Ford Adds All-Wheel Drive, New Engines for 2020 Transit Van

Upgrades to the new 2020 Ford Transit van include an all-wheel-drive option, new 2.0-liter EcoBlue diesel, new 3.5-liter PFDi V6 gasoline engine, new 10-speed automatic transmission, plus a standard FordPass Connect modem with 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot.

The 2020 Ford Transit offers a remarkable number of vehicle configurations. In addition to cargo van, passenger van, chassis cab and cutaway, a new crew van joins the lineup. It can carry five people in two rows of seating with side curtain airbags, tailored for owners who need to move larger crews plus gear to a job site.

Because work doesn’t stop when the weather gets bad, Transit offers an intelligent all-wheel-drive system that’s always on to provide enhanced traction on icy, snowy or muddy roads.

“We integrated Transit’s new all-wheel-drive system into the vehicle design early on to ensure it does not raise the load floor or seat height, making this van configuration as easy to enter and exit as the standard rear-wheel-drive model,” said Ray Eyles, Ford Transit chief program engineer.

In normal mode, this all-wheel-drive system continuously monitors and optimizes torque output with the capability of sending up to 100% of available torque to the front wheels to help prevent slipping on loose surfaces. Using the vehicle’s selectable drive modes, the driver can engage mud and ruts or slippery modes at any speed to help increase the all-wheel-drive system’s capability for traveling in challenging conditions. All-wheel drive is available with gasoline powertrains.

The 2020 Transit chassis cab and cutaway models can also carry more, as the maximum GVWR increases from 10,360 pounds to 11,000 pounds.

The new standard gasoline engine – the 3.5-liter PFDi V6 – features port fuel and direct injection for better efficiency than the outgoing 3.7-liter engine. An available 2.0-liter EcoBlue bi-turbo I4 diesel engine is more fuel-efficient and offers more power and torque than the outgoing 3.2-liter diesel engine. It is equipped with Auto Start-Stop and is quieter than its predecessor. Customers can also choose the proven 3.5-liter EcoBoost gas engine, which now includes Auto Start-Stop Technology, as well. Both gas engines can be ordered with dual 250-amp alternators to provide a robust power supply for upfit equipment.

All engines are paired with Ford’s proven 10-speed automatic transmission, which offers a wide span of gear ratios, off-the-line performance and low engine speeds while highway cruising – all designed to contribute to improved fuel efficiency for model year 2020.

New driver-assist features standard on every 2020 Transit cargo van, crew van, passenger van, cutaway and chassis cab include Pre-Collision Assist with automatic emergency braking and Pedestrian Detection, forward collision warning, post-collision braking, Lane-Keeping System and auto high-beam headlamps.

Other new driver-assist features available include adaptive cruise control, front and rear split-view camera and adjustable speed limiting device.

The embedded FordPass Connect modem with 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot offers connectivity for up to ten devices.

Available new Ford Telematics and Ford Data Services can put an array of tools at the disposal of fleet managers. Features include live-map GPS tracking, geofencing with alerts and key performance indicators. Fuel waste reporting helps identify ways to save costs, while Ford Telematics suggests coaching opportunities to increase efficiency, reduce waste and reveal concerns like seatbelt use or risky driving behavior. Managers can receive proactive maintenance notifications and vehicle health alerts, enabling them to schedule service, plan ahead and maximize uptime.

The upgraded 2020 Ford Transit will ship this fall to Ford’s nationwide network of 3,000 dealers, including more than 675 dedicated Commercial Vehicle Center locations.