On the security front, Transit offers two levels of alarm, a bonnet lock and cable-free doors, a waterproof rechargeable ignition key, a tamperproof odometer and guide-me-home lighting.

Safety has been improved too. A driver’s airbag and ABS brakes with EBD are standard across the range while passenger, side and thorax airbags are an option. ESP traction control also features on the options list.

There is also big news on the engine front. The old-style diesel range – the TDdi – has been consigned to the history books and now all engines are the common-rail Euro IV TDCi variety.

There are two diesel engines at 2.2 and 2.4-litres, together with a 2.3-litre petrol engine.

The 2.2-litre comes in three power formats – 85bhp@3,500rpm and 184lb-ft of torque at 1,500rpm; 109bhp@3,500rpm/210lb-ft@1,750 and 130bhp@3,500/228lb-ft@1,600rpm.

The 2.4-litre offers 100bhp@3,500rpm/210lb-ft@1,600rpm, 115bhp@3,500rpm/236lb-ft@1,750rpm and a new range-topping 140bhp@3,500rpm/276lb-ft@2,000rpm.

The petrol engine offers 145bhp@5,250rpm/154lb-ft@3,850rpm and has hardened valve seats for those who want to convert their vans for LPG or CNG use.

Front-wheel drive variants have a five-speed gearbox while the rear-wheel drive ones get an extra cog. Fuel consumption figures are impressive, ranging from 28.8mpg to 38.2mpg.

Prices range from £12,650 to £21,350.

On the road

Doesn't time fly. It hardly seems five weeks ago that I was travelling to Spain for the launch of the last generation Transit in 2000.

I wasn’t disappointed then and I’m certainly not now.

While I wouldn’t exactly put the new Transit in the ‘quantum leap forward’ category over its older brother, it is streets ahead in the ride and handling stakes.

But let’s take the exterior first. So far this year, we’ve seen the new Mercedes Sprinter, new Volkswagen Crafter and new Transit.

The Mercedes offering is stylish and neat, with lots of creased lines, curves and swirls, while the Crafter (a Sprinter with a different front end and engines) has a massive conk that gives a brash and brutal look.

The Transit seems to slot in between the two Germans and looks a treat.

Climbing aboard, the new cab was revealed in all its glory and it took a good five minutes of delving about to discover all the delightful little extras that Ford has provided.

It seems that, at last, a manufacturer has realised that van drivers might just be slick professionals rather than greasy oiks and might just require items like mobile phone charger sockets, places for laptop computers and drawers for A4 folders in the course of their businesses.