► Ford Nugget Camper Van is available to order
► Conversion by Westfalia, always planned for by Ford
► Mild hybrid and electric versions planned, arrives late in 2024
The Ford Nugget Camper Van is the version of the all-new Transit Custom that comes with two beds, a kitchen and even a shower built in. It’s available to order now and Ford is in the process of adding more versions to the offering.
This includes a plug-in hybrid model and an all-wheel drive version. Ford clearly has campers in mind who fancy heading for a pitch that is a bit more off the beaten track, as there is also an Active version that features some more rugged styling and a bit more protection inside and out.
The new versions don’t finish there, though, as Ford has also added a long-wheelbase model to the catalogue. This provides a bit more space and storage on the inside and can even come with a built-in toilet.
Ford has plans for yet more, though, with an electric version on the cards for the future.
Bigger, more electric and more adventurous
The 2024 additions all add to the Nugget range, by bringing something different to ponder. The Active trim is the one that offers more kit, both inside and out. The more obvious changes are outside, where you get what is described as ‘SUV-inspired styling,’ which feels like a bit of a stretch for a van-based campervan.
What this means is black plastic panels and cladding, bespoke 17-inch alloy wheels and an Active grille. re are a couple of tweaks on the inside, with the water-resistant seat covers the element that will appeal most, particularly to those with, er, active hobbies that could bring more water and muck into the cabin.
The Active, like the Titanium model, can also be equipped with the new all-wheel drive system, although only on the 168bhp 2.0-litre diesel engine with the eight-speed automatic gearbox.
This new version of the Nugget Camper Van was first revealed at the Dusseldorf Caravan Salon in August 2023 and these new versions are set to appear at the 2024 equivalent.
The other notable change under the bonnet is the addition of the plug-in hybrid powertrain. Like the Ford Transit Custom on which the Nugget is based, this is the same 2.5-litre petrol engine, 11.8kWh battery and motor combination as you find in the Ford Kuga SUV. This means it produces 230bhp, but Ford hasn’t yet said how much electric range it will offer. As a guide, the van promises up to 35 miles, so something just shy of that is likely.
More space and a loo with a view
The other addition is the long-wheelbase version, which can be specified on the Titanium and Active models and with any of the available engines.
This provides more than just extra space inside, with Ford promising a bigger kitchen area with more worktop and storage room, providing spots for your pots and pans. There is also extra storage space in the living area in the form of a bigger wardrobe.
If you would rather alternative facilities then you can specify a different layout entirely, featuring a built-in toilet.
The Nugget in all its new forms is already available to order. Even though we had to wait years for the first campervan Nugget to arrive in the UK – it was available for more than three decades in Germany before it went on sale here in 2019 – this new one is set to start hitting UK roads by the end of 2024. It won’t be until then that we get precise UK pricing for all the new versions, though. Ford will still let you put your name down for one, though, which is nice of them.
Ford is not shying away from the fact that this is a direct rival to the VW California, and it reckons that the medium-camper market is a big enough one for the two models to compete. It’s worth noting that the Nugget and the Cali are two totally different vehicles, even though the Ford Transit Custom and the next VW Transporter will be basically the same van.
VW has decided to move its own camper onto the same platform as the Multivan people carrier, while this is the camper version of the new Transit Custom.
Unlike the VW, which is an in-house creation, the Ford has been designed with a third-party partner – Westfalia. It’s a long-standing relationship, though – the same company created the previous verions.
Does that mean the Nugget Camper Van is just a posh Transit Custom?
In a way, it is, but the new Transit Custom looks set to be a much posher and more flexible starting point than the old one. For a start, the totally flat floor in the van means that you can walk around the Nugget’s cabin in a way you never could before. This means you can spin the front seats around, stash more stuff on the floor and generally make better use of the space.
That floor is coated in an oak-effect covering, while the seats are lighter and more flexible too. The second row is able to take three seated passengers but it then drops down to create a double bed. Because the seats are heated, so is your bed, which is a lovely sounding touch.
The Nugget adopts the same basic layout as its predecessor, which means that the cabin is split into three – front seats, sleeping and kitchen. The kitchen area has been redesigned too, with a drawer-style fridge, a table and chair set stashed in the tailgate and a ladder hidden in a cupboard to get you up to the roof bed. As a result of the tweaks, you get 20% more worktop space and the ability to store a bottle upright in the fridge.
The roof has been worked over too, with the side material now better designed for folding. You can also add a solar panel onto the roof top for the first time. In favourable weather, said panel will power all the internal features without the need for plugging in to charge the leisure battery.
Those features include the usual interior lighting and heating controls, all of which can be turned on and off via a seven-inch colour touchscreen. But you won’t have to scramble up the ladder in the dark after you’ve turned the lights off – you can pair your phone to the Nugget and control everything via an app.
The touchscreen also features an inclinometer, which will help with levelling out on an uneven pitch. It won’t actually adjust the suspension, but it will act like a built-in spirit level to
Other neat additions include blackout roller blinds on the windows, charging sockets down by the main bed, a 5G modem to create a WiFi hotspot and a shower in the rear tailgate, now with hot water as standard. If you want privacy while showering then that’s extra, though – you can get a little screen to put around yourself as an option.
What engines and gearboxes will the Ford Nugget Camper Van come with?
As with plenty of vehicle launches these days, there are not major surprises in the Nugget Camper Van’s engine range – there are no new units and everything will be shared with the Transit Custom. This means it will launch with a 168bhp 2.0-litre diesel engine.
What is new is the plan to offer a PHEV and an all-electric version for the first time – these will both join the range in the first 12 months of the Nugget’s life. The plug-in hybrid will come with the same powertrain that is due to go into the Transit Custom with a 2.5-litre petrol engine and 11.8kWh battery – it’s the same setup from the Ford Kuga SUV. In the Kuga it produces a 35-mile electric-only range, but we’d wager that might be a challenge for the heavy Nugget.
It’ll also get an eight-speed automatic transmission and a range of driver assistance systems –adaptive cruise control, reverse brake assist, park assist and a 360-degree camera system to name a few.
The electric version promises other exciting prospects, too. By having a big battery on board, it has the potential to be able to power much more in the way of camping gadgets and appliances. Think the sort of things that you would normally have to be hooked up to a campsite’s power supply to make use of. This means that you should be able to spend more time off grid.
The obvious caveat to this is the range, which is currently expected to be just over 200 miles in the E-Transit Custom panel van. The extra weight of the living kit in the Nugget is a factor to consider, but the electric-van-range test does bear a payload in mind when it is calculated, so it might not move by much.
When can I buy a Ford Nugget Camper Van?
The Nugget is on display in Germany, but you can already order one with first deliveries due to start in around the end of 2024. Pricing is set to start around the £75,000 mark and there will be a selection of options to make your camper your own. We’ll bring more information as and when we have it.