Here’s the Ford Nugget – a camper van that can sleep four people and has everything you need for an adventure – including a shower.
Ford has taken its Transit Custom van and given it a camper conversion with the help of Westfalia.
It’s been put on sale in Austria, Belgium, Germany, Italy and Switzerland so far, with the hope that it’ll be on sale in the UK soon too.
As Hans Schep, general manager, Commercial Vehicles, Ford of Europe explains: “More and more customers are recognising the freedom and fun that camper vans can offer, and we’re excited to be able to offer a greater number of adventure-seekers our Transit Custom Nugget, which is already much-loved in Germany.
You can choose your Nugget to come with either an adjustable tilt roof or a fixed high roof (there’s also a Nugget Plus version that comes with the high roof as standard plus a sink).
It’s interesting on the inside as it divides into a three-room layout with an L-shaped kitchenette at the rear, a spacious living and dining area in the centre and comfortable sleeping quarters in the roof.
Accessories wise there’s a heating system, a gas cooker with two hobs, a sink, a 40-litre compressor refrigerator and on-board water tanks, each with a capacity of 42 litres. The tanks also supply an outdoor shower at the rear of the vehicle – winning!
Up to five people can gather around the interior’s fold-out table to eat and socialise, with room for three on a forward-facing bench, while the driver and front passenger seats swivel 180 degrees to face the rear – the turning action made easier by a folding handbrake. An available fold-out table with two chairs and a retractable awning allow al fresco dining.
All vehicles feature rear privacy glass, flip-open windows for the second row and a heated window for the tailgate. Additional options include a premium sound system and racks for bikes and sports equipment.
Meanwhile the Nugget Plus is 36.7 centimetres longer than the standard version. The extra space is used to provide a larger wardrobe and an area at the rear housing a built-in toilet and an additional folding washbasin, which can be shielded by a retractable screen.F
The Transit Custom Nugget is powered by Ford’s state-of-the art 2.0-litre EcoBlue diesel engine optimised for fuel-efficiency while delivering refinement and enhanced low-end torque.
Customers can specify 130 PS and 170 PS versions, each available with six-speed manual or a responsive six-speed SelectShift automatic transmission, and delivering from 6.3 l/100 km fuel-efficiency and 165 g/km CO2 emissions.
The driver and front-seat passenger are provided with class-leading stowage space while on the move, and displays and control panels have been designed for enhanced ergonomics and ease of use. Ford’s available SYNC 3 communications and entertainment system can be operated using simple voice commands or with pinch and swipe gestures on a tablet-inspired 8-inch colour touchscreen.
A range of advanced new driver assistance technologies from Ford’s latest passenger cars utilise sophisticated sensors, radars and cameras to provide information about the driving environment around the vehicle. These include Cross Traffic Alert, Pre-Collision Assist with Pedestrian Detection, rear wide-view camera and Adaptive Cruise Control.
