The new Ford Transit Trail is a 310-horsepower “adventure van” | Biden News

Who doesn’t love a Transit van, eh? Workhorse of the nation. The perfect getaway car. Manufactured in Britain for fifty years, it has a history of success around the world to place it in one of Ford’s most popular cars. But even though it’s only been offered since 2013, North America is clearly in the process of developing a fondness for the big T to rival our own. Fueled by the never-ending, Instagrammable van-life movement, Ford has unveiled the Transit Trail for 2023, and frankly, it’s another option to add to the why-don’t-we-get-this-car wishlist “.

OK, sure, it’s not as high up on that list as, say, the Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing or the Nissan Z, but when the spec includes the 310-hp 3.5-liter Ecoboost V6, it’s a pretty good deal. (!) and 30.5-inch SUV Goodyear tires, it’s hard not to feel a slight pang of Eurocentric jealousy. Who wouldn’t want to spend a few days cruising the desert in a tricky Transit capable of towing a three-ton boat?

Somewhat disappointingly – and despite the manufacturer’s press photos – Ford won’t really do all the factory trickery for you when it comes to the camper’s stunning styling. Instead, it calls the Trail an “upfitter-ready adventure van,” which essentially means it’ll go to great lengths to provide “drillable areas” for more fun kit, and with the optional Upfitter package, offers the likes of extras like an auxiliary fuse panel and dual AGM batteries, but you’ll have to do the drilling and installation yourself. Or order Ford Pro to do it after assembly through its own network of installers.

Of course, there’s a huge aftermarket for this sort of thing in the States now, and in that regard, it’s hard to think of a better foundation for your home away from home than the Transit Trail. Bearing in mind that similarly proportioned Transits in this country make do with 105bhp or 130bhp 2.0-litre diesels, you really wonder why the Trail needs a petrol V6 with more power than the forthcoming Euro-spec Ranger Raptor – but who are we? such argue with the concept of the importance of speed? Ecoboost is paired with a 10-speed automatic and a five-mode intelligent four-wheel drive system.

Needless to say, four-wheel drive and go-anywhere capability isn’t new to vans, but Ford went the extra mile, increasing the ground clearance by 3.5 inches and the track by 2.75 inches. These Wrangler Workhorse tires sit on 16-inch black alloy wheels, and you also get a unique skid plate-style front bumper, mudguards, wheel arch trim and liners, not to mention a black grille with integrated marker lights.

Plus, if you opt for the high-roof, extended-length option, Ford reckons the Transit will provide plenty of standing room for a 6’5-inch tall person. And with a 14-foot cargo floor, there’s plenty of room to lie down, too. “Whether the task at hand is delivering packages or enjoying life off the grid, customers can rely on their Transit to get the job done,” said Ted Cannis, CEO of Ford Pro. “Our decades of experience in the RV industry and the insights of the RV community have helped us design a vehicle that makes it easy for adventure seekers to embark on their next road trip.” Hopefully not for a bank job, but obviously some of the same enduring Transit spirit lives on.