What Motorhome February 2022

Welcome In this issue of what motorhome The most exciting news this month must be that Volkswagen has confirmed that it will build the next generation of California campervans based on its all-electric ID Buzz. If it comes close to matching the wow factor of the concept vehicle (above), which was first shown at the 2017 Detroit Motor Show, then VW could have another winner on its hands. However, the price will need to be right. Electric cars are expensive, with a battery-powered Mini starting at almost 50% more than its petrol equivalent. Against a background of motorhome prices rising substantially (some popular models up by more than £10k in a year), costs will have to be contained, if electric campervans are not to be affordable by just a tiny…

This month New look for expanded Mobilvetta range Marquis Leisure has announced that it will be importing an updated range of motorhomes from Italian luxury brand, Mobilvetta. Both the low-profile Kea and A-class K-Yacht ranges are now based on the latest Fiat Ducato Series 8 with a 160bhp 2.2-litre engine meeting the Euro 6D Final emissions standards. All models are now on a 4,400kg chassis as standard and come with a six-speed manual gearbox, or the nine-speed automatic transmission as a £3,500 option. No other factory extras are listed. Each range gets a new look for 2022, featuring new graphics and upholstery, a new XL entrance door and Alde heating. The most noticeable update, though, will be revised styling for the front of the A-classes. Both the Kea and K-Yacht…

MOTORHOME CAMPERVAN YOUTUBE CHANNEL RECORDS NEARLY 3 MILLION VIEWS The YouTube channel of MMM magazine and What Motorhome – simply called MotorhomeCampervan – is celebrating a record year with 2.9 million views over the past 12 months. Altogether, viewers to the channel watched 284,000 hours of our videos – an incredible 32 and a half years’ worth of viewing! During 2021, we have aimed to add two new motorhome reviews every month (with each vehicle getting a thorough assessment by yours truly, Peter Vaughan). As a result, the channel has increased its subscriber numbers to 55,300 – even more than MMM and What Motorhome magazines put together. The most popular video review this year has been that of Chausson’s incredibly innovative compact motorhome, the X550.…

NEXT CALIFORNIA CAMPERVAN WILL BE ALL-ELECTRIC The Volkswagen AG supervisory board has now approved the capital expenditure for the all-electric ID Buzz, including a California campervan version. These will be built at the Hannover factory, alongside body construction for a new Bentley, the T6.1 Transporter van and recently launched T7 Multivan people-carrier. The VW California campervan range has been very popular and has recently been expanded to include the new Caddy California micro-camper (read our full review next month). Despite the challenging market situation, the number of orders received for the California models over the last few months has continually and significantly increased. Now, VW will start developing a further California camper for the second half of this decade, “The ID California, based on the ID Buzz, will combine the…

Swift joins the pop-top camper market Swift has unveiled its all-new Monza rising roof campervan, based on the Ford Tourneo Custom short-wheelbase (the passenger-carrying version of the Transit Custom panel van). The new compact campervan, which is priced from £58,395, is aimed at couples and young families. It comes with a 130PS engine and six-speed manual gearbox as standard, with the options of automatic transmission and to upgrade to a 170PS power output. It can be ordered in Orange Glow, Diffused Silver or Chrome Blue. Inside, there is a three-person Reimo Variotech sliding rear bench seat, which converts into a double bed. There is a further double bed in the German-made rising roof, making it a four-berth campervan that is able to carry up to five people in belted seats.…

This month Special edition 4x4 motorhome launched Premium Motorhomes has unveiled a special edition ’van to celebrate its 10th anniversary. The Knaus Tribal is based on the Van TI Plus 650 MEG with a fixed single bed layout. It is built on the MAN TGE chassis with four-wheel drive. In addition to the features of the Van TI Plus, the Tribal has a special matt black exterior colour scheme, a MAN-approved Seikel suspension upgrade and lift kit for increased ground clearance, a bullbar, Delta alloy wheels with all-terrain tyres, an LED light bar featuring both white light and amber light (to see through fog and snow), and underbody plating for offroad driving. In addition, the standard Knaus specification, which already includes an awning, reversing camera, sat-nav, TV and satellite dish,…