Ford’s Triple Top Award Win
The Fleet World awards 2009 held on May 20 presented Ford with not one but three major awards.
The award for Best Small Car was won by the new Ford Fiesta. Chairman of Judges, George Emmerson, said: "The new Ford Fiesta is a worthy winner in a fiercely competitive sector. Many fleet managers are actively downsizing vehicles in their choice lists and employees are looking for quality, attractive looks and competitive whole-life costs and the new Fiesta easily meets all these criteria. Particularly notable from fleet perspective is the Fiesta ECOnetic. Its CO2 rating of 98g/km is among the lowest of any family car on sale."
Ford were then announced as Van Manufacturer of the Year 2009. Van Fleet World editor, John Kendall, commented: "The arrival of new competition at all levels in the market has undoubtedly put the pressure on the UK light CV market leader.
"That’s of course ignoring the pressure that all manufacturers are under at the moment. Even in these conditions, Ford is maintaining a sizeable lead in the market to date this year.
"That will no doubt be helped by the recent arrival of the latest Ford Fiesta van and the revised Transit Connect. As manufacturers are looking at all the ways possible to cut emissions and reduce fuel consumption for cars, Ford will be the first to apply the same thinking to its van range in the next few months. There will be ECOnetic versions of the new Fiesta van and Transit in the autumn.
"Ford quotes target fuel consumption of 39.2mpg for the Transit 280 based Transit ECOnetic with average carbon dioxide emissions of 189g/km. For the Fiesta, the figures are combined fuel consumption of 76.4mpg and carbon dioxide emissions of 98g/km. That might give a few rivals a hard time in the MPG Marathon this year if Ford wants to put that to the test."
The award for Best Small Van then went to the Ford Transit Connect to complete the trio of prestigious awards. Van Fleet World editor John Kendall commented: "Only recently, Ford took the wraps off the revised Transit Connect. While maintaining the same engines, load area and payload as before, the Transit Connect gets a mid-life makeover inside and out and will be the first van in its class to gain ESP electronic stability control as standard. That will doubtless make it more attractive to fleets looking to improve vehicle safety and overhaul duty of care policies.
"Ford’s collaboration with Smith Electric Vehicles also provides an electric version of the Connect, the Ford and Smith badged Ampere. Fleets operating over relatively short daily distances might find that electric power is a cost-effective alternative, while the load area remains unaffected by the under-floor mounted batteries.
Commenting on the high level of interest in this year’s awards, Fleet World managing editor, Ross Durkin, said: "Despite the difficult economic conditions, we had a tremendous number of entries in this year’s Fleet World Honours – a sign not only of the significance of the awards themselves, but also of the tremendous level of service, innovation and competition that exist within the fleet industry today. Those who have won can be justifiably proud of their achievement."
Ford’s successes at the awards were welcomed by Steve Kimber, director of commercial vehicles: "In a tough business climate it is rewarding to see that our policy of combining reliable product with good service for fleet customers continues to work."
Ford Fiesta lease prices
Ford Fiesta new and nearly new prices
Ford Transit Connect lease prices
Ford Transit Connect new and nearly new prices
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