Ford Flexibus Debuts As Entry-Level Camper Still Loaded With Features

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BIG NUGGET AND FLEXIBUS - FORD PRESENTS TWO WORLD PREMIERES AT THE CARAVAN SALON

BIG NUGGET AND FLEXIBUS - FORD PRESENTS TWO WORLD PREMIERES AT THE CARAVAN SALON
30.08.2019 | COLOGNE
 
  
   

 
Big nugget with classic panel van floor plan - Market launch planned for the first half of 2020
Flexibus: attractively priced entry into the segment of compact leisure vehicles
Proven classics such as Nugget, Nugget Plus, Euroline and Ranger with a Tischer drop-off cabin round off Ford's appearance at the Caravan Salon
Cologne, August 30, 2019 - Ford is presenting two world premieres at the Caravan Salon in Düsseldorf (August 30 to September 8, 2019, Hall 16, D40): the close-to-production study of the Big Nugget and the Ford Flexibus. One (Big Nugget) stands for new size, the other (Flexibus) for almost limitless flexibility: The Ford Big Nugget, the fourth member of the successful Nugget family, continues the basic idea of ​​the Nugget Plus on a larger scale.

Based on the latest version of the Ford Transit with a long wheelbase, front-wheel drive and high-roof, the six-meter-long Big Nugget impresses with a fully equipped classic van layout. At the same time the vehicle with 2.05 meters offers a lush indoor standing height. The market launch of the Big Nugget production version - which was created in cooperation with Westfalen Mobil GmbH - is scheduled for the first half of 2020. The new Flexibus can be ordered from now on.

This is another conversion solution from Sortimo Speedwave GmbH. By choosing the Ford Transit Custom estate car in the wheelbases L1 (short - 2,933 mm) or L2 (long - 3,300 mm) as Flexibus base vehicle entry into the segment of compact leisure vehicles could be attractively priced, while the equipment exactly that keeps what the name promises: pure flexibility.

The Ford Big Nugget

The Ford Big Nugget is again in proven cooperation with the Westfalen Mobil GmbH (Rheda-Wiedenbrück / North Rhine-Westphalia) originated. For the Big Nugget, the partners have opted for an interior approach that clearly differentiates the new model from its "smaller siblings": while the more compact Nugget and Nugget Plus models with their proven two-chamber concept with rear kitchen provide maximum space efficiency and flexibility, the Big Nugget relies on a van floor plan that prioritizes space and comfort.

For this purpose, the Ford Transit van FT350 L3 H3 - which has a long wheelbase (3,750 mm) and a high roof - was selected as the base vehicle for the Big Nugget and offers a special balance: despite the relatively compact outside length of 5.98 meters the vehicle with its high roof gallery is designed for an interior volume of approx. 13 cubic meters.

The space was cleverly used, and also in this concept, the various zones in the vehicle are clearly defined: a closed bathroom area, a semi-dinette in the middle of the vehicle, a kitchenette on the passenger side and a generous Querbett in the rear, with The dimensions 200 x 154/131 cm are among the largest in its class (length x width in the head area / in the foot area).

The prices of the new Ford Big Nugget will be announced in time for launch.

Ford Flexibus: affordable entry into the segment of compact leisure vehicles

Maximum flexibility at an attractive entry-level price in the compact leisure vehicle segment is offered by the new Ford Flexibus *. It is another conversion solution of the Sortimo Speedwave GmbH (Zusmarshausen / Bavaria).

If the already well-known version Euroline * - based on the Ford Tourneo Custom - has a high degree of flexibility in a stylish ambience, the new Flexibus takes a different approach: By choosing the Ford Transit Custom estate car as the base vehicle optionally with the wheelbases L1 (short - 2,933 mm) or L2 (long - 3,300 mm) was the entry into the segment of compact leisure vehicles can be made cheaper, while the equipment keeps exactly what the name promises: pure flexibility.

The customer can choose between the versions 320 (both wheelbases) and 340 (both wheelbases), which is reflected in the maximum payload: The 320 is in the payload range up to 0.9 tonnes (wheelbase L1) and up to 0.8 tonnes ( Wheelbase L2), the 340 has a maximum payload of 1.1 tonnes (L1) and 1.0 tonnes (L2).

