BRITAIN'S best selling light commercial, the Ford Transit, has a raft of improvements for the autumn including a new flagship diesel engine, a heavy duty range and a new six speed transmission.

Heading the upgrades is the all-new 3.2-litre, five cylinder, TDCi engine developing 200bhp which can be identified on the street by the unique front styling which features additional air intake. Prices start at £22,950.

This engine is combined with a new six speed manual transmission which also features on all front-wheel-drive Transits including a new 2.2-litre 140bhp power unit.

In addition to the extra gear, this new engine also develops an extra 13 per cent compared to the previous model and will be available in Transit SportVan around Spring 2008.

The inclusion of ESP across the Transit continues with dual rear wheel drive models now being produced with ESP as standard. This includes Jumbo vans, chassis and chassis double cabs and 17-seat minibus.

In addition, ESP is being upgraded across the range to include hill launch assist (HLA). This feature uses the ESP system to help the driver when accelerating from stationary on an incline. When the driver removes foot pressure from the brake pedal to accelerate, the system momentarily holds the vehicle to prevent it rolling backwards.

With a move by some operators to climb the payload ladder and other operators downsizing from 7.5-tonne trucks' the Transit range is being extended to take advantage of these new market opportunities.

The 4.6 tonne (N2 class) range of vans, chassis and chassis double cabs is available with both the six-speed 140bhp and the all-new 200bhp RWD powertrains. Prices start at £25,800.

Both axles have been strengthened for this application to accommodate 1,850 kg in the front and 3,300 kg in the rear.

To cope with the extra payload, these versions come with larger rear brake callipers, a heavy-duty hand brake lever, uprated rear springs, revised front and rear damper settings and a new front damper for the chassis cab.

Also new and meeting the N1 class legislation is the 350 Heavy Duty (HD) series available on a range of panel vans, chassis and chassis double cabs with both the 140bhp and 200bhp engines.

Prices start at £25,050 (350EL 140PS Jumbo DRW).In line with the market for these new models, an increased capacity fuel tank option, costing £55 increases rear wheel drive Transit capacity from 80-litres to 103-litres for customers requiring greater range.

Ford has also announced that the new all-wheel-drive (AWD) Transit is now available priced from £23,495 for the 330 short wheelbase panel van.