A new 1.5-litre TDCi diesel engine promises 6% better fuel economy than its predecessor, achieving 74.3mpg in the ECOnetic version and CO2 emissions of 99g/km.
Driver assistance features – said to be a first in this segment – will include Traffic Sign Recognition, Blind Spot Information System and Lane Keeping Aid, and the new Connect van will also be Ford's first CV to include the voice-activated SYNC 2 connectivity system.
Available in van and double-cab-in-van styles, with L1 and L2 variants and Kombi in L2 only, the Transit Connect was launched in 2013 and, in the last year, saw sales rise by 93%.
The manufacturer is also introducing more fuel-efficient engines to the Tourneo Connect and Grand Tourneo Connect, its five-seater and seven-seater (respectively) people-carriers.
A 1.5-litre TDCi diesel engine, with auto stop-start, will be available on both models and, says Ford, will boost fuel economy by 7% (to 65.7mpg) compared to the outgoing 1.6-litre TDCi engine.
A diesel engine equipped with PowerShift automatic transmission is also available for the first time on Titanium models.
The Tourneo vehicles will also feature the same driver assistance functions as the new Connect van.