All-new Ford Transit subjected to extreme endurance tests

A simulation of the toughest treatment that customers can subject the all-new Ford Transit two-ton van to over a period of ten years, has been done in only six months, thereby ensuring that the Transit will still be going after a decade.

Durability tests included the equivalent of driving 11 million kilometres - or 275 round-the-world trips - at state-of-the-art proving grounds and in extreme conditions across the globe where temperatures ranged from 40°C to -40°C.

"I don't think many customers would believe what this vehicle has been through," said David Gregory, Transit chief programme engineer, Ford of Europe. "We inflict the worst possible treatment that a van could endure, and we're only satisfied when our new vehicle comes through with flying colours - just as the Transit has done."

As the first Transit to be sold in both Europe and North America, the new model was subjected to accelerated durability testing both at Ford's facilities in Lommel, Belgium, and in Romeo, Michigan.

Details of tests

At Lommel, Ford subjected the Transit - including van, chassis cab and minibus versions - to more than 30 punishing vehicle tests. These included the trailer tow general durability test, conducted at maximum weight with a fully loaded trailer.

Further extreme challenges included being driven at top speed non-stop for two months, pounding over rough gravel roads, and through salt- and mud-baths. The prototypes also were tested for corrosion resistance in high-humidity chambers for 12 weeks and put through non-stop figures-of-eight for one month.

Engineers have driven the Transit more than 5,000 times over an extreme course of potholes and bumps, and conducted a strength test by driving it at 60km/h into a 140mm kerb.

Ford also tested the Transit prototypes at carefully chosen locations in Europe, North America, Africa and Asia. Vehicles faced the 40°C heat of Arizona, Dubai and South Africa, the bitter -40°C cold in Finland and Canada, and challenging journeys through Europe, the Middle East, Russia, Turkey and the U.S. - from the Austrian Alps to Death Valley in California.

Tests in labs

Prior to launch, the new model covered more than 500,000km of tough real-world use with high-mileage Transit customers. In the test labs, Ford subjected the all-new Transit's 2.2-litre Duratorq diesel engine to 46 days continuous high-load urban driving on specialised rigs, as part of tens of thousands of hours of engine testing. Component test rigs were used to simulate real-world punishment, replicating the full ten-year vehicle lifecycle in just 30 days.

Ford has identified and delivered more than 100 significant improvements to the Transit as a direct result of its testing regime. These include the redesign of the side rail on jumbo van models, and strengthening of the rear cross-member on chassis cabs.
The new Transit is the flagship of the completely redesigned and expanded Ford Transit range, and is now on sale in South Africa alongside the Transit Custom. "We're excited to have the Transit line-up expanding in South Africa," says Gavin Golightly, marketing manager, Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa.