I'd never noticed the window on the sliding door before. Our Transit Connects at work don't have them, either there's an option not to have it or they've been painted over.

Heated windshields make a return! Second-generation Land Rover Discoverys (Discoveries?) had them also, and what a difference they make on snowy and icy mornings.

That's incredible. Ford have offered the "quickclear" heated front windscreen option in Europe since the late '80s. My Dad had it in his old Mondeo.

You guys got FM radio yet?

@Rust-MyEnemy: Amazing, they'll be getting cars with 'handling' next.

Any word on powertrains? If the 1.8L t-diesel makes it over and is 50-state certified I swear I will name my firstborn "Alan," even if it's a girl.

The only thing that would make that little van PERFECT is a diesel engine option. Thankfully it looks like they have the manual transmission as an option too. However, they better have a column shift for the automatic. That space is reserved for clipboards in vans with an auto.

@Rust-MyEnemy:

Yes, but some cars still require handcranks to start.

Where's the camper/hippie version?

Wait, does this seat 5 and carry that much cargo?

I can only imagine what it costs to replace the 1/2 acre of windshield full of super-magic fibers.

\@TomAnderson: I went to highschool with a girl named "Alana"

Given the incredible utility and cargo-capacity, I suppose we could call this a Maxi-Van.

...

What?

The press release says only a 1.8L with auto will come on US bound vans. Seeing the manual trans in these pics is confusing. Which is it, Ford?

Nice looking bin kit in the back. I didn't see an Adrian Steel decal so I wonder if its just for show, imported from the UK, OE option or what.

The heated windscreen on my Land Rover Freelander was one of the best features. Push the button, clear the side windows with the scraper, then pop back in and tap the wiper stalk: good to go. I wish more automakers would adopt that technology. Seems simple enough.

Look, this van is awesome. It's like a Mercedodge Sprinter crossed with a Scion xB and it's got Euro cred that's not pretentious to boot. America needs it, and Ford will surely sell a ton of them. That makes 2 of their cars now.

@Mad_Science: Probably not as much as you'd think. It's not exactly cutting edge anymore.

Those windscreens are fine as a driver, but as a passenger, once you see the wires, that's all you can see. It'd drive you crazy.

I had one in my Freelander. It was over $1500 USD to replace and my deductible at the time was $500, ouch! Other wise it was great.

That desk chair doesn't look very comfortable. They need an egg!

I also heard the engine of choice would be the same 2.0L Zetec as in the Focus, no diesel, but a 5 speed manual and 4 speed auto were part of the plan.

Land Rover has been doing the heated windscreens for years. My 1967 Land Rover Series IIA 109" NADA has the heated windscreens from the factory. I'm surprised that more vehicles haven't had this option since then.

I see the photos and yet I wonder how useful this thing really will be for people in the US?

Who's market will this pull buyers from anyway? I'm guessing the few people who don't really need the large E-Series vans and a few companies who want a little more than a Ford Escape for their fleet.

@Nightwing:

I can see it getting some oddball minivan or crossover buyers.

Plus it gives the vannagon fans something to dry their tears with.

Any idea on price?

@Nightwing: Seeing as Ford killed the Focus wagon in Canada and the US, I could see the passenger version of this picking up some of that market. I'll have to see how the version of the Transit that makes it here performs, but a manual transmission/ diesel model would be a strong contender to replace my Escort wagon.

@Nightwing: Actually, for someone like me that is a computer field technician this little van would be PERFECT. I often times have to make two or three trips to DHL in a day because I can't fit all my parts in the trunk and backseat of my Crown Vic. Sometimes I'll have room for parts, but the box is too large to fit in the trunk or through the back doors.

The company I work for has been buying Honda Civics for some of their technicians, and others get E150 cargo vans. The Civics are at times too small and the E150s alot of times roll around empty. This would be a happy medium between the two. The fuel economy of a Civic with the cargo space of a van.

@Seth L: From the outside the vehicle definitely has some character to it. I can actually see this parked on the street somewhere and maybe a small catering service using it. Since it does have a sliding door Ford may start a new trend, the cute minivan. Hmmm, not actually a bad idea so you might have something there with the minivan crowd.

@Schweppes: The Focus wagon is gone period. I think this, the Edge and Flex will kill the overlooked Taurus X.

@MrEvil: Thanks for the response. I knew that people would have a legitimate use for one of these somewhere, but I just didn't who and what for.

I'm actually glad to hear that a working man has a use for it as I would like to see Ford conquer an untapped market. They lead with the E-series and now they can lead with the commercial mini transport market.

It needs an AWD option to be 4-season-always-get-there reliable here in the North Central states...60 miles up the road from Dearborn.

@Seth L: I like this thing ALOT. I might finally buy a new vehicle!
As for price, in the UK they list at about 10K pounds for a start. So if they don't take a mickey out of us that should mean about $20K in NA, plus extra for LWB, etc.
cool

can't be good for the new "fairlane" though

This is actually a good market niche to fill. It's exactly what a lot of businesses would be looking for. Ever see those geek squad beetles? Are we expected to believe that's not a royal PITA?
Too bad we likely won't get a diesel option.

awesome, it looks like the little Mercedes Vaneo [if you're looking through a heated windshield, anyway.]

But a 4cyl that only gets 19city/24 hwy? Isn't that like half the mileage of a Civic? They need to bring the diesel in pronto. And some seats, if only to have a place for the 3rd-5th members of the jazz quintet.

d'oh, seats:
[jalopnik.com]

I'm starting to get some ideas now of how people could use this and I think Ford should launch this ASAP!

Cars like these is the reason that we don't have so many trucks made out of two pieces of railway, a prehistoric setup and an engine type that only exsists because of the sentimental conservative values...

Kangoo, Vaneo, Transit, Golf Plus, Caddy, Berlingo......GODSPEED!

@amblito: Isn't there some sort of crazy tax reason for having a panel van or something? This is just second hand knowledge from dad, filtered through the mists of time though, so probably wrong.

Postal delivery! Import it right from Europe without moving the steering column.

OK, that wasn't a very orginal idea of mine as Ford has already thought of this being used for Parcel service: [www.fordvehicles.com]

Click on the concepts tab on the far right and it will show you a couple not too exciting variations.

@GrandmaSideways: Actually, Geek Squad doesn't carry much in the way of tools or parts. A friend of mine is one of their in-home agents and let me sit in his bug. Pretty roomy, but it's all that they need.

If you've ever seen the box Dell ships a replacement motherboard and PSU for an XPS 710H2C in, you'd know exactly why I want one of these. I'd love to have the Dejana service package, I get alot of customers from out of town that just want to meet me somewhere and I really don't want them knowing where I live, I could work on a Laptop or desktop right there in the van on a stool...however, the 53" floor to roof height is a bit small for a big guy like me, but I'd find a way to make it work.

Only request I'd have to Ford on this van though, NO FLOOR SHIFT AUTOMATIC! The space between the seats is for clipboards and tools. Not a useless automatic gear selector, put that shit on the column.

Actually, I want this more than the Sprinter. Stick shift please, w/ telco bins for parts and a stereo that connects to my carputer.

I call bullshit on the shot with the instrument stacking though. I've been playing music for decades (arguable, since I'm a drummer) and there is no way in hell any sax or trombone player I've ever known would strap their instruments to the wall of any vehicle. Much safer in a case, stacks nicer, and much cooler.

No brownie points for the snare lying on its' side with the snare side out. Whoever designed must be clueless about musicians.

Or a piccolo player, take your pick.

@zaddikim: heh, typical drummer, didn't check for clsong tags before posting. That'll teach me to stay off the hash pipe while browsing Jalopnik.