Winnebago Fuse Class C on Ford Transit

[markopolo]

Winnebago Debuting ‘Fuse’ Class C in Louisville | RV Business

.........plans to debut a 24-foot Winnebago Fuse Class C built on a new-to-the-U.S. Ford Transit at the Dec. 1-3 Recreation Vehicle Industry Association’s (RVIA) 52nd Annual National RV Trade Show in Louisville, Ky.

The Transit is being viewed as a worthy alternative to the larger and more expensive Sprinter and lighter ProMaster vans.

We are going to be launching with the Ford diesel, which is a 5-cylinder diesel,” said Garfin. “It’s very powerful with a 6-speed fully automatic transmission. Everybody that’s driven it says that it’s the best driving coach that they’ve been in, so we’re excited to see what the customer reaction will be.

The Winnebago Fuse is available in two floorplans, one with a rear bedroom slide that extends from the passenger side housing a queen walk-around bed and another with a slideout up front, twin beds and a rear bath.

[Boxster1971]

Car &Driver recently did a comparison review of the top three diesel vans. They rated the Ford Transit as best, but it was more expensive than the Sprinter. Granted they only tested the lighter carbon vans.
Diesel Cargo Vans Compared: Ford Transit vs. Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, Ram ProMaster – Comparison Test – Car and Driver

[wincrasher]

Man, the C-class is soon going to be on fire. It's already growing fairly well at 12%. If they deliver these with all those engine choices at reasonable prices, they will do very well. Couldn't come at a better time with their Class A sales in free-fall.

[ClassB4Me]

Couldn't come at a better time with their Class A sales in free-fall.

I am concerned that this movement into the B and C segment is encouraging manufacturers to eek out greater profits here. $150 - $ 160K Class B's are becoming more prevalent.

We were approved for this week for a 10 year loan for $225K at a very good rate but these new Class B numbers are encroaching on Class A prices.

I never buy anything at the top of the market and am anxious to buy before a major market reset. I feel the market is overheated with a lot of product online and fewer buyers.

[bobojay]

Originally Posted by wincrasher

Man, the C-class is soon going to be on fire. It's already growing fairly well at 12%. If they deliver these with all those engine choices at reasonable prices, they will do very well. Couldn't come at a better time with their Class A sales in free-fall.

Ford doesn't build with the EcoBoost on their cutaway chassis at this time...

[mlts22]

Originally Posted by ClassB4Me

Couldn't come at a better time with their Class A sales in free-fall.

I am concerned that this movement into the B and C segment is encouraging manufacturers to eek out greater profits here. $150 - $ 160K Class B's are becoming more prevalent.

We were approved for this week for a 10 year loan for $225K at a very good rate but these new Class B numbers are encroaching on Class A prices.

I never buy anything at the top of the market and am anxious to buy before a major market reset. I feel the market is overheated with a lot of product online and fewer buyers.

I see way too many Cadilliacs and too few Chevies myself in the market.

I went to look at an RV show today... there is a lot of competition in the Sprinter B+ arena. However, finding a humble Ford E-350/E-450 in that size is difficult because RV makers like the heavy profits those rigs bring, with prices going up to $150k (MSRP) for Winnebago Views.

I'm seeing a lot of overheating myself. The people at the RV show were more into the Ford chassis "C"s and the Chevy Express ones, were reeling from sticker shock from the cost of the Sprinter models, and were wondering why RV makers were not putting much attention into the shorter length without a price premium.

Of course, there was a Winnebago Trend and the Coachmen competition. However, it is obvious that because of the relatively low GVWR of the ProMaster platform, corners were cut.

I think Winnebago may be the only people trying for the under six digit price point, and even though it may not generate as much profit, there are more people who would plunk down 50-60k for a class "C".

Slide-outs may not be a "Euro" thing, but they are something that people want on a motorhome in the US, so the Winnebago Fuse with the Euro-style chassis and a slide seems to be a good compromise.

I hope the MSRP isn't too high.

[sunwater]

Originally Posted by mlts22

...Slide-outs may not be a "Euro" thing...

I guess not, but Europeans might be buying into more of them eventually: Lippert, Opp XL Introduce Euro Slideout System | RV Business

[markopolo]

Here a photo from Lichtsinn RV's blog - 2016 Winnebago Fuse - Class C Ford Transit Motor Home - Lichtsinn Motors Blog

[sunwater]

another -- of James at The Fit RV checking one out. He says he'll be posting a video review of it soon to their FB page (https://www.facebook.com/thefitrv/):

[wincrasher]

This must be a prototype or press unit they are moving around letting people look at it and write it up. It's showing up all over the place.

[bobojay]

They were up in Forest City about 6 weeks ago so they probably saw it then

[Jostalli]

Interior design is identical to the new Winnebago Brave. I'm interested in seeing where they price it. I want to see "another with twin beds, a rear bath and a slideout up front."

[bobojay]

Thor is pricing their new Transit Compass right at $103k, so you can figure WGO's will be slightly higher I think.
We'll see....

[AlexJ]

Steph and James have posted a review on their FitRV FB page.

[bobojay]

I don't know, my comment earlier about WGO pricing a bit higher than Thor does their new Compass might be a bit off since Winnie is going, at least in the prototypes, all low tech in their equipment. Old style furnace and HWH, and no ducted AC.
Obviously designed to a lower price point. This may kill the Trend/Viva PM line.

Wanna see the twin bed model

[bobcat66]

Winnebago Fuse Overview with specs and floor plans:

Fuse | Specifications | Winnebago RVs

[bobcat66]

Winnebago Fuse price according to this site is approx. $95,000 MSRP

Winnebago Class C RVs | Motorhomes

[bobojay]

Originally Posted by bobcat66

Winnebago Fuse price according to this site is approx. $95,000 MSRP

Winnebago Class C RVs | Motorhomes

In that case, you should be able to buy one with options for $76-79K new...

[bobcat66]

Twin bed photo.

https://thenewswheel.com/psa-winneba...ansit-chassis/

[sunwater]

Totally different feel, that twin bed layout. Thanks for posting that. I'm curious, though, that article says "Thor Motor Coach and Coachmen RV also build motorhomes on Transit chassis." But I've never come across a concrete reference to a Coachmen Transit (outside of one unsubstantiated forum post), and I've never seen mention of one on Coachmen's site, or an RV Business announcement of one being imminent. A Google search returns zilch. So can someone steer me to actual details about this Coachmen's Transit-based RV? Or is its existence merely vaporous hearsay?