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Between the craziness of motorhome launch season and Caravan Salon Düsseldorf, I managed to get away in our VW CMC HemBil camper for a much-needed break. The campervan coped as brilliantly as ever with the needs of two adults and two kids, and the site we based ourselves at (Le Moulin du Bel-Air in the tranquil Lot Valley) has shot to the top of my list as one of my all-time favourites. But now it’s back to the reality of magazine deadlines and what looks like a very exciting 2024 season, not least because the Ford Nugget and VW California (above) have been redesigned and their nemesis, the Mercedes Marco Polo, has been improved, too. I can’t wait to get behind the wheel of the new Transit Custom (basis of…
Following the launch of Swift’s first-ever Ford-based coachbuilts, the Voyager 5 Series, for the 2023 model year, the company is extending the range with the introduction of its new 4 Series models for 2024. These have a similar specification, but the 4 series models have an overcab luton in place of the 5 Series’ low-profile body style. There are three models in the new line-up, each one with an overall length of 7.54m and a maximum gross weight of 3,500kg to suit all drivers. The layouts are new. The five-berth Voyager 475 has a pullman dinette up front and a rear transverse lounge. The 485 also has belts and berths for five (one of the travel seats is rear-facing), but replaces the rear seating with fixed single beds. Finally, the…
Ford has confirmed significant upgrades to the Transit. The new models will gain a comprehensive step up in connectivity features and Ford Power-Up wireless update capability, while chassis improvements and the introduction of an eight-speed automatic transmission will also appear on next year’s models. New features will include Ford’s SYNC 4 infotainment system, which is displayed via a 12in central touchscreen and 8in digital instrument cluster. This features Connected Navigation for real-time traffic information. The new base vehicle will also feature Ford’s latest 5G modem and a suite of driver assistance systems, including Pre-Collision Assist with Autonomous Emergency Braking, Lane Keeping Alert & Aid, and Intelligent Speed Assist. The 2024 model also introduces Ford’s new eight-speed automatic transmission as an option for front-wheel drive Transits, while new wheel hub and brake…
The next Volkswagen California has made its world premiere in design concept form at the Caravan Salon in Düsseldorf, 35 years after the first (T3) California went on show. It is also exactly 20 years since VW brought production of its campervans in-house at Hanover (earlier models, prior to the T5, being converted by Westfalia). In total, Volkswagen has now manufactured 260,000 California campers and the new model will remain a wholly VW product, designed and built (starting next year) in Hanover. Rather than being based on the successor to the current T6.1 Transporter (which will be a close relative of the new Ford Transit Custom), the new California will be built on the T7 Multivan, which went on sale last year and uses the MQB car architecture shared by…
Mercedes-Benz Vans has confirmed enhancements to its mid-size van line-up, including the Marco Polo campervan as well as the EQV and V-Class, and the Vito panel van. It said the aim of the upgrades is to offer the most desirable vans and to secure the leadership in electric mobility and digital experiences. “In order to specifically meet the different wishes and needs of private and commercial customers, Mercedes-Benz Vans is increasingly pursuing a differentiated strategic approach,” it said. “The luxury strategy will apply to the privately positioned vans – including the Marco Polo – as it does to all Mercedes-Benz passenger cars.” One of the highlights is a revised front design, in some versions featuring a grille surrounded by an LED light band. At the rear, there’s a new bumper…
It is no surprise that the first campervan to be based on the new generation of Transit Custom is Ford’s own conversion, the Nugget. The new camper, which (like all previous generations of Nugget) has been developed in partnership with Westfalia, was unveiled at the Caravan Salon in Düsseldorf. Interestingly, the new model marks the first time that Ford has offered a hybrid powertrain in a campervan. The new model will be launched in phases, starting with the Nugget Titanium with pop-top roof and 170PS diesel engine with eight-speed automatic transmission. First deliveries are scheduled for next spring, with other versions, including the PHEV (plug-in hybrid) option, being introduced in the following 12 months. Ford has drawn heavily from the premium cab design of the latest Tourneo Custom (people-carrier), so…