For the engine *, the program ranges from 77 kW (105 hp) to 136 kW (185 hp), depending on the model (320 or 340) and wheelbase (L1 or L2). Diesel engines are used, which are classified according to Euro 6d TEMP-EVAP-ISC. Depending on the selected engine, an automatic transmission is available in addition to the 6-speed manual transmission.

The starting point for interior development was once again the proven Sortimo Multi-Functional Floor, which can be ordered with either a comfortable carpet or robust plastic floor covering for the new Ford Flexibus. The rail system, which is embedded in the floor in each case, enables an equally secure and highly flexible design of the interior with a wide range of seating and equipment options.

Whether as a cheap camper with up to four beds, as a versatile transporter for sports equipment of all kinds, as a mobile office or as a freely configurable team bus: the Flexibus can be adapted to the current needs and requirements of the situation perfectly.

The roof configuration also offers "air up" on request: For the compact L1 wheelbase as well as for the longer L2 wheelbase, rear-mounted roofs are available on request, which allow a comfortable standing height or two additional beds in the interior.

The price for the Ford Flexibus depends on the desired expansion scope. The base vehicle Ford Transit Custom estate car costs from 35,200 euros gross.

The Nugget and Nugget Plus versions

In addition to the two world premieres Big Nugget and Flexibus, Ford will showcase state-of-the-art classics at its booth: The Ford Nugget * and Ford Nugget Plus * models will benefit from the latest innovations in the base Ford Transit Custom estate car at the end of 2017 comprehensively revised and upgraded came on the market.

The nugget is based on the short L1 wheelbase (total vehicle length: 4,973 mm), the Nugget Plus on the long L2 wheelbase (total vehicle length: 5,340 mm). The Nugget is available either with a pop-up roof or with a high roof, the approximately 37 centimeters longer Nugget Plus is currently delivered exclusively with high roof, a version with pop-up roof is in preparation.

The high-quality nugget is therefore available in three attractive versions:

· As a nugget with a short L1 wheelbase and a pitch roof (from 53,220 euros),

· As nugget with short L1 wheelbase and high roof (from 53.809 Euro),

· As Nugget Plus with long L2 wheelbase, high roof and integrated toilet (from 57.512 Euro).

The two-room concept

For three decades now, the nugget - and now also the Nugget Plus - has relied on the tried and tested two-room concept - in other words, the consistent separation of the spacious living area from the L-shaped kitchen / functional area in the rear of the vehicle.

Up to five people find space to eat or play at the fold-out table in the middle of the living area: Three sitting - looking in the direction of travel and secured on the way by three-point straps - on a bench. At the same time, the driver's and front passenger's seats can be rotated 180 degrees. To facilitate this even when the handbrake is pulled, the handbrake lever then folds down into a low starting position.

For the night accommodation, the 3-seat bench transforms into a comfortable double bed in no time, and a second, fully integrated double bed can be placed upstairs. A removable ladder ensures easy access. The Nugget sleeps up to four in two separate double beds.

The advantage of the roof-mounted version: With an outside height of only 2.06 meters when closed, the vehicle also fits in many private garages and car parks reserved for cars. With the roof installed, the total room height reaches 3.10 meters. The high-roof version (total height: 2.80 meters) offers in return an extended range of cleverly integrated cabinet systems and an even more spacious feeling.

The practical floor in an attractive parquet look is easy to clean. The kitchen block includes a chrome-nickel steel sink with spout and ample work surface as well as a two-burner gas hob. A 40-liter compressor refrigerator provides well-tempered food, while two 42-liter tanks are available for fresh and waste water. An outdoor shower on the back of the kitchen is a practical addition. The standard 3.0 kW auxiliary heater ensures pleasant warmth in the parked motorhome when the outside temperature is cool.

The Nugget Plus

The Nugget Plus is based on the long-wheelbase (L2) Ford Transit Custom Estate car 340 and is currently available only with a high roof. A version with a pitch roof is in preparation. The vehicle is equipped with a fixed electric flushing toilet on the right-hand rear side (front passenger side) with a retractable privacy screen and a hinged washbasin behind the kitchen unit (driver's side) also mounted in the rear.

