I hope that explains in some convoluted way Ford's reason for importing the Transit Connect strictly in the gas/automatic configuration instead of something more economical. 
�
Stephen

--- On Fri, 1/20/12, BenT Syncro <syncro@GMAIL.COM> wrote:

From: BenT Syncro <syncro@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Ford Galaxy Friday
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Date: Friday, January 20, 2012, 5:15 PM

Because VW's joint venture agreement with Ford included keeping this model out of the US where it was perceived to compete with Ford minivans.