Innholdsfortegnelse for July 2024 i What Motorhome

Spinney has acquired the dealership previously known as Broadlane, based in Kenilworth. This follows Spinney’s acquisition of White Arches two outlets in Wellingborough and Rushden last month. The acquisition of Broadlane, which is now called Spinney Warwickshire, stemmed from an approach by Ben and Charlie Holland to Broadlane’s owners, Steve and Darren Brown. As Spinney looked to expand its portfolio of motorhome, campervan and caravan dealerships and older brother, Steve from Broadlane wanted to enjoy a more relaxed lifestyle, the timing was right. “We are excited for this new chapter in Spinney’s expansion. We look forward to bringing our renowned expertise and customer service to the Warwickshire area,” Charlie Holland told What Motorhome. Spinney Warwickshire will continue to stock new Coachman and Swift leisure vehicles in Kenilworth, including all warranty…

FOR most campervan conversion companies, small means a Ford Transit Custom or VW Transporter, maybe a Renault Trafic. But, if you’ve never driven anything bigger than a Fiesta or Clio, even these vans might seem anything but small. It’s not so much about the size, perhaps, as the height of the driving position and the lack of as much reassuring bonnet in front of you. There are, of course, a number of conversion pods on the market that can slide into the boot of something like a Citroën Berlingo – or even an ID Buzz if you want an EV with street cred – and turn it into a makeshift camper. But, if you want a proper conversion with a pop-top for standing room, then your options are very limited.…

DANBURY is one of the oldest names in the campervan business and has long been associated with VWs. Its back catalogue, however, includes campers based on Bedford, Fiat, Ford, Nissan, Renault, Seat and Subaru vans and now, with its Final Edition models signalling the end of T6.1 Volkswagen conversions, it has returned to the Fiat Ducato with its latest model, the Royale (a name previously used on a VW T6 with rear toilet). The new Royale is based on the six-metre, long-wheelbase version of the ever-popular Fiat and comes in two formats – the rear lounge model shown here or, in place of that seating area, you can have a raised fixed double bed with garage below. Both layouts come in Silver specification, priced at £85,000, on a white 140hp…

LAUNCHED in 2021, Rapido’s compact range – the C Series – now numbers four layouts (with transverse double, single beds or an island), two of which are also available in A-class form (now with the option of deleting the drop-down bed in the cab). Here, though, we’re focusing on the low-profile C55, which has been enhanced for the 2024 season with a much larger fridge. Like the rest of the ‘C’ range, the C55 is just 2.17m wide and, although it’s the second longest model in the line-up, its 6.72m length is typical for a model with fixed single beds over a garage at the rear. Just as importantly, this is no economy-spec ’van. It has typical Rapido styling with framed habitation windows, aluminium side skirts, a huge glass overcab…

The European market for electric vans is expected to grow by 40% per year on average until 2030. To address this evolving market, Volvo Group, Renault Group and CMA CGM Group are creating Flexis SAS, to lead the way in the decarbonisation of the transport and logistics sectors. A coalition of three leading companies with an agile start-up approach, Flexis SAS combines the industrial expertise of world-class automotive manufacturers and the know-how of the number one company for automotive logistics. The three companies are renowned for their leadership in: • Electric vehicles and software, as well as LCV manufacturing for Renault Group• Transport solutions with expertise in tailored services, uptime, and productivity for Volvo Group• Logistics, notably for the automotive industry, and as a pioneer in the decarbonisation of supply chain…

The Caravan and Motorhome Club has launched its Dealer Partner Scheme, which it says will provide great deals for its members. The scheme has been designed to create a network of dealerships across the UK who share the Club’s values and ethos. Members will be able to benefit from offers, ranging from £100 off a leisure vehicle from Blackmore Vale Leisure to 10% off in the CamperKing shop. Also, when people purchase a vehicle, either new or secondhand, from one of the dealerships in the scheme, they will get free Caravan and Motorhome Club membership for a year. Members will also be updated on the dealerships’ events and open days. There are initially just five dealers in the scheme, although more partner dealers are expected to be announced shortly. The first…

CHAUSSON’S range of ‘S’ model low-profiles has had a bit of an odd history in the marketplace. Launched for the 2022 season, two layouts arrived in budget spec First Line trim (with prices back then starting at under £45k). Then, a year later, they were joined by Sport Line versions with more spec – these were easily identified by their all-grey bodywork (rather than all white). But, at the 2024 season preview, the French company announced that the UK wouldn’t be getting any ‘S’ models for the year ahead as Ford couldn’t supply sufficient chassis. In the home market, the ‘S’ would swap onto the Renault Master cab but none of those would be coming here… At the February NEC show, however, both ‘S’ layouts were back on the stand.…

