Ford recently lost its spot in the sales race to Toyota, and the blue oval will be counting on its new-for-2009 Transit Connect people mover unveiled at the 2008 Chicago Auto Show to bring buyers into the showroom. A sportier version of its 2009 Edge crossover was also on display.

Also in the news, Ford added a new option to the redesigned-for-2009 F-150. Ford's Work Solutions system is an in-dash computer that acts like a mobile office allowing drivers to keep track of tools and monitor commercial fleets from the truck.

2009 Ford Transit Connect

2008 Chicago Auto Show
2009 Ford Transit Connect

2008 Chicago Auto Show
2009 Ford Transit Connect

This front-wheel drive, four-cylinder, five-passenger van made its North American debut in Chicago.

Powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder mated to a four-speed automatic, this compact van has been on sale in Europe for quite some time. Ford hopes that the promise of efficiency will help the Transit Connect find a market here, and it claims that Transit Connect will get 19 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway.

Transit Connect is aimed mostly at small, urban businesses looking for a small cargo vehicle to perform deliveries. Sizewise, Transit Connect fills the slot between the Dodge Sprinter and the Scion xB, although it will be much closer in size to xB.

Befitting its rep as a cargo hauler, Transit Connect has dual sliding side doors and rear doors that open 180 degrees. Transit Connect has a cargo capacity of 143 cubic feet and can hold loads of 6.5 feet in length and 4.7 feet in width.

The Transit is tall and boxy, and that's no accident. Ford figures that companies will want to use the tall sides to advertise their wares.

The Transit Connect has been built in Turkey for the European market since 2002, and it has been largely unchanged since then. Ford sold 109,900 Transit Connects in Europe in 2007. The van debuts in certain North American markets in mid-2009. No word yet on prices.

2009 Ford Edge Sport

2008 Chicago Auto Show
2009 Ford Edge Sport

2008 Chicago Auto Show
2009 Ford Edge Sport

Ford's popular crossover gets a Sport version for 2009. The folks in Dearborn are calling the Sport, which joins the SE, SEL, and Limited versions in the lineup, a "factory-quality, customized" model.

The same 3.5-liter 265-horsepower V6 that powers the rest of the Edge lineup will power the Sport, which will be available with front- and all-wheel drive. Ford's SYNC multimedia package is again offered.

The Sport will come standard with 20-inch wheels and available 22-inchers. According to Ford, this is the first time that 22-inch wheels will be available on a crossover.

What separates the Sport from the rest of the model lineup is the eight-piece body kit that includes a unique front air dam, new side skirts, lower door caps, and a rear skirt. All of those pieces will be finished in body color, which is a departure from the rest of the lineup's look. The front air dam will feature integrated fog lamps and a lower grille insert.

There are other small trim details, including special Sport badging, dual-polished exhaust tips, and smoked headlamps and taillamps. Edge Sport will be available in four colors: Sport Blue, Ebony, Brilliant Silver, and Redfire.

The Edge Sport's interior will feature dark gray leather seats with what Ford calls "unique suede-feel patterned inserts." The inserts are a color combination of light and dark gray. Contrasting stitching is used on the seats, steering wheel, and shift knob. The console is trimmed in an etched metal effect.

No word yet on prices, but the Sport model will join the Edge lineup in the fall of 2008.

2008 Chicago Auto Show