NICER NIGHTS WITH A NUGGET (some text hidden) --NONE--

By Jonathan Crouch

Ford has re-invented its strong selling Transit Custom Nugget Camper. Jonathan Crouch takes a look.

Ten Second Reviewword count: 33

Ford's Transit Custom Nugget aims to set a new standard for motorhome versatility. Check out what you can now do with one of these as part of your adventures. You might be surprised.

Backgroundword count: 166

Ford never used to think there was much merit in providing a campervan for the UK market. Its Transit Custom van-based Nugget motorhome model was on sale in Germany for over three decades before it finally arrived here in 2019. The version we have now arrived in 2023 based on the second generation Transit Custom, a van which shares its design with the Volkswagen Transporter LCV that used to form the basis for the Nugget's arch-rival, Volkswagen's California camper. These days, the California has switched to Multivan MPV underpinnings, but it's still the Nugget's closest rival - in a market that also includes two other van-based motorhomes, the Citroen Holidays and the Mercedes Marco Polo. Like the earlier Transit Custom Nugget, which sold like hot cakes in the staycation era of the Pandemic, this one was developed for Ford by German camper experts Westfalia. But the Blue Oval brand gave them a lot more to work with this time round - as we're going to see...

Driving Experienceword count: 235

Ford is offering a petrol PHEV powertrain for the first time with this Nugget and in the future there will be an EV version too. But for the time being, the majority of customers are still going to want to fuel from the black pump. Given that this state of affairs won't have a very long shelf life, Ford hasn't bothered doing much to the diesel that powered the previous generation version of this model. There's a choice of two power outputs for the black pump-fuelled 2.0-litre EcoBlue models - 150PS (with manual transmission) or 170PS (with an 8-speed automatic). The manual can be ordered with a mechanical limit-slip differential for extra winter traction. An all wheel drive system will be available. As mentioned earlier, Ford would also like combustion engine customers to consider the petrol Plug-in Hybrid option, with 232PS of power output. Surprisingly, this PHEV powertrain isn't a borrowed Volkswagen unit but a development of the set-up used by the old PHEV Transit Custom van. This sees a 2.5-litre petrol engine replace the old 1.0-litre EcoBoost unit, with an electric motor powered by a larger 11.8kWh battery which, when fully charged, is expected supposed to be able to take this LCV up to 31 miles without troubling fossil fuel. As for the aforementioned future all-electric E-Transit Custom Nugget, well that will get a 74kWh battery offering a range of well over 200 miles.

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