While the Volkswagen California has been around for a while as an off-the-shelf campervan, Ford has been a little late to the party with its own version. That changed with the arrival of the Transit Custom Nugget a couple of years ago, and now Ford has revealed a new version based on the latest Transit Custom van that's hitting showrooms this year.
The new Transit Custom Nugget was revealed in Dusseldorf at Europe's largest campervan expo, and as before it has been developed in conjunction with conversion specialist Westfalia. The German firm has many years of experience in camper conversions, having previously built Volkswagen and Mercedes-based vans, and it still has input into the Transit Custom Nugget's main rivals - the aforementioned California, plus the Mercedes V-Class Marco Polo.
Brand-new design
For the new Transit Custom Nugget, Westfalia and Ford created a clean-sheet design to make the most of the new van's dimensions and latest powertrains. At launch, the Transit Custom Nugget will come in high-spec Titanium trim and with a 170hp EcoBlue diesel connected to an eight-speed automatic gearbox. Front-wheel drive is standard, but four-wheel drive will be offered as an option.
In the next 12 months, a Transit Custom Nugget PHEV will join the diesel. This plug-in model will use the same petrol-electric powertrain as found in the Kuga SUV, so a degree of zero-emissions driving will be possible, although Ford hasn't confirmed economy figures or an electric range for the Nugget just yet.
Luxury living
According to Ford Pro general manager Hans Schep, the Transit Custom Nugget "is about helping owners discover new places - and with the extra comfort, connectivity and PHEV option of the new model, they can go further than ever. Customers tell us they use their Nuggets as family cars, to get friends and bikes to the next trail, or as a more exciting kind of retirement plan, so we designed our latest Nugget to do it all."
Features on board include soft-close cupboards that help to reduce rattles from the cabin when driving, while pop-out handles are used, too. The kitchen area features a fridge, hob and sink with hot water, which can also be used with the standard-fit shower outlet at the back of the van - Ford will offer a shower curtain as an option for privacy.
The cabin has a five-seat layout, with the front chairs able to rotate through 180 degrees, while the three-seat bench is fixed to rails so that it can be slid and unfolded into a bed single handedly. This creates a double bed, while the Nugget's pop-up roof has another double bed hidden inside. This features a folding mattress that's designed to boost headroom in the kitchen area when the bed isn't being used.
Connectivity is taken care of by USB-C and 12-volt sockets, and wireless charging is on offer, too. As with the rest of the Transit Custom range, the Nugget will come with a built-in 5G modem as standard, so devices can remain online, network coverage permitting.
Ford is also offering the option of a solar panel in the roof. This will be able to keep devices charged, as well as keeping the Nugget's 12-volt battery topped up.
All of the cabin functions can be controlled via a seven-inch touchscreen in the cab. This includes monitoring of the camper's power supplies, adjusting the LED ambient lighting and even includes an inclinometer to help park the Nugget level on uneven surfaces. Bluetooth connectivity also means that a smartphone can be used as a remote control for the Nugget's systems.
As the Nugget will be a special-order model in Ireland, Irish pricing has not been released.