CARAVAN manufacturer, Coachman, entered the motorhome market in 2023 with its Travel Master – and immediately scooped the Best Luxury Motorhome award. It has now followed that up with a flagship A-class and a more compact, 3.5-tonne model (see page 25), but perhaps most exciting of all is the first Coachman campervan, the Affinity One. Unlike the motorhomes, which are built in Sweden, the campervan comes from OzorkÓw in Poland. In Europe, Affinity is a separate brand – which we’ve long admired when we’ve seen them in Düsseldorf – but here the vehicles will be badged Coachman. On the Continent, it also offers six models on a mix of MAN and Fiat Ducato panel vans; the One will be the first one to come here, with selected other models to…

YOU might expect a campervan named after a Greek god to be something special and, with a price tag (as shown) of £137,760, the Adonis is certainly competing at the very top of its sector. Its base vehicle is familiar – a Mercedes Sprinter in sub-6m iteration – but its converter’s name, Robeta, is unlikely to be known to readers. This is a Slovenian company that exhibited in the UK for the very first time at the February NEC show. It was there to test reaction and appoint dealers, ready for the first right-hand drive vehicles to arrive in June. At first glance then, this is another fixed bed campervan from the Continent, although there’s much to make it stand out from lesser rivals. In Germany (its main market), it…

Polish premium campervan converter (winner of the Campervan of the Year title in 2023), Globe-Traveller, has introduced a new model, the Explorer 2Z. The Explorer range is based on the Peugeot Boxer extra-high (H3) panel van with standard bodywork, unlike the range-topping Voyager which has bespoke designs for the overcab and rear panel. The new two-berth model is 6.36m long and incorporates the most popular features of its predecessors, the Explorer 2X and 2XS, such as a single seat configuration replacing the rear bench for enhanced comfort, a foldable table for multifunctional use, a double floor with an underfloor storage compartment for additional space, and a dedicated shoe storage area for extra convenience. It has rear single beds that can be converted into a king-size double. In response to the…

Emil Frey Racing will have sponsorship from German motorhome and campervan manufacturer, Knaus, in the 2024 DTM (Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters) GT3 championship. The team is using one of the most high-profile racing cars available today, the Ferrari 296 GT3, based on the hybrid 296 supercar. In GT3 racing form, it produces 608hp and 712Nm of torque from its turbocharged V6 engine, making it rather quicker any current Knaus − or, indeed, any other motorhome! British driver, Jack Aitken, will take his place at the wheel of the racing Ferrari, which will bear prominent Knaus branding.…

CHAUSSON campervans have previously been built by Auto-Trail alongside broadly similar designs for Benimar and Roller Team (as well as the home brand), but limited capacity has seen production move to Italy where the Trigano Group produces a wide range of campers for its multiple marques. More significantly, it also means a switch from rear lounge layouts to continental designs with fixed beds. This V594 is one of two models introduced for the 2024 season, the alternative V597 being a single bed model (but the same 5.99m length). Both models come to Britain in plusher Sport Line trim (the entry-level First Line versions aren’t sold here) and they have a bold look that encompasses Campovolo Grey paint, alloy wheels and black graphics (with hexagon patterns and lime highlights). The optional…

IF you were tempted by Coachman’s first ever motorhome, the award-winning Travel Master, but wanted something a tad smaller that could also be driven on a standard car licence (with none of the other disadvantages of a heavier vehicle), the company now has the answer – the Travel Master Sportivo. Launched at the February NEC show (we had originally hoped to see it last October), the Sportivo is, again, built in Sweden at the Kabe factory and is based on its Novum range. Here, though, for now at least, there’s just one model – the 565, with single beds. An island bed version (to match the choice in the Travel Master line-up) may follow. Crucially, the new Sportivo is shorter and narrower than its big brother but it still aims…

THE campervan market is crowded and, if you’re a new converter, you need a method to push your way to the front and grab the attention of the ’van-buying public. That’s certainly what Escape Campers has done with the lilac colour of this T6.1 VW. To say it’s eye-catching is something of an understatement. As we inspected the ’van for this review, we were regularly joined by passers-by keen to have a look. Obviously, lilac is not everyone’s cup of tea, but, for the most part, the feedback was positive. ‘Nice to see something a bit different’, was the prevailing view but if lilac is not to your taste, Escape has plenty of other options available. Of course, most people don’t buy a campervan purely because they like the colour…