| Ford is known for creating great designs and high | | | | Transit Connect range found it a challenge on how |
| performance cars. But just imagine what the | | | | to fit a high performance, turbocharged and |
| result will be if Ford fuses one of its low-roof’ | | | | intercooled 215PS engine into a vehicle with only |
| Ford Transit Connect van with one of its | | | | minimal changes required. Unfortunately, the |
| legendary high performance Focus RS? The | | | | X-Press calls for something more and has pushed |
| product is the remarkable Transit Connect | | | | Ford’s engineers to develop the X-Press from |
| X-Press which is considered to be one of | | | | the ground up. But according to Gale, "It wasn't |
| Ford’s fastest and highly versatile small | | | | difficult really. Once everyone understood what |
| commercial vehicles to hit the market. | | | | we were doing they all offered to help in their |
| Transit Connect X-Press is lowered by up to 70 | | | | spare time to make special parts or work on the |
| mm with 18-inch OZ alloys and emitting an | | | | vehicle. It became a true labour of love and as |
| exhaust note that is likened to that of the | | | | we're basically all car nuts, we're very pleased |
| Ford’s Focus RS WRC. It has a race-spec roll | | | | with the end product." |
| cage inside while its exterior is done in a | | | | The X-Press also shows Ford’s solid |
| pearlescent white paint job and set off with a | | | | commitment in developing vehicles that are not |
| tri-color X-Press graphics. | | | | only high performance but offer rewarding driving |
| According to Barry Gale Ford of Europe’s | | | | experience. This does not only cover the |
| Chief Engineer for Commercial Vehicles, "Transit | | | | passenger cars segment but also applies to other |
| Connect is such a strong and dynamically capable | | | | lines of Ford vehicles. |
| vehicle to begin with, that we knew this project | | | | One of the features that make the X-Press really |
| would be feasible from the outset. Certain | | | | standout is its lowered suspension which makes it |
| drivetrain and suspension components are | | | | look meaner and sleeker. The lowered suspension |
| common with the first generation Ford Focus, so | | | | also makes the X-Press or any car for that |
| the transformation was relatively straightforward | | | | matter more stable especially when making turns |
| from an engineering point of view. We now have | | | | since it tend to drop the vehicle’s body closer |
| a unique commercial vehicle that performs like no | | | | to the center of the gravity. There are lowering |
| other. If pushed, it is capable of a 0-60mph time | | | | springs available like the Eibach springs that are |
| in less than 7 seconds and a 130mph top speed. | | | | applicable for 2-wheel-drive car, van, SUV, trucks |
| As you might expect from a Ford, it handles, | | | | including a number of 4-wheel-drive trucks which |
| steers and stops like a sports car.” | | | | private car owners may use on their cars. |
| The team of engineers that developed the | | | | |