They have been very quiet about this one.

Steve Mutter · October 31, 2013

Has anyone heard when this thing is going to hit the streets? or any other info for that matter.

Bruce Amacker · October 31, 2013

I'll be at Vegas/Sema next week asking questions......

:grin:

lmorris · October 31, 2013

The 2014 WSM still has the E-series listed and the 2015 shows no North American vehicles. And no diesel engine option, I had no idea that 2010 was the last year for the diesel E-series.

Buddy_M · October 31, 2013

Bruce, have anything you recommend to see or do at SEMA? I'll be flying down for the show next week as well. Third time in Vegas, but will be my first year ever at SEMA, so it's gonna be more of just taking in everything the first time for me. I've been lookin thru the floorplan, and it looks like it's gonna be quite the experience for me with all the manufacturers there.

Bruce Amacker · October 31, 2013

Holy smokes, I could write a book on this topic as I've been to Industry Week (that's what the first week of Nov is called) almost every year for the last 12 or so. Sandy cancelled my flights last year so I couldn't make it. Industry Week has 6-8 automotive conferences running on top of each other (NACE- Auto Body Repair, Tires and Wheels, and others) and is Vegas's second busiest week behind CES. Prices reflect this.

Anyway, Sema is mostly chrome, glitter, custom paint and shiny wheels that I'm not into hardly at all. It's also massive, 3 giant buildings, one of which is dedicated to wheels and tires (WTF?). I spend 80-90% of my time at AAPEX (Sands Conv Center, 1 mi from LVCC) checking out new tools and equipment. At Sema I go to the tools/equip section and the Ford display and blow out after an hour or two. Custom cars with fancy wheels just don't do anything for me, I'm into vintage cars restored to OEM spec, not modified.

I arrive Mon aft, depart Wed 11pm, and am staying at the Clarion (cheapie) hotel just north of the Sands. My cell is 440-263-9282 if you want to have a drink Mon or maybe Wed but Tue I'm tied up. I'll be at a party Tuesday 5-7 sponsored by AVI at the Sands, they might let you in, too, but I'll be busy talking to industry people that night.

I don't know where you're staying, but take advantage of the free shuttle busses that run from the big hotels to Sands/Sema. Parking is very difficult at all locations and the buses are the way to go, LVCC is so large there's three bus stops there. I'm close enough that I can walk or take a cab. Look at all of the free clinics running at AAPEX and see if any of them interest you, your badge gets you into Sema and AApex. Go through the Sema program and ID specific booths you want to visit and map them out. If you try to do them all you'll fail miserably. AAPEX tool area is much smaller so you will be able to do them all. If you want to be freaked out go downstairs at Aapex and walk through the thousands of Asian vendors selling clutch discs and other common components.

:grin:

Bruce Amacker · November 7, 2013

Has anyone heard when this thing is going to hit the streets? or any other info for that matter.

Ford's display at Sema was a waste of time for me. It was all customized vehicles and when I asked 4 different people (including supposed "truck" product specialists) about the Transit and the 3.2 it was clear I knew more about it than they did (or were willing to say). It fries me when this happens as I spend a LOT of effort for this show. Complete strike out, IMO. Oh, well, sometimes you hit a home run and sometimes not.

One year I got a free 6.4 from the guy there. (2006)

Keith Browning · November 10, 2013

Well if the rumor is true about this thing failing crash testing it likely represents quite a bit of re-engineering, testing and re-tooling especially if they were gearing up for production. Aside from that it has to be embarrassing for them if that happened and it's not like they haven't already been building these things for a long time overseas. Are Europeans driving around in death traps or what?

Bruce I would be willing to bet that they are keeping their mouths shut on purpose.

Steve Mutter · November 10, 2013

Wow, that would make a lot of sense. That does not sound good for Ford, almost every one else has there new van coming out soon.

Brad Clayton · November 10, 2013

Well if the rumor is true about this thing failing crash testing it likely represents quite a bit of re-engineering, testing and re-tooling especially if they were gearing up for production.

Hopefully they are reengineering the engine as well, there is way too much plastic on that thing and too many parts on the back.