What Motorhome May 2022

Welcome In this issue of What motorhome It was SO good to be back. With the last two October exhibitions and one February NEC show having been cancelled because of Covid, I must admit to some personal trepidation about going. After all, it’s been a long time since any of us had seen crowds. Then there was the question of whether customers would turn up, and whether there would be anything for them to buy (with chassis availabilty and unprecedented demand causing unheard-of delivery times on many models). Many in the trade had openly questioned why the show was still going ahead… But go ahead the Caravan, Camping and Motorhome Show did – and in considerable style. There were major launches, such as Coachman’s very first motorhome (the Swedish-built Travel…

This month ID Buzz is VW’s new electric Bulli Over 70 years ago, Volkswagen introduced its Bulli – the splitty or T1 – to the world. It became a massive hit and the base for hundreds of thousands of campervans around the world. Now VW has launched its ID Buzz, taking retro design elements of the original and combining them with fully electric drive, in either van or people-carrier forms. The ID Buzz Cargo is the van version, which offers two or three cab seats and sliding doors on one or both sides. It has a wheelbase similar to the current T6.1 Transporter but is shorter overall, at 4.71m. It is also 81mm wider. The ID Buzz was first shown in concept form nearly five years ago; now its launch…

BEAT THE PRICE INCREASE AT WARNERS SHOWS Back in the summer of 2020, temporary VAT relief was introduced to help tourism, hospitality and holiday accommodation businesses severely affected by the coronavirus pandemic. This has been gradually transitioning back to the standard rate and, from 1 April, 2022, VAT will revert to 20%. This, coupled with huge cost increases, will see the cost of a camping pitch increase by £5 at all Warners Shows from the same date. If you haven’t already booked yours for this summer, hurry! Head to showgoer.co.uk Don’t forget that the National Motorhome and Campervan Show returns to the East of England Arena later this month. It takes place from 22-24 April. Booking for day visitor tickets closes an hour before the show opens each morning and saves…

Thor and Winnebago reveal all-electric concepts The US parent company of the Erwin Hymer Group (EHG), Thor Industries, has revealed two all-electric concept leisure vehicles – one motorhome and one caravan. In addition, American RV manufacturer, Winnebago, has also shown its all-electric motorhome. While the models are still at concept stage, they highlight the path Thor, the world’s largest motorhome manufacturing group, and Winnebago are taking. With Thor, this is one of developing its own all-electric models in partnership with a specialist chassis developer, rather than relying on the likes of Fiat or Ford to develop and launch an electric base vehicle for it to convert. Concepts are generally revealed to gauge the public’s reaction and to make a statement of technologies that future production models will feature. While some…

This month NEW HYBRID CAMPERVAN LAUNCHED With electric campervans still suffering from reduced range compared with diesel-fuelled vehicles, CampervanCo has come up with a hybrid model offering electric motoring, yet retaining the flexibility of a petrol engine for longer distances. Its new Evolution PHEV, produced under the Eco Campers brand, will offer up to 26 miles on an electric charge but also has a 1-litre Eco Boost range extender engine. It is based on the plug-in hybrid version of the Ford Transit Custom, which we reviewed in the November 2020 edition. The new campervan also has lightweight, modular kitchen units to improve the vehicle’s efficiency, enhanced insulation for superior heat retention, plus an induction hob, an elevating roof and optional WiFi system. The vehicle is fitted with 1,000W solar panels that…

Caddy California prices confirmed Volkswagen has now confirmed prices and specifications of its latest campervan, the Caddy California, which was featured in a full road test in our March issue. Prices for the standard model start from £30,720 and rise to £36,954. As tested by us, the total cost would be £42,251, including extras such as the Plus Pack, panoramic roof and DSG automatic gearbox. The compact camper features a new, foldable double bed, seating for five, and a retractable mini-kitchen with single-burner hob. Camping chairs and a table also come as standard. You can read the full review of the Caddy California by subscribing to our digital library of all issues of What Motorhome since 2012 at motorhome.ma/whiexact…