Charter Communications Places First Large Fleet Order for All-New 2015 Ford Transit Van

•    Charter Communications, the fourth-largest cable operator in the United States, ordered more than 800 low-roof, regular-wheelbase Ford Transit vans to be used by technicians across its 29 state footprint
•     Charter selected the 2015 Transit due to its superior fuel economy and cargo space
•     Charter is one of the first large fleets to order the new full-size Transit van in the U.S.

Technicians for the fourth-largest cable operator in the United States, Charter Communications of Stamford, Connecticut, will soon drive brand-new 2015 Ford Transit vans. Charter recently ordered more than 800 low-roof, regular-wheelbase Transit vans with the standard 3.7-liter Ti-VCT gasoline V6 engine for its technicians. These vehicles are used to transport equipment for installing and servicing Internet, TV and phone customer homes across 29 states.

“Charter Communications’ choice of the low-roof-model Ford Transit allows its installers the ability to maneuver in tight parking spaces and garages, while offering almost 56 inches of cargo height with rear cargo doors that open up to 180 degrees for easy loading and unloading,” said Kevin Koswick, director, Ford North American Fleet, Lease and Remarketing Operations.

Charter is one of the first large fleets to order the new full-size 2015 Transit van, which went on sale in June.

After an extensive review of available full-size vans, Charter selected Ford Transit due to its superior fuel economy and cargo space. Upfitting convenience was also a factor. The new Transit is built near Kansas City, Missouri, home to Charter equipment installer Auto Truck.

When the Charter team drove Transit at a March ride-and-drive event, the van’s handling, tight turning radius and panoramic windshield view sealed the deal.

“Charter is excited to be adding the Ford 2015 Transit Van to our fleet,” said Kathy Carrington, SVP of Corporate Services at Charter. “The handling, safety features, cargo space and fuel efficiency were all contributing factors to our choice and our technicians will be well equipped to serve our customers with these trucks.”

All-new Ford Transit offers 75 percent more volume
In the United States, Transit replaces America’s best-selling van for 35 years, E-Series, first sold in 1961 as Ford Econoline. Transit was introduced in Europe in 1965, and has been the best-selling commercial van in the United Kingdom for 49 years. The vehicle is sold in 118 markets on six continents.

In some configurations, the 2015 Transit offers as much as 75 percent more cargo volume than the largest E-Series, helping customers save in fuel costs and time associated with having to make a second trip. Maximum payload increases more than 600 pounds across the lineup versus comparable E-Series vans.

The all-new Ford Transit was designed with improved handling, steering and ride qualities. A power rack-and-pinion steering setup provides exceptionally communicative steering feel to the driver. The front suspension consists of subframe-mounted MacPherson struts and a stabilizer bar for smoother, flatter cornering, combined with progressive-rate rear leaf springs and heavy-duty gas-charged dampers for well-controlled ride quality – regardless of load status.
About Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 186,000 employees and 65 plants worldwide, the company’s automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford and its products worldwide, please visit corporate.ford.com.

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The All-New 2015 Ford F-150 in the Wind Tunnel

The new F-150’s structured look features squared-off edges, shapes and surfaces that convey confidence, capability and work readiness. Yet these elements also work together to allow F-150 to slip through the air more efficiently.

2015 Ford F-150 | Desert Testing

Brian Schober knows a thing or two about destroying trucks. His job as a test engineer is to ensure military vehicles won’t fail on the battlefield. And his commute itself has ruined 13 vehicles over the past year and a half. So how will the all-new 2015 Ford F-150 do on his desert course for 36 hours?

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How Ford Engineers Made the All-New F-150 the Toughest-Looking, Most Aerodynamically Efficient F-150 Ever

•     Distinctive Built Ford Tough style of the all-new F-150 pushes boundaries of bold design while increasing aerodynamic efficiency over the previous model
•     F-150 evolves hallmark design cues from first F-Series trucks
•     Restyled badge echoes design elements throughout

Designers of the 2015 Ford F-150 had a challenging goal to meet when they set out to reimagine the world’s best-selling pickup: Create an aerodynamic, efficient design that did not compromise the tough, bold looks that define Ford trucks.

The team succeeded.

The new F-150’s structured look features squared-off edges, shapes and surfaces that convey confidence, capability and work readiness. Yet these elements also work together to allow F-150 to slip through the air more efficiently.

“The truck’s sharp, boxy shape gives it a tough appearance, but actually the key to the design is aerodynamic efficiency – getting the most out of the shape,” said Brad Richards, Ford F-150 exterior design manager. “We made F-150 look tough and capable, while also reducing wind resistance.”

Aerodynamic testing ensures a happy medium
Richards and team accomplished the feat of balancing strength and efficiency by incorporating sharp edges into the overall design. The strategically designed edges convey toughness, but also enable airflow to hug the surfaces at the front portion of the truck. Rear corners are designed to allow the air to cleanly detach from the vehicle to reduce turbulence and swirling air that can cause drag and reduce efficiency. The improved aerodynamics help increase efficiency by reducing the work performed by the engine to overcome aerodynamic drag.

The grille is vertical, yet its outer portions are angled back and lead to the headlamps and bumper corners that are also swept back to smoothly direct airflow down the sides, reducing drag. The beveled leading edge of the hood helps promote smooth airflow to the windshield and roof.

As the design of the all-new F-150 evolved with clay models, wind tunnel testing enabled designers to see where they could gain greater aerodynamic efficiencies:

•     Flush-mounted windshield eliminates need for molding that would disrupt smooth airflow
•     Tailgate top is designed to act as a spoiler, giving air that flows off the roof a place to land before smoothly trailing off, reducing turbulence behind the truck
•     Cargo box is narrower than the cab, with no reduction in box volume, which enhances airflow, while a trim piece prevents air from getting trapped between cab and box
•     Rear corners including taillamps are precisely angled so air breaks off cleanly, reducing turbulence behind the truck
•     The duct under the headlamp channels air through to the wheel housing and reduces the wake generated from the wheel.

“Testing in the wind tunnel helped us fine-tune a happy medium between styling, aerodynamics, engineering and cost,” said Richards. “We learned where we could push shape and design to reduce drag, and where to stop when we weren’t gaining anything.”

Toughness is in the details
“The shapes, lines, angles and motifs are much stronger on the all-new F-150, and the chiseled edges convey toughness,” said Richards. “The hallmark beltline along the outside mirrors is the strongest piece of Built Ford Tough DNA. That’s inspired by heavy equipment such as cranes and bulldozers. It looks good, but it also improves driver visibility.”

The dropped beltline styling element can be seen in the outline of the headlamps and taillamps, while bevels, angles and notches are incorporated into the hood, windshield and tailgate, as well as throughout the interior, including the sew patterns on the seats.

F-150 also retains heritage design cues, such as the familiar headlamp shape that evokes the grille surround of the 1948 Ford F-1 and wraparound steel front bumper.

New badge signifies efficiency, leadership
Design details of the truck carry over to the new badge design, in which the characters are shaped with bevels to mimic those found in the body design.

The signature “F” has been opened up to signify a lighter, more efficient truck, yet it’s also larger to emphasize F-Series truck leadership.

The new badge design, using a font called Bold Leadership, will eventually find its way onto all F-Series trucks – right on through to the medium-duty Ford F-750.

“F-Series is all about bold and tough,” said Marco Querciagrossa, who leads badge design for Ford vehicles. “We created a badge that confidently conveys that.”
About Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 186,000 employees and 65 plants worldwide, the company’s automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford and its products worldwide, please visit corporate.ford.com.