2010 Ford Transit Connect Tour Kicks-Off

Ford’s commercial van has seen a strong increase in popularity among US family business owners since it was introduced last August, with more than 13,000 units sold to date. The American manufacturer has therefore kicked-off a nationwide tour yesterday, when the US also celebrated “National Mom and Pop Business Owners Day”.

The 2010 Ford Transit Connect Tour will run through mid-May, offering individual test drives to business owners in 18 cities. Business owners can also request a front-door test drive by accessing the following link.

“On this National Mom and Pop Business Owners Day, Ford recognizes the many small businesses for their family history of hard work and passion,” Len Deluca, director, Commercial Vehicles Marketing, said in a release. “To make things a little more convenient for them, we’re bringing the Transit Connect to their locations. It helps them see immediately how the vehicle can help them run their daily business more efficiently.”

According to Ford, there are an estimated 3.6 million “mom and pop” business owners in the United States, and that number is increasing steadily. This is the market the Transit Connect, with its generous cargo space and payload capacity, is designed for.

The Transit Connect is powered by a Duratec 2.0-liter DOHC powerplant that generates a maximum power of 136 hp combined with a torque of 128 lb-ft. The engine is mated to a four-speed automatic transmission, especially aimed at fuel consumption and CO2 emissions (22/25 mpg).

Moreover, small business owners say their new Transit Connect also helps raise awareness for his company.