Ace returns with motorhomes and campervans at the NEC
The new range is being unveiled to the public for the first time at this week’s Caravan, Camping and Motorhome Show.
The new range is being unveiled to the public for the first time at this week's Caravan, Camping and Motorhome Show.
Ace – a name that should be familiar to many motorhomers from the turn of the century – is returning this season with a full range of campervans and low-profiles bearing the brand name.
The range is being unveiled to the public for the first time at the Caravan, Camping & Motorhome Show, which starts today at the NEC and runs until Sunday (17th-22nd February).
The initial line-up of the entry-level range consists of four 7.8m-long low-profile motorhomes: the island-bed 1500GL, fixed single beds 1500SL, end washroom 1500ET and transverse bed 1500GL. All are based on a Ford Transit, and all, as standard, are two-berths with a foldaway table in the front face-to-face lounge. All bar the 1500ET, however, have a pedestal table as an option that can be lowered to create a second double bed. Prices range from £64,995 to £66,905.
The low-profiles run on the Transit’s 135bhp engine, with manual as standard, although automatic transmission is an option.
Unusually, the three camper vans in the range run on a different base vehicle: the transverse bed 1200GL and the rear lounge 1200RL (both £59,805), and the fixed single bed 1200SL (£60,805) – sit on a 6.36m-long Fiat Ducato, which is considered one of the best vans for a camper conversion. Again, as standard, all are two-berths – even if all three include a front dinette – although as a £5500 option, all three can have a rising roof (in which case they add a “T” to their moniker).
The campervans use the Fiat’s 140bhp engine, again with manual as standard, although an 8-speed auto gearbox is an option.
The models on display on the Ace stand (Stand 5000) include, for low-profiles, the 1500DB and the 1500SL, the latter both as a two-berth and as a four-berth option. The campervans on display are the 1200GL, 1200R: and 1200SLT (to show the rising roof). The 1500ET will be launched later in June.
Spec level is pretty much as you would expect for an entry-level range, so in the low-profiles you get a gas only hob, a combined oven and grill and no microwave. There’s a big garage with most models, however, with bike holds and lighting.
The campervans only have a two-burner hob, but the clip-on table can also be clipped on the outside edge of the kitchen peninsula for al fresco dining. Unusually for an entry-level campervan, the washroom has two drainage holes.
The new Ace range has been designed and built at the Swift factory in Cottingham, near Hull, but is being run as a completely separate brand with a new separate website, and a separate dealer network that already stands at 20.
Swift bought the Ace name off ABI in the early part of this century, and ran with it for motorhomes for a few seasons then.
Joining Swift in showcasing new motorhomes at the Show are Bailey, which has two new additions to its Autograph range on display. Mobilvetta is also showcasing two new rear-lounge motorhomes on the Marquis Leisure stand, both of which offer plenty of creature comforts for when you’re on tour.
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