Interbike’s most surprising exhibitor
Posted on 01. Oct, 2009 by Josh in Trends
The sole member of the Big Three to avoid bankruptcy displayed the new Transit Connect, a compact van with a customizable interior intended for commercial use. Their connection to co-exhibitor Serotta is that some Ford execs are also Serotta owners, so Serotta’s Mobile Fit Lab became one of the first implementations of the vehicle.
If I were, say, a plumber I would definitely give it a look, even if using the word Transit is a sneaky way to imply that its standard engine somehow “green”. Ford claims 22+ MPG, which I imagine is more efficient than a standard cargo van, but would it have been that hard to make a diesel? They told me that an electric version is in the works, but who knows…
Ford’s presence at Interbike is perhaps a further indication of the trends that bicycles have come to signify to the outside world. They’re environmentally friendly, inexpensive, and have (or at least are perceived to have) a now-stylish European/urban sensibility. Coincidentally, those are the nails that Ford is trying to hit with the Transit Connect, which in fact came out of the company’s European division.
In any case, you know that times have changed when Ford Trucks is exhibiting at Interbike and actual bike companies are not. More on that later…
