“You can have any colour as long as it’s black”.
We all know the famous Henry Ford quote relating to the Model T (he actually said something a little more convoluted, but the edited version has stuck).
When Ford produced the first mass produced car, options were strictly limited.
Over the years the number of doors varied from a no-door roadster (just climb in…) to a four-door sedan, but for certain years black was the only colour choice. History buffs might know that actually when the Model T was launched four colours were available and none of them were black – however, the line has stuck!
What is in no doubt is that over the years, Ford has changed into a make which has an option for everyone.
That something for everyone includes the Ford Transit Motorhome and if you want one you can have any engine you want… just so long as it’s a manual transmission 2.2 litre diesel.
That’s right, while Ford have thought of everything to make life comfortable, both on the road and when parked up, anyone wanting an automatic is going to be disappointed – at least for now.
However, we spoke to Ford at a motor home dealer meeting in France earlier in 2015 and they told us that an automatic is in development and we think that’s pretty exciting news (admittedly it’s our job to get excited about these things). With a fair wind, it could hit the market in 2016, signaling Ford’s intent to move into the motorhome market with ever more serious intent.
We’ve seen what they have done in the car market, could they emerge as the leading motor home provider in years to come?
What we do know is that right now, Ford already have a lot of features to make them a serious contender – and on their site you can download a full brochure.
Design:
Ford use the term car-like when referring to the design, both internally and externally so they’re clearly looking to build on the positive association people have with the Mondeo, Fiesta and others.
Nifty features:
Too many to list here – see Ford’s site for the full list. However, a few things caught our attention.
- When to change gear – a light will tell you the optimum time to change gear in order to maximise fuel efficiency.
- Adaptive cruise control – perfect for long journeys on open roads
- Larger windscreen than on previous models – improving both your view and safety
- Keyless start, automatic wipers and lights – nice touches to make life that bit easier
- Ford SYNC and plug and play – allowing you to easily control the entertainment and play from your personal devices. Let’s be honest, it might be better than trying to find something on the radio in an unfamiliar country…
The engines:
Ford’s crowning glory in recent times has been their engines. Choice might be limited with the Transit Motor Home – there are three 2.2 litre diesels which range from 100 to 155 PS. And hopefully you’ll be able to choose automatic transmission from 2016.
Even without an automatic option, there’s a lot to recommend the Ford Transit Motor Home right now. And, who knows, maybe one day it will come in a full range of colours too. (link to article on motor home colours)
