Ford Transit customs ready to work for SEMA

Fri, 31 Oct 2014

Ford's booth at the SEMA Show this year looks to have two, big themes. The Blue Oval is bringing over a dozen takes on the 2015 Mustang to the event, and it's now also announcing five customized versions on the 2015 Transit to join the modded pony cars. Each of the vans shows off a different use for the spacious commercial vehicle, from plush luxury to offroad ruggedness.

You probably don't think of the Transit as hitting the trails, but that's just what the take on the design from the Vegas Off-Road Experience (pictured above) is for. The company gives people the opportunity to drive a desert race truck, and this custom is meant to drive them to events. It should be able to take on the terrain a little better with off-road wheels and tires and fender flares, but inside passengers get serious luxury thanks to a 60-inch LED TV and video game systems.

Alternatively the blazing red Designed Travel Transit (right) is all about long road trips. The interior features four captain's chairs with heating, cooling and massage functions, and there's a 4K 50-inch TV to watch. For a touch of added class, the floor is made from hickory.

Formula Drift is going purely for function with its Transit (left). It's meant to be a support vehicle during competitions, and the interior is packed with fire and safety equipment, plus a Kawasaki Mule support vehicle. The series actually plans to use this custom during events next year.

Detroit Custom Coach wanted a vehicle for VIP travel in the city. It seats eight and features a cocktail bar, wood floor and TVs inside.

Finally, Galpin Auto Sports is displaying its Transit Skyliner yet again. It's basically the ultimate in luxury cruising with four captain's chairs, a bar and a 52-inch retractable movie screen with 7.2 surround system. There's even matching luggage. Scroll down to read all of the details about this quintet of customs in Ford's official press release.

VANDEMONIUM: YOU WON'T BELIEVE HOW FIVE AFTERMARKET SHOPS DESIGNED THE FIRST FORD TRANSIT CUSTOM VANS FOR SEMA

OCT 30, 2014

Custom-built project vehicles from five coachbuilders will showcase different expressions of Ford Transit van flexibility and capability

The custom Transits will be on display at the Specialty Equipment Market Association show in Las Vegas, Nov. 4-7

A range of concepts will be represented, including Formula DRIFT, off-road adventure and high-end luxury versions

The first-ever all-new 2015 Ford Transit custom vans will debut at this year's SEMA show in Las Vegas.

Five Transit project vehicles were crafted to showcase the van's toughness and flexibility for customers looking for a vehicle that can fit a variety of needs – from high-tech luxury limo to sport exhibitions to off-road adventure.

"Ford Transit vans and passenger wagons are designed to be upfit-ready so customers have an easier time customizing the vehicle to work best for them," said Yaroslav Hetman, brand manager for Ford Transit, Transit Connect and E-Series. "We are very excited about what our SEMA customizers have done with these vans. They preview the first of what is expected to be a renaissance in custom vans, led by the all-new Ford Transit."

Customized Transit vehicles on display at the SEMA show Nov. 4-7 include:

Vegas Off-Road Experience Transit

Vegas Off-Road Experience in South Boulder City, Nevada, provides the ultimate adventure for those who have always wanted to drive an off-road desert race truck. The VORE group applied its expertise in preparing off-road trucks to the new Transit, creating a vehicle that provides luxury transportation with an off-road theme. This Transit, equipped with off-road wheels and tires, will be used for guest transportation at VORE events.

"Transit offered us so much capacity to work with that we were able to take our plans further than we could with a typical van," said Mike Self, Vegas Off-Road Experience chief marketing officer. "It will be a great vehicle for taking guests out on course in high-end comfort."