On request, a removable camping table and up to four folding chairs for a comfortable stay outdoors are available for the Nugget Plus. If they are not needed, there is a space-saving as well as secure mounting on the rear swing door for the table, the folding chairs fit behind the kitchen block.

All Nugget models have tinted windows in the rear area, in the second row of seats they can be opened. Optionally, a premium sound system and special carrier systems for bicycles and other sports equipment are also available.

The Nugget and Nugget Plus engines

For long-haul campervans, Ford's modern 2.0-liter Ford turbodiesel is the ideal choice: it offers plenty of torque and combines this with remarkable smoothness, low fuel consumption and a Euro 6d TEMP EVAC. ISC rating. For the Nugget and the Nugget Plus, the engines are available with 96 kW (130 hp) and 136 kW (185 hp).

The driver and front passenger have many convenient storage options available while driving. Displays and controls are characterized by first-class ergonomics. The innovative communication and entertainment system Ford SYNC 3 can be controlled via simple voice commands or by swiping and dragging movements on the eight-inch touch screen, which is similar in form and function to a tablet.

For the Nugget and Nugget Plus, Ford offers a variety of advanced safety and driver assistance systems based on advanced sensor, radar and camera components. In addition to the Blind Spot Assist with Cross Traffic Alert and Pre Collision Assist with pedestrian detection, these include the Intelligent Speed ​​Limiter and a reversing camera.

The Euroline: more flexible than ever with two wheelbases and an optional pop-up roof

The leisure vehicle classic Euroline * shows more flexibility than ever, with two wheelbases (short / optional with a pop-up roof and long / optionally with a pop-up roof), paired with the comfort features of the base vehicle Ford Tourneo Custom Trend. For example, the Euroline can be used as an office vehicle, as a compact touring car or as a comfortable shuttle vehicle.

Renovation partner Sortimo also supplies the backbone of Eurolines - the soil. It is screwed or glued into the body piece by piece and has six flush-mounted rails - in between, it is comfortably carpeted. So that no dirt and sand can collect in the rails, two rubber lips seal each of them. This is especially important so that the furniture can be moved even after months of use as smooth and without crunching as on the first day.

Bench and table slide easily through the rails and rest safely in five-centimeter increments. They are the heart that makes the Euroline variable. With two large fold-out panels, the multifunction table is just as good for working on the laptop as it is for a well-groomed breakfast. The triple seat with ISOFIX brackets provides three passengers with a secure seat belt when driving.

The bench can be converted into a comfortable bed 1.88 meters long and 1.38 meters wide. Also on board: a complete curtain and dimming system with curtains on the rear windows and fabric panels, which can be fixed with clamping frames and magnets on the windows of the cockpit and a 14-liter cooler bag. Sales price: from 55.543 euros.

Overview: the base vehicles of the Ford Camper Mobile

The following overview shows which Ford base vehicles are used for the Ford Camper-Mobile:

Nugget (refurbishment partner: Westfalen Mobil)

Transit Custom Kombi-Passenger Car 320 (short wheelbase L1, with optional roof or with high roof)

Nugget Plus (refurbishment partner: Westfalen Mobil)

Transit Custom Estate car 340 (long wheelbase L2, high roof)

Big Nugget (refurbishment partner: Westfalen Mobil)

Transit box truck FT 350 with long wheelbase and high roof (L3 H3)

Flexibus (refurbishment partner: Sortimo)

Transit Custom . Two wheelbases - short (L1) and long (L2), on request each with a pop-up roof

Euroline (refurbishment partner: Sortimo)

Tourneo Custom Trend. Two wheelbases - short (L1, on request with installation roof) and long (L2, on request with installation roof)

Ranger with trailer cabin serves off-road segment on the camper market

Also back on the Ford stand: the latest version of the Ford Ranger *. This pickup is the market leader in Europe and Germany. At the Caravan Salon, he serves the all-terrain segment on the camper market with a Trail 260S table-type trailer.

