#TransitConnect

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The Chicago Auto Show is usually a pretty sleepy event. Automakers tend to reserve their most-important reveals for Detroit, Los Angeles or New York. Still, Ford is making a bit of news here in the Windy City with its updated Transit Connect.

Ford has issued two safety recalls, two safety compliance recalls, and has expanded an existing recall in North America.

The 2016 Ford Transit models have gained some minor changes for the new model year.

Generally there’s not a lot to get excited about with commercial vans, unless of course you’re a fleet operator, sub-contractor or anyone else in need of spacious transportation that doesn’t break the bank. If you fall into one of these camps there’s really never been a better time to buy.

Twenty-fourteen must be the year of the recall. Takata’s massive airbag foible is causing much grief, GM’s ignition fiasco drags on and in addition to all of this there have been myriad smaller safety actions. Adding to the tally, Ford just announced five callbacks.

Vans are inherently un-cool. Too bad nobody told Ford, as the Blue Oval aims to take the SEMA Show by storm with plans to “unleash” 10 modified Transit Connect models at the world’s largest aftermarket parts expo in just a week’s time.

Ford made several important product announcements at a media event in Detroit this morning. Borrowing from its global portfolio, the Dearborn-based automaker is bringing an impressive array of commercial vehicles to the North American market, including a brand-new version of the Transit Connect.

Ford’s utilitarian Transit Connect van, which doubles as a five-passenger and possibly seven-passenger people mover or a two-seat commercial vehicle, will be updated globally as a 2014 model.

Today, the Ford Transit Connect is targeted at taxi and delivery business where fuel efficiency is a top priority. Initially, the small van was rated for 21 mpg on the city and 26 mpg in the highway. For 2012 Transit Connectgets a 1 mpg bump in each category, for a ratings of 22 mpg city and 27 mpg highway. This is good news considering the the competition in this class with the new Nissan NV200 and the rumoured Fiat Doblo (which would be sold under the Ram brand). No other improvements are expected until the all-new Transit Connect arrives on the market sometime in 2014.