The mobile home market has big news for those who like to travel without a destination and with their “home on their back”. Some suggestions were made in the caravan salon. Here we leave five for all tastes and budgets. And yet another one.
As summer draws to a close and many people are back at work, it might be the perfect time to start thinking about next year’s holidays, as well as different alternatives.
Camping and caravanning has always been an option for those who enjoy journeys without a destination, with their home on their backs, allowing them to stop to rest, preferably in a convenient location, visit the surroundings and then continue their journey to a stopover. tracking. Or take the motorhome to the campsite and stay there. The options are multiple.
For caravan enthusiasts, this may be the time to consider your next motorhome purchase. The proposals are many and varied. Some of the latest innovations have just been shown at the Caravan Salon in Düsseldorf, Germany. We leave here five new proposals for the dream, one more.
1. Ford Transit Cluster Custom
Ford has launched the new generation Transit Custom Nugget, developed in partnership with Westfalia. The new proposal features a “multi-zone” configuration, with separate areas for cooking, living and sleeping.
The innovative interior design means that even with two double beds, it is possible to move around the passenger compartment or galley or get in and out of the car without disturbing other occupants.
The living area is a safe and comfortable place to travel and easily converts into a dining and sleeping area when the car is parked. In addition to optimal storage and high-quality materials, Ford has also included features such as heated, rotatable comfort seats for the driver and front passenger, as well as a unique three-seat rear bench seat with optional heating function, so five passengers can travel in comfort.
The camping experience is enhanced with all-new features, including a retractable roof with new canvas that folds down for easier descent, new integrated storage for the standard outdoor table and chairs, and blackout blinds that replace for greater privacy and easier operation.
The new-generation Transit Custom Nugget will be introduced in phases, starting with the Nugget Titanium series with a tilt-roof and a 170-horsepower EcoBlue engine mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. Other options will appear later, including a 232-horsepower PHEV engine.
2. MAN TGE with high roof
MAN has unveiled the TGE High Roof Camper, which has an interior height of over 2 metres. The vehicle is equipped with an automatic threshold on the right side door with an obstacle detection system, while the rear part of the vehicle body can be expanded to increase the available space, as well as the comfort of passengers during the night, and beds are also available that can be installed casually.
The MAN TGE Camper shows for the first time a four-way air suspension developed specifically for motorhomes. Among the functions, we highlight the automatic leveling function when the car is stationary, as well as the manual setting, for example, of emptying the fluid tanks.
Thanks to the three different driving programs (Onroad, Offroad and Offroad+), the user can interact with different types of surfaces. Four-way air suspension also helps improve comfort and can even help compensate for unfavorable loading conditions.
Another MAN plus for those who travel frequently on dirt floors is the underbody protector, which consists of a five-millimeter-thick aluminum sheet, with integrated air inlets and water outlet holes. Its job is to protect the engine, transmission, fuel and AdBlue tanks and the differential.
In addition, MAN also provides a power boost for the TGE engine, which can reach 202 hp, and this change is carried out by MAN Independent.
3. Mercedes-Benz V-Class Marco Polo
Mercedes-Benz has renewed the V-Class range, which also extends to the mobile Marco Polo version. Like the original model, it features a redesigned interior, a digital network thanks to the MBUX infotainment system and a new development of the Mercedes-Benz Advanced Control System (MBAC) that allows remote control of various functions in the entertainment area from the central touchscreen. .
The Marco Polo V-Class is ready to accommodate up to four people. Standard equipment includes a retractable ceiling with bed and bench, foldable table, fully equipped kitchen and wardrobe with mirror.
The German brand claims that the interior design resembles a modern salon with floors that imitate the floor of a yacht, while the coatings and decorative elements are of high quality. The lighting can be dimmed to create different moods, with 64 different colors available.
The kitchenette is equipped with a 2-burner gas stove, sink and 40-litre fridge. A larger cupboard and two smaller cupboards are ready for crockery and groceries. The foldable dining table is integrated into the kitchen to save space.
4. Volkswagen Amarok Panamericana
For all those who love to tackle the most demanding off-roaders, Volkswagen has introduced a version of the Amarok Panamericana pickup convertible by Genesis Import. Modifications include an Alu-Cab cargo bed cover, roof tent with extendable roof and extendable roof awning.
The base version has a double cab, all-wheel drive, a locking rear differential, and a V6 3.0 TDI with 240 hp. Meanwhile, the suspension has received specific tuning, while Delta tires are fitted to BFGoodrich AT tires. LED ceiling lights or additional ceiling lights for touring are also available, for example in Scandinavia.
5. Volkswagen California Concept
Volkswagen Veículos Comerciais, a brand with great traditions in the mobile home sector, took the opportunity to present the California Concept, a model based on the long version of the Multivan, launched in 2021.
Larger in length and width than its predecessor, the California 6.1, the California Concept features, for the first time, a three-zone concept, providing different outdoor and indoor scenarios for camping and daily driving, and greatly extending the California’s usability possibilities.
The first outdoor precinct is located on the right hand side, providing a safe sidewalk entry and exit point, similar to the current California 6.1 precinct. At the campsite, the solar roof transforms this area into an open tent, enhancing the feeling of living outdoors.
The second zone is located behind the height-adjustable front seats and houses the entire passenger cabin, which can easily be converted into a flat lounging area or into opposite seats for communal meals or games. The California 6.1’s hard rear seat has been replaced with variable individual seats with bed function.
The inclusion of a second sliding side door behind the driver made it possible to create a third, separate prep and camping area, where the kitchen – including sink, sliding induction hob and fridge – was now within easy reach from the outside.
The California concept was developed from the MQB platform and is available in an eHybrid version, which includes a combustion engine, electric motor and lithium-ion battery. The production version will arrive in 2024.
…and one more: Citroën Type Holidays
Developed in collaboration with the Italian transformer Caselani, Citroën presented the Type Holidays in Düsseldorf, which aims to pay homage to the legendary Type H model, also known as the “Tube”. In this new creation, based on the Spacetourer, not only have its lines been reinterpreted, but also the gray color that was the color of the original model.
To equip its convoy, Citroën has turned to one of the world’s leading specialists in this field, Bravia Mobil. The H configuration includes a retractable roof that allows standing in the living space and contains a bed for two.
The equipment also includes a full kitchenette (kitchen area, sink, refrigerator), a fold-out table for eating or working, several storage cupboards, as well as a Webasto heating system, designed to ensure the perfect temperature on board.
Citroën indicates that this H-Type is the first model for a new specific group of vehicles, which will be called ‘Holidays’. Details will be revealed at the end of 2023.
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