Ford teamed up with Make magazine and online publication Boing Boing for the construction of two very special Transit Connect Wagon vehicles. The blue Hackmobile and red Happy Mutant Mobile will make their first public appearance today, at the TechShop in San Francisco, before going on display at the Maker Faire this Saturday and Sunday in San Mateo, California. Both vehicles will also be showcased at the Maker Faire in New York later this year.
With the recent Stateside launch of the all-new 2014 Transit Connect Wagon, the Blue Oval is working hard with promoting the model as a serious contender in the minivan segment. Aimed at young families with a need for space and practicality, this model offers modern Ford styling cues, two frugal four-cylinder engines and a five-star safety rating for a reasonable $25,520 starting MSRP.
By folding the second and third-row seats completely flat into the floor, owners can take advantage of 104 cubic feet of cargo space, enough to swallow an entire IKEA living room. However, direct rivals such as the Dodge Caravan, Toyota Sienna and Honda Odyssey offer more than that.
Maybe that's why Ford wanted to cram as many things as possible in these two special projects. Truth be told, most people that see the Transit Connect Wagon aren't won over by the boxy design or decent fuel economy, not by a long shot. Most of them start thinking about how much junk they can fit in it and how they would use it. This may be the reason why Ford insisted on intelligent cargo solutions for the aforementioned vans.
Starting with the Hackmobile, this van was designed and built as a mobile multipurpose tool in fabricating. Offering shelving and storage for tools meant for metalworking, woodworking and even 3D fabrication, this four-wheel workshop might very well be the ultimate ride for the do-it-yourself enthusiast.
Moving on to the Boing Boing-designed Happy Mutant Mobile, the custom exterior features a large screen that can show movies outdoor, a wacky hood ornament that blows soap bubbles and LED signs mounted where the roof rails would normally sit.
Serving as an official vehicle for the website, the Happy Mutant Mobile houses a mix of oddities and knickknacks such as a 3D printer and a magazine rack, with DSLR camera and computer equipment as well. The whimsical features such as the bubble machine on the hood and the green leather upholstery are sure to keep everybody entertained while riding in this unique Transit Connect Wagon.
“Transit Connect Wagon is exactly what customers want it to be,” said Minyang Jiang, brand manager for Ford Transit Connect Wagon. “Whether it’s used as a people mover or to carry cargo, the spirit of the vehicle is in how it can be transformed by its owners to express their passions. We think these two vehicles are a perfect example of the unminivan, of how to inspire the imagination in a new way.”
By folding the second and third-row seats completely flat into the floor, owners can take advantage of 104 cubic feet of cargo space, enough to swallow an entire IKEA living room. However, direct rivals such as the Dodge Caravan, Toyota Sienna and Honda Odyssey offer more than that.
Maybe that's why Ford wanted to cram as many things as possible in these two special projects. Truth be told, most people that see the Transit Connect Wagon aren't won over by the boxy design or decent fuel economy, not by a long shot. Most of them start thinking about how much junk they can fit in it and how they would use it. This may be the reason why Ford insisted on intelligent cargo solutions for the aforementioned vans.
Starting with the Hackmobile, this van was designed and built as a mobile multipurpose tool in fabricating. Offering shelving and storage for tools meant for metalworking, woodworking and even 3D fabrication, this four-wheel workshop might very well be the ultimate ride for the do-it-yourself enthusiast.
Moving on to the Boing Boing-designed Happy Mutant Mobile, the custom exterior features a large screen that can show movies outdoor, a wacky hood ornament that blows soap bubbles and LED signs mounted where the roof rails would normally sit.
Serving as an official vehicle for the website, the Happy Mutant Mobile houses a mix of oddities and knickknacks such as a 3D printer and a magazine rack, with DSLR camera and computer equipment as well. The whimsical features such as the bubble machine on the hood and the green leather upholstery are sure to keep everybody entertained while riding in this unique Transit Connect Wagon.
“Transit Connect Wagon is exactly what customers want it to be,” said Minyang Jiang, brand manager for Ford Transit Connect Wagon. “Whether it’s used as a people mover or to carry cargo, the spirit of the vehicle is in how it can be transformed by its owners to express their passions. We think these two vehicles are a perfect example of the unminivan, of how to inspire the imagination in a new way.”