. I have a real soft spot for Chevy vans. Lots of changes and progress through the years. Me and the vans :D.

Been a long time since I have delivered anything to the plant. I use to get a kick out of telling my van that this is where you were born, you have come home (tear in eye). Then teasing it that maybe I will just leave you here and pick up a shiny new one. I know I am crazy. LOL :D

Funny you should mention that. I had to go to Minnesota to get my van, then drove right past the Wentzville plant on the way back!

geez. used prices are too high right now. Just as I'm getting close to buying.

I talked to some suits at both Ford and Dodge at press day at the Detroit Auto show. Both said they have some things in the pipeline for full size diesel vans. Ford said they know they lost some customers and hope to get them and more back with what they have coming out. Neither Ford nor Dodge would spill the beans on exacts.

you will likely see gm drop the heavy vans in the future as well. i upfit alot of ambulance bodies, and havent had an order for a cutaway van in almost a year as most of my costumers are switching from e-350's to 3500hd chevy chassis cabs or international loprofile medium duty trucks. the van style vehicle just doesnt sell enough to mainstream costumers to justify building it, much the same as the 4500 and 5500 trucks.

As much as I'd hate to be in that position....if GM foolishly follows the "Euro Van" route, I will also have to find a way to make a 3500 cab n' chassis work for what I do somehow. I hope GM see's the need for a real HD van and van chassis instead of going with the tin can unibody Euro crap. I don't want a car under my van...I want a truck.

As much as I'd hate to be in that position....if GM foolishly follows the "Euro Van" route, I will also have to find a way to make a 3500 cab n' chassis work for what I do somehow. I hope GM see's the need for a real HD van and van chassis instead of going with the tin can unibody Euro crap. I don't want a car under my van...I want a truck.

Just keep the one you have now :D, Should get at least 10 more years of service out of it!!! When ya hit 2,400,000km, then you can worry about a GM not having a HD van. I have rethought my way of business, I will keep this van until at least 2015 (about 1 million miles) if I don't wreck it of course:eek:. We will see how it goes. No Euro trash for me!!!!!