By Staff Reporter

Ford South Africa has expanded its Transit Van range with the introduction of a new Extra-Long Wheelbase (ELWB) derivative, offering increased load space and carrying capacity for businesses that need more room and flexibility.

The ELWB Transit joins the fourth-generation Transit Van line-up alongside the Transit Custom Base, Transit Custom Sport, and the standard Transit Van. It builds on the Transit’s long-standing reputation as a dependable workhorse, a legacy that dates back to the first Ford Transit launched in the United Kingdom in 1965.

According to Ford, the new ELWB version is aimed at customers such as small and medium enterprises, courier companies, freight operators and conversion specialists. Its size and specification also make it suitable for a wide range of conversions, including emergency vehicles, refrigerated vans and people carriers, supported by Ford’s ProConverter programme.

Practicality and load capacity

While the ELWB shares the same 3 750 mm wheelbase as the long wheelbase Transit introduced in 2025, its overall body length increases to 6 785 mm, compared to 5 981 mm for the LWB model. This translates into a significant jump in usable load space.

Load volume increases to up to 15.1 cubic metres, compared to 13 cubic metres in the LWB. Gross payload capacity rises to 2 270 kg, while maximum braked towing capacity increases to 3 500 kg. The load bay measures over four metres in length and is accessed via a kerbside sliding door and rear doors that open up to 180 degrees.

The ELWB Transit also features dual rear wheels, heavy-duty underfloor protection, a moulded load floor liner, full rear trim boards, interior lighting and 12 load tie-down points as standard.

Engine and drivetrain

Power comes from Ford’s 2.0-litre Duratorq turbodiesel engine, delivering 121 kW and 390 Nm, paired with a six-speed manual gearbox. Drive is sent to the rear wheels, with Normal, Eco and Slippery drive modes available.

Fuel consumption is rated at 9.3 L/100km on the combined cycle. The engine uses AdBlue technology as part of Ford’s ECOnetic system to reduce emissions, with a dedicated 20-litre AdBlue tank fitted.

Technology, comfort and safety

Inside, the Transit is equipped with Ford’s SYNC4 infotainment system, featuring a 12-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, voice recognition and cloud-based connectivity. A built-in 5G modem enables remote vehicle functions via the Ford app, including vehicle status, health alerts and remote locking.

Standard safety features include stability control, traction control, hill launch assist, rollover mitigation, ABS with brake assist and tyre pressure monitoring. The Driver Assistance Package adds collision mitigation, adaptive speed control, blind spot monitoring, lane change assist, parking aids and a 360-degree camera system.

Pricing

The Ford Transit ELWB is priced at R1,062,000, including VAT.