 

WORLD PREMIERE AT THE CARAVAN SALON: FORD PRESENTS NEAR-SERIES STUDY OF THE BIG NUGGET
30.08.2019 | COLOGNE
 
  
   

 
Extension of the nugget family
The big gold piece: Plenty of space and comfort based on the new Ford Transit with a long wheelbase and high roof
Classic van layout with closed bath area and generous transverse bed in the rear
Cologne, August 30, 2019 - World premiere at the Caravan Salon in Dusseldorf: Ford is presenting the close-to-production study of the Ford Big Nugget at its booth (Hall 16, D 40), expanding the popular and successful Nugget Camper family by a fourth and fourth generation largest variant. The market launch of the Big Nugget production version is scheduled for the first half of 2020.

The selling prices will be announced in good time before the market launch. The other members of the nugget family are the nugget with pop-up roof and high-roof, as well as the Nugget Plus with high roof, which will also be on display at the Ford stand in Dusseldorf.

The Ford Big Nugget continues the Nugget Plus concept on a larger scale: Based on the latest version of the Ford Transit long-wheelbase (L3 = 3,750 mm) and high-roof (H3) vans, the six-meter-long Big Nugget convinces a fully equipped classic van layout with a separate bathroom area, a semi-dinette in the middle of the vehicle, a kitchenette on the passenger side and a generous transverse bed in the rear, which is one of the largest in its class with the dimensions 200 x 154/131 cm (Length x width in the head area / in the foot area). At the same time the vehicle with 2.05 meters offers a lush indoor standing height.

Thomas Juraschek, Head of Commercial Vehicles Ford-Werke GmbH: "The new Big Nugget is the logical extension and addition to our Nugget family - with its generous space and high-quality equipment, it is the perfect upgrade for the fans of the previous Nugget models but at the same time also a great alternative for campers who want to switch from a large body structure to a more compact vehicle without sacrificing comfort ".

Ford Big Nugget - comfort, space and airiness

The Ford Big Nugget has emerged again in proven cooperation with the Westfalen Mobil GmbH in Rheda-Wiedenbrück. For the Big Nugget, the partners have opted for an interior approach that clearly differentiates the new model from its "smaller siblings": while the more compact Nugget and Nugget Plus models with their proven two-chamber concept with rear kitchen provide maximum space efficiency and flexibility, the Big Nugget relies on a van floor plan that prioritizes space and comfort.

The Ford Transit FT350 L3 H3 - which has a long wheelbase and a high roof - has been chosen as the basis vehicle for the Big Nugget, and offers a special balance: despite the relatively compact outside length of 5.98 meters, the vehicle with its high roof gallery designed for an interior volume of about 13 cubic meters.

The available space was cleverly used, whereby also in this concept, the different zones in the vehicle are clearly and functionally defined. Together with the rotatable driver and front passenger seats, a comfortable two-way bench on the driver's side that can be moved and adjusted several times comfortably accommodates four people. This seat has a "lounge function", which means that the backrest can be adjusted in inclination. On the opposite side (passenger side) resides the kitchenette, which offers a variety of storage compartments and work surfaces in addition to a two-burner gas stove and a 70 liter refrigerator.

Behind the semi-dinette, the new Ford Big Nugget is equipped with a comfortably designed bathroom area with a fixed toilet, washbasin and shower - each with a single-handle mixer tap - as well as numerous storage options and a mirror cabinet designed for a high degree of comfort and self-sufficiency is. The anticipated 100 liter fresh and waste water tanks all contribute to relaxed travel with long "maintenance intervals".

Otherwise, the Ford Big Nugget convinces with a sophisticated technology: For example, provides a hot water heater with a power of 5 kW even in cold weather for pleasant warmth on board, while the electrical system is powered by two batteries a 95 Ah. Also on board are three 230 V sockets and two USB and 12V connections in the living area as well as generous lighting with dimmable LED spots.

If these are extinguished at the end of the day, the generous rear cross bed measuring 200 x 154/131 cm provides a comfortable sleeping space for two people with a high-quality cold foam mattress and point elastic suspension. The half of the bed, facing the rear of the vehicle, can be folded up as needed, thus providing additional storage space during the journey - for example in everyday life, when a washing machine needs to be moved, or when traveling for two bicycles.

