The new 2008 Ford E-Series will hit the road in August as the most capable and durable van on the market after R.L. Polk & Co., the leading provider of automotive market data, certified that Ford has four times more full-size vans on the road with 250,000 miles or more than any other competitor.
Since durability is the top priority for businesses that depend on products like E-Series to serve customers, the new claim will underpin Ford's 2008 E-Series "Built Ford Tough" marketing launch, beginning in mid-July. The 2008 Ford E-Series cutaway van also raises its own payload leadership to a 14,500-pound gross maximum vehicle weight rating. Its unmatched capability is reinforced by the bold, Ford F-Series Super Duty-inspired front-end design.
"Ford is building on 28 years of full-size van leadership by delivering more of what customers want - more style, more capability and even more durability," says Joe Castelli, director, Ford Commercial Truck Marketing. "There are quadruple the number of Ford E-Series vans with 250,000 miles or more on the road than anyone else, giving our customers the confidence they need to run their business smoothly every day."
New E-Series Built Ford Tough
The new 2008 E-Series builds on this test of stamina by delivering more of the "Built Ford Tough" engineering that customers want, including a solid, improved frame, all-new brakes and service intervals that are increased from 5,000 to 7,500 miles. This formula of leading durability and lower ownership costs is expected to help expand E-Series' leading base of loyal customers with nearly 40 percent being repeat buyers.
Other improvements include a revised steering system, improved front and rear suspensions, and all-new more durable brakes to improve driving dynamics - specifically maneuverability and ride - for van customers who battle urban streets daily. Passenger wagons that routinely carry up to 15 passengers feature all-new rear seats that, combined with the improved ride, make for more pleasant road trips.
The Ford-exclusive AdvanceTrac with RSC (roll stability control) has been added as a standard safety feature on 2008 Ford E-350 passenger wagons with the 5.4-liter V-8. An engine-only traction control system is now available on all other models.
To help protect cargo, Ford is introducing a segment-exclusive E-Guard Cargo Protection SystemTM - an optional double-lock design that requires that the vehicle key be used to unlock the side and rear doors. All vans and wagons also come standard with a steel reinforced rear license plate bracket for added security.
Ford E-Series vans are used for a broad range of work, including transportation of large groups in passenger vans, goods and services deliveries in cargo vans (or wagons) and more specialized applications such as ambulances that are built from cutaway models. The common denominator is that each of these customers relies on their van's durability to conduct business, transport large groups or even save lives.
Ford's E-Series lineup is building on 28 straight years of leadership as sales are up eight percent in 2007, accounting for more than half of the full-size van market after taking 50 percent of the 350,000-van market in 2006 . The dominant figures include about 65 percent share of the cutaway segment, including more than 90 percent of the ambulance business in this category. Ford will re-introduce the 6.0-liter Powerstroke diesel engine - a more fuel-efficient choice for ambulances that are constantly idling on standby - to the full-size van lineup a few months after the 2008 E-Series launch.