Ford Dribbles Out Gas Mileage Details For 2014 Transit Van Range

By John Voelcker

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2014 Ford Transit Connect

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There was exactly one gas-mileage number contained in a pair of press releases Ford issued this morning.

It was the prediction that one version of its 2014 Ford Transit Connect small commercial van will achieve "up to" 30 mpg on the highway cycle.

It's called counterprogramming: In the midst of yesterday's hoopla around the new 2014 Chevrolet Silverado and 2014 GMC Sierra pickup trucks, Ford wanted to get some truck love of its own.

As is the company's wont, it dribbles out little bits and pieces of information on upcoming products in a series of press releases.

So this morning, we learn about the 2014 Transit Connect van that:

• At least one version will be rated at "up to 30+ mpg" on the EPA highway test cycle (not the combined cycle)
• One version will beat a Dodge Ram C/V cargo van on the highway cycle by 5 mpg
• A different version will carry more payload than a different Dodge Ram vehicle, a pickup truck
• It will be offered in two different wheelbase lengths
• One model with be offered with a package that readies it for a compressed natural gas (CNG) conversion

And we learn about the full-size 2014 Ford Transit Van (which Ford said Monday will offer a five-cylinder diesel engine) that:

• Its fuel economy will be at least 25 percent better than today's Ford E-Series vans
• It will offer two wheelbases, three roof heights, and three different lengths
• As well as the 3.2-liter five-cylinder turbodiesel, it will offer a base 3.7-liter V-6 and an optional 3.5-liter EcoBoost turbocharged V-6

Ford 3.2-liter PowerStroke Diesel engine, as fitted to 2014 Ford Transit van

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We would have liked to see more hard data on actual fuel economy figures to justify the issuance of lengthy but not very specific press releases.

Ford's caution on predicting gas-mileage ratings may, however, be justified.

Its new 2013 C-Max Hybrid and Fusion Hybrid are apparently not achieving their 47-mpg EPA gas mileage rating in real-world usage..

Consumer Reports found it couldn't get even 40 mpg in the vehicles, and the EPA has now said it will take a look at the two cars.

We're all for caution of this type.

We just wish Ford's press releases had more actual news in them.

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