The blue oval brand, one of Europe’s top commercial vehicle sellers, and Hymer, one of the most major bodybuilders specialized in motorhome conversions, have agreed to collaborate on the creation of new Campers based on Ford Transit and Transit Custom.
The tremendous health pandemic that we’ve been dealing with for the past two years has boosted motorhome sales and rentals. Nature lovers and those who enjoy long journeys have discovered a high degree of independence and comfort with everything they want on board in these extremely unusual versions. As a result, fans of VanLife will soon have new options from the hands of a real expert and one of the market’s monarchs.
Hymer is one of the actual benchmarks, with enough expertise to collaborate with Ford on two commercial vehicles that are likewise references in their light commercial category, the Transit and Transit Custom.
The blue oval brand already has some fascinating alternatives, but the build quality of the Erwin Hymer Group, as the German motorhome leader is known, is nowhere like that of the Erwin Hymer Group. An agreement that will allow the Camper to be modified based on vans, cab and low-frame combinations, and other factors.
The new Hymer RVs will be based on the Ford Transit.
From 2022, the European motorhome market leader will sell a variety of motorhomes, semi-integrated motorhomes, motorhomes with beds, and special adaptations with a drop-down tent on the top, receiving units of up to one ton straight from the Turkish plant in Kocaeli. The first fruits will be available in a variety of styles, including short and long wheelbases, as well as a standard height that will allow drivers to reach low-height locations.
Hyper will be completely involved in product design and development, as well as the required changes to meet with rules on emissions, electrification, digitalization, connection, and the integration of driving aids.
The goal is to continue to meet a demand that has been steadily expanding for the past eight years, with a significant increase among young people and clients aged 55 to 64. Furthermore, because Hymer is a subsidiary of Thor Industries, one of the world’s major makers of these vehicles, Transit-based motorhomes will be available in the United States and China.
“We are thrilled that our Transit and Transit Custom, notably the new Active and Trail series, attracted the Erwin Hymer Group,” Hans-Jörg Klein, Vice Chairman of the Board of Management of Ford-Werke GmbH, said of the arrangement with Hymer.
The subject of electric drives isn’t going away in the commercial vehicle business; Ford is now a pioneer and first maker of a plug-in hybrid electric panel van. Customers may now choose the group’s medium-sized van series with a plug-in hybrid powertrain as an option.
The identical drive package is installed in the glazed Tourneo Custom car type and the sheet metal Transit Custom panel van, with which Ford goes its own way. Rather of mounting the electric machine beside the ordinary combustion engine, such as on the rear axle (parallel hybrid), the more exotic series hybrid construction was adopted.
The Tourneo / Transit Custom’s combustion engine is the well-known three-cylinder Ecoboost petrol engine, which has a displacement of one liter. It has, however, been stripped of all propulsion technology and now functions just as a generator. In any driving circumstance, the front wheels are operated solely by the electric motor, which is powered by either a 13.6 kWh traction battery or the gasoline engine.
According to Ford, when completely charged, the totally electric range should be over 50 kilometers, after which the petrol engine kicks in on the open road with no prospect of recharging. According to the WLTP, the urban range is 50.4 kilometers; however, according to the NEDC calculation, a total range of 56 kilometers is reported.
The Ford Tourneo Custom PHEV, when powered, accelerates fast and forcefully from a standstill, as is expected of an electric vehicle. When the traction battery runs out of power, the world changes.
The Ecoboost petrol engine, which operates as a generator, starts up and then does not operate at a steady speed as a “emergency power generator,” but rather reacts to the location of the accelerator pedal instantaneously. The urge for quick acceleration causes the engine speed to rapidly increase, which feels similar to a faulty clutch in a manual gearbox automobile.
It becomes cozier with the range extender.
With a gasoline engine as the power source, the Ford Tourneo Custom PHEV accelerates very slowly; when charged this way, the Ford Tourneo Custom PHEV accelerates very slowly. It seems like a “base load operation,” as Ford describes it. After passing the 80 km/h mark, the slow motion feature is activated.
The two PHEV brothers can’t go too fast anyhow; the speed limit is set at 120 km/h. This is a pity, especially with the Tourneo Custom, because the spacious multi-seater is well-balanced in terms of driving style and feels close to the vehicle.
When it comes to weight, electrical engineering demands its price. The station wagon in the only available Titanium equipment, as a seated Tourneo Custom, weighs 2,599 kilograms unladen, with 566 kilos remaining as cargo.
The panel van with a separate loading compartment behind the three front seats appears to be a little friendlier: the important figures are 2,187 pounds empty and 1,138 kilos loaded. The zero, on the other hand, is located in a unique location: Neither the Transit nor the Tourneo PHEV are permitted for trailer towing, which is unusual for a vehicle on the commercial vehicle track.
The Price of the Ford Tourneo / Transit Custom PHEV
When looking at the costs of PHEV vans, it’s evident that these cars are largely aimed at consumers who have no other option but to drive an electric vehicle owing to combustion prohibitions in cities. A starting price of 57,066 euros for the van and 71,900 euros for the eight-seat Tourneo is unlikely to persuade regular panel van buyers. For contrast, the panel van in the equivalent 320L1 configuration starts at 32,582 euros with the basic diesel engine.
Only in full electric mode will the Ford Transit / Tourneo Custom PHEV truly wow. It gets tiresome to utilize the combustion engine as a power source. Furthermore, the costs are really exorbitant.
Keyword: Ford and Hymer, Signed Strategic Partnership