[aerohead]

The model year 2024, Transit 'Connect' BEV van in on sale in Europe today.
It's a complete redesign. AUTOCAR and other websites are reporting:
* 15mm lower.
* A 13% lower drag coefficient, @ Cd 0.319.
* It's height is under 2-meters.
* Above 30-mpg equivalency.
* 200mm added length.
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1) If we accept the published Cd 0.319, and a delta- 13% drag, then the outgoing model must have had Cd 0.3666.
2) If the OEM top speed was 80-mph, a 13% drag reduction ( according to Dr. Wolf-Heinrich Hucho's math, would be good for 83.46-mph top speed.
3) By the same metrics, achieving a top speed of 110-mph, from 80-mph would require Cd 0.2153.
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A) Just for ----- & giggles, if we allowed a cooling system drag delete of Cd 0.025, that would get us to Cd 0.3416.
B) If the 2024 Connect's front air curtains were a 'new' modification, we might allow a delta-Cd 0.010 ( BMW ), which could get us to Cd 0.3316.
C) And then the difference of delta-Cd 0.0226, for a complete flat underbody of an electric van might explain the remaining drag discrepancy, down to the reported Cd 0.319 ( which would not be unreasonable, as a diffuser by itself can deliver a delta-Cd 0.020 ).
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The arbitrary change of the Transit's front and rear height is problematic as far as attributing differences in performance. Historically, even, what would seem to be very small changes to a vehicles 'inclination', can result in dramatic changes to drag.
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Removing 10 out of 14 slats from a radiator shutter system is not sufficient to explain the top speed difference experienced. It's scientifically impossible.
We need to look elsewhere for the actual attribution.