Wellhouse launches Tourist camping car and more

A car that you can camp in or a campervan that drives like a car? Here’s a new vehicle that’s both. Wellhouse Leisure used the Motorhome & Caravan Show at the NEC, Birmingham to launch the new Ssanyong Turismo Tourist, a vehicle that is designed to address the need for a family second car that can also be used as a camper, rather than having to use a van conversion. The Tourist is based on a standard SsangYong Turismo MPV which is over 5m long, making it larger than a standard-sized people carrier. Under the hood is a 2.2-litre, 174bhp Euro 6 diesel engine with a choice of a six-speed manual transmission or the new Mercedes-Benz seven-speed automatic. For the more adventurous, there’s also the option of getting the Turismo Tourist as a 4x4.

Inside, both driver and passenger seats swivel to face the passenger seats. Folding them flat and using in-fill cushions and a memory foam topper then creates two single beds. There’s a colour-matched elevating roof, a rear tailgate awning, small sink, gas bottle, 12v charging system, 25-litre compressor fridge, fresh and waste water containers, portable toilet, and all the woodwork is made from lightweight plywood. One innovative feature is the sliding, glass-top hob that can be used inside or outside the camper.

As with all models in the SsangYong range, the Turismo Tourist is covered by a five-year limitless mileage warranty. Wearable components such as clutch friction plates and brake pads are covered for one year or 12,500 miles, the battery and paintwork for three years. There are some 60 SsangYong dealers in the UK with the Tourist scheduled to appear in a number of the branches. Prices start at £29,995 with options including Eberspacher heating, mains hook-up facility and a solar panel.

Paul Williams, CEO of SsangYong Motor UK commented, “Turismo is one of the largest cars on the market, and in standard form offers seating for seven adult passengers and their luggage, and therefore ideal for conversion into a two-person campervan. Wellhouse Leisure has done an excellent job in creating such a great vehicle for the booming leisure market.”

Wellhouse also used the show to preview and launch other new models. There was the Zooom Mobile NV200, based on the compact Nissan NV200 van which Wellhouse Leisure is considering introducing to the UK in partnership with the German manufacturer, Zooom. It comes as a two or five seat model plus an elevating roof, and can be fitted with storage units in the back, including a fold-away kitchen unit.

In prototype form, as it wasn’t finished, was a conversion based on the Toyota Proace. It will have four-seats, an economical 1.6-litre diesel engine and a body length of 4.9m. Prices are expected to start from around £38,000. The version at the show demonstrated the vehicle windows and elevating roof.

Actually complete, and built in conjunction with Nu Venture motorhomes, was a two-berth coachbuilt based on the Ford Transit Custom. This model is 5.5m long with an entry door at the rear, a front lounge with side dinette that converts into two singles or a double bed, an overcab storage area, kitchen and full washroom with shower. Prices are expected to start from £46,000.

Full details of the Wellhouse Leisure campervan range are available at www.wellhouseleisure.com.

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