Off-road and premium features of the VORE Transit include:

Custom LED interior lighting
Five LED flat screens
60-inch LED flat-screen partition
Large-screen TV for external viewing
Video gaming station
Touch-screen tablet controls
LED light bars
HID headlamps
Extended fender flares
Off-road wheels and tires

Designed Travel Transit

For long-distance road trips, Forest Lake, Minnesota-based Waldoch Crafts and 3dCarbon and Air Design of Newport Beach, California, customized a long-wheelbase, medium-roof Transit with a solid hickory wood floor and four reclining captain's chairs with heating, cooling and massage functions, along with power headrests.

"The larger platform of Transit gives us room for creativity," said Ernie Bunnell, vice president of sales for 3dCarbon and Air Design. "Transit provided us with a lot of capability, so we were able to include more technical features than the average conversion."

Other features of the Designed Travel Transit include:

Integrated front bumper with air dam and fog lamps
Side skirts and lower rear skirt with integrated trailer hitch cover
20-inch wheels and tires
Rear seat with fold-down sofa
Tablet control system
4K ultra-high-definition 50-inch TV
LED interior lighting
Backup camera with 360-degree capability

Formula DRIFT Transit

This Formula DRIFT Transit is more than a concept – it is a functional vehicle that will be used at series events in 2015. The Formula DRIFT series, based in Long Beach, California, has taken a medium-roof, short-wheelbase Transit and transformed it into the ultimate track safety and support vehicle. With high-horsepower vehicles sliding around at more than 100 mph in Formula DRIFT events, accidents do occur, and this custom Transit will be one of the first responders to help with fire and safety equipment at the accident site. Complete with a custom interior workspace with TV, LED lighting, a custom entertainment system from Clarion and a matching Kawasaki Mule support vehicle, this Transit will be a standout at the track.

"Track vehicles fulfill a lot of needs, and Transit is able to do it all," said John Pangilinan, public relations director for Formula DRIFT. "The extra roof height Transit offers really adds a lot of usable space for all of our equipment, including the Kawasaki Mule."

Formula DRIFT Transit highlights include:

Matching Kawasaki Mule track support vehicle that will be housed inside Transit between events
Storage bins for fire extinguishers, tools and cleanup equipment
Workspace
Fire suit and helmet racks
Door-mounted flat panel monitor
Performance air intake kit
Performance exhaust system
Performance suspension

Business Class Transit

This sleek, all-black Transit was created by Detroit Custom Coach of Oak Park, Michigan, and offers amenities for VIP travel, whether for business or a night out on the town. This long-wheelbase, high-roof Transit features seating for as many as eight people and a wide array of premium amenities, including cocktail stations.

"We are excited to show what the Ford brand can do when it comes to the VIP transportation industry," said Detroit Custom Coach owner Chris Ramos. "We feel strongly that the new Ford Transit will give other vehicles in its class a run for their money."

Premium and convenience features of the Business Class Transit include:

Actuated passenger entrance step
Wood-grain flooringLaptop station
Cocktail station with glass holders
Reclining, heated and massaging seats
Color-changing LED lighting
Flat-screen TVs
Integrated iPad controls
Wi-Fi
Motorized privacy shades

Galpin Auto Sports Transit Skyliner

Transit Skyliner, created jointly by Ford and Galpin Auto Sports of Van Nuys, California, embodies the spirit of premium motor coaches and builds on the heritage of custom vans. The custom vehicle shows how Ford Transit can be transformed to fit the needs of limousines and high-end transportation services, as well as commercial fleets, shuttle providers and small-business owners.

Transit Skyliner features custom-designed "throne" seats that are controlled by a smartphone or tablet.

"We are sincerely excited to work with Ford in creating the future of travel," said Beau Boeckmann, president of Galpin Auto Sports. "Tapping our history of creating the conversion van segment in the 1960s and '70s, as well as our recent high-tech work, together with Ford we have brought the modern ultra-premium van to life."

Premium features of the Galpin Auto Sports Transit Skyliner include:

52-inch retractable movie screen
Focal Utopia 7.2 surround sound with custom-made speakers
Satellite TVKaleidescape media server
Integrated bar
Matching luggage

By Chris Bruce