FIRST FORD TOURNEO CUSTOM CAMPERVAN BREAKS COVER
Details of an exciting new campervan, the first to be based on the new Ford Tourneo Custom from a UK converter (Wellhouse Leisure), have been released ahead of its world debut at The Motorhome and Caravan Show at the NEC in Birmingham this October.
The new Ford Tourneo Custom is the luxury, people-mover stablemate of the Transit van, praised by the media for its good looks and car-like drivability, and also for giving rivals like Volkswagen a serious run for their money, so represents a significant new model for the campervan market.
Wellhouse Leisure, an established UK market leader in compact campervan conversions, has developed this new campervan with full collaboration with Ford, plus Reimo, who developed the elevating roof and rear seats. This collaboration matches Wellhouse Leisure’s previous experience of working closely with the automotive industry for its award-winning Hyundai i800 camper conversion.
The elevating roof for the Ford Tourneo Custom will provide an extra large double bed, and with a three-seat rear bench seat below, it can seat and sleep up to five people. A luxury specification will include a heater, fridge, gas cooker, sink and a hook-up for mains electricity.
The attractive design of the new Tourneo Custom makes an ideal base for a campervan thanks to a high standard specification and compact exterior dimensions similar to a large family estate car or MPV. At 4.97 metres long, with a turning circle of 10.9 metres, it is really easy to use as an everyday vehicle. Its practical shape also provides a generous and versatile living space.
Ford offers many standard features for the new Tourneo Custom that will give the Wellhouse Leisure conversion one of the highest specifications available. This includes FordSYNC for hands-free music and phone calls, a leather-covered steering wheel with remote audio controls, front and rear parking sensors, cruise control, front fog lights and automatic headlights, plus heated windscreen and power-folding door mirrors.
For economical touring, the 2.2-litre Duratorq TDCI engine offers Ford’s latest ECOnetic technology, with auto start/stop to deliver up to 43.5 mpg and emissions from172 g/km. Prices will offer excellent value for money, and are expected to start from under £39,995.
To offer the highest safety standards, Wellhouse Leisure will ensure its Ford Tourneo Custom conversion meets the strict European whole vehicle type approval, plus full National Caravan Council approval to meet UK standards.
David Elliott, managing director of Wellhouse Leisure, said: ‘This is a really exciting new model for the UK campervan market. We were really impressed with the new Ford Tourneo Custom when we first saw it and knew it would be an ideal base vehicle as a campervan conversion.
The old Transit never struck the right chord with campervan customers, but the new Tourneo Custom looks really good and is great to drive, plus it comes with all the latest Ford technology to make convenient to live with, economical to run and much better value than most rivals.’