In addition, the interior design is nugget-typical thoughtfully designed and high-quality: based on a lightweight and stable sandwich floor with PU foam core solid furniture prevails in the best Westfalia quality, with basically highly abrasion-resistant laminated plywood are used.

The cleanly fitted kitchen, clothes and hanging cabinets - as well as the side wall panels made of vacuum-formed ABS plastic - with a friendly-modern surface. The airiness of the interior is underlined by a total of five acrylic double-glazed windows with integrated mosquito nets and blackout pleats in the rear of the vehicle. Also, a dimming of the cab was considered in the development of the Big Nugget.

Ford Big Nugget - Transporter icon Ford Transit technology and propulsion technology

The Ford Transit - the largest of the four European commercial vehicle series from Ford - comes in these days completely revised and modernized on the market. It serves as the basis for the new Big Nugget in the version FT350. Among other things, the Transit series boasts integrated connectivity and revised 2.0-liter EcoBlue turbodiesels, which are now even more economical than the previous engines.

For example, the Ford engineers have achieved this progress through an optimized injection system that now operates at a maximum pressure of 2,200 bar, enabling an even more efficient combustion process. Added to this are new steel pistons with slimmer piston stems (instead of the aluminum components used up to now) and internal engine measures to reduce friction.

It has not yet been decided in which engine the big nugget will hit the market. The range of services includes the base vehicle, the FT 350 L3 with front-wheel drive, 2.0-liter EcoBlue diesel engines with a power range from 77 kW (105 hp) to 136 kW (185 hp) *. Fuel consumption is reduced by the automatic start-stop system, which is standard on all model versions of the new Big Nugget, and the "Efficient Drive Mode". From the information provided by the GPS and navigation system, this driving program gains insights into the route characteristics ahead and derives indications of an even more economical driving style.

The new, optionally available FordPass Connect modem, which also serves as a mobile Internet hub for up to ten devices, provides the best connection to the digital environment. The modem also serves as an interface for numerous functions of the Ford Pass mobile app, with which, for example, the further optimization of the route and time can be achieved.

Extensive range of driver assistance systems

In addition, there are optional other modern technologies such as the communication and entertainment system Ford SYNC 3, which can be operated via voice commands - including an 8-inch touchscreen that reacts sensitively to wiping and pulling movements.

Comprehensive is the range of driver assistance systems for the Ford Transit as the base vehicle for the Big Nugget. These systems help to prevent accidents or minimize their consequences for man and machine. These include, among others:

a Blind Spot Assist with Cross Traffic Alert with additional trailer function (to extend the dead-angle sensor area with the trailer attached). This feature can detect other road users sideways beside or behind their own vehicle over a distance of up to ten meters as the system extends dead-eye surveillance to the trailer,
the intelligent adaptive cruise control system, which, in combination with the traffic sign recognition system and the adaptive cruise control system, protects the driver from unintentional tempo overruns;
the improved Lane Assistant including Lane Keeping Assist - he recognizes the lane marking with the aid of the front camera and warns the driver against an unintended lane change with short steering wheel vibrations. In addition, an active steering assistance promotes the change back to the track,
The pedestrian detection pre-collision assist, which detects people next to or on the road, even at night, as soon as they are in the light cone of the headlights.
Other assistance functions of the new Transit reduce the stress load at the wheel and counteract premature fatigue, for example by facilitating parking maneuvers and thereby reducing the risk of costly damage caused by bumping:

a parking aid with additional lateral sensors
an Active Parking Assist with parking and parking functions, which helps the driver to find a correspondingly large gap and maneuvers into parking spaces that are transverse or longitudinal to the roadway. The Auspark Assistant steers the vehicle out of parking bays along the road
the warning system Cross-Traffic Alert, which, when reversing from a parking space, alerts vehicles that are approaching to the side
Thomas Juraschek summarizes: "The Big Nugget will build on the Nugget success story launched in 1986 and expand it with a new chapter - we are very happy about that!"