Ford Adds Passenger-Friendly Transit Connect Electric Wagon to its 2012 EV Lineup [UPDATE]

The 2012 Focus Electric may be Ford’s sexiest EV, but it wasn’t its first. That honor goes to the Transit Connect Electric, an electrified cargo van marketed primarily to fleets beginning late last year. Now, almost a year later, Ford is releasing a people-friendly electric Transit Connect Wagon, basically a TC with more windows and a back seat.

Other than the additional ports and perches—there’s now seating for five—the Wagon is identical to the cargo Connect Electric. That means it’s powered by the same electric motor and liquid-cooled, 28-kWh lithium-ion battery pack. Also like the windowless Connect Electric, the Wagon’s batteries-included conversion is handled by Ford’s EV partner, Azure Dynamics.

Ford expects the Wagon to travel up to 80 miles on a single charge, the same as the cargo version’s estimated range. For those who care—and want their range to fall well below 80 miles—the Transit Connect Electric Wagon is capable of a 75-mph top speed. Ford will offer buyers the choice of charging via a 120-volt wall outlet or an optional 240-volt charging station installed wherever the Connect will call home. With the 240-volt charger, the van’s battery will need between six and eight hours for a full charge; on a 120-volt source, charge time is perhaps better measured in days.

UPDATE 11/17, 9:30 a.m.:

As for the electric Transit Connect Wagon’s pricing, we suggest you brace yourself: It costs a heart-stopping pre-credit $60,850. You can save $2500 by opting for the cargo version, which rings in at $58,350, but that’s still a lot of dough. Keep in mind, however, that there really aren’t any alternatives to the electric Transit Connect. Furthermore, the vans are intended for commercial use—although anyone can purchase one—and fleets that use them extensively may actually realize cost savings relative to gas- or diesel-powered vehicles. The TCs qualify for a $7500 tax credit, plus an additional credit of up to $15,000 in California.

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Infiniti to Show Mid-Engine, Rear-Wheel-Drive Sports Car Concept at Geneva Auto Show [UPDATE: PHOTOS]

November 17, 2011 at 8:31am by Justin Berkowitz

Infiniti will show a mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive concept sports car at the 2012 Geneva auto show next March, we have learned. The company likely will release more information in the coming weeks—based on Infiniti’s affinity for teaser shots in its introduction of the JX crossover, we may be in for a long slog—but in the meantime we’re left without further confirmed details.

The layout means it won’t simply be a reworked Infiniti version of the Nissan GT-R or any other vehicle in the lineup—unless the engineers decided to do something, er, interesting like turn a front-engine, front-wheel-drive platform backwards. We don’t know what kind of powertrain the mid-engine sports car will have: Anything from Infiniti’s vigorous 5.6-liter V-8 to the twin-turbo six from the GT-R to an electrified powertrain (à la BMW i8) seems possible. We’ll bring you more information as soon as it emerges.

UPDATE 11/17, 8:00 a.m.:

Infiniti has revealed the car will feature a range-extended electric powertrain, and also released two teaser images of the concept. The automaker did not provide any details on the powertrain.

As for the images Infiniti provided, one shows the rear-left quarter of the sports car, and the second gives a look at the passenger-side front fender. Even though the views are limited, the concept is identifiable as an Infiniti. It features the same flowing surfaces and lines as several recent show cars from the Japanese luxury brand, including the Etherea and Essence. One element we like in particular is the sharp crease that appears to run from the hood down into the body side. We also dig the concave shape in the C-pillar area; it also appears there may be an intake there for cooling the range-extending powertrain. We expect more teaser photos as we approach the concept’s Geneva debut.

This story was initially published on 11/16 at 9:31 p.m.

Tags: 2012 Geneva auto show, Infiniti |

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