Ford launched its Transit and Transit Custom vans with a new Ecoblue diesel engine at the CV Show today.

The manufacturer says the all-new 2.0-litre engine will offer improved cost of ownership and performance for customers when it is available after mid-2016.

Ford added the Ecoblue unit increases fuel efficiency by up to 13% compared with the outgoing 2.2-litre TDCi engine, with CO2 emissions from 157g/km.

The new engine, which is available to order now, will also deliver up to two-year/37,000-mile variable service intervals for Transit and Transit Custom operators.

It will initially be offered with 105hp, 130hp and 170hp in commercial vehicle applications. Capable of delivering more than 200hp, the engine will later feature in Ford passenger cars alongside further new Ecoblue engines – including a 1.5‑litre variant.

“The challenge was to take our best-selling Transit and make it cheaper to operate, improve performance, cleaner in terms of emissions, quieter in the cabin, safer and even more durable,” said Pete Reyes, Ford of Europe’s head of commercial vehicles.

“That’s exactly what we did with the new Transit and Transit Custom with the all-new Ford Ecoblue engine.”

Clean diesel technologies enable ultra-low emissions in line with stringent Euro 6 standards that will be introduced in September 2016, requiring a 55% reduction in NOx emissions compared to Euro 5 standards.

In addition to the all-new engine line-up, Transit and Transit Custom vehicles also are available to order now with advanced driver assistance technologies including side wind stabilisation and pre-collision assist with pedestrian detection.

From late 2016, customers also will be able to specify a six‑speed automatic transmission in place of a manual gearbox, and a new rear air suspension option on Transit Custom Kombi models.