Frankia, the German manufacturer of large, high-end coachbuilt motorhomes, has launched a range of new models including two new A-class motorhomes and two new low-profiles built on the new Mercedes-Benz Sprinter.

The first of the new models is the I 890 GD, an 8.9m-long A-class on the 5.5-tonne Mercedes-Benz Sprinter chassis as standard and offering twin rear single beds, as well as the front drop-down double.

A motorhome of this length is a first for Frankia as it has previously not strayed above 8.5 metres.

At the front are two large side-facing sofas that, with the swivel captain’s chairs, offer a huge lounge. There are extra forward-facing travel seats located within these sofas and there is an option for a fifth travel seat if desired.

As with all new 2019 models, standing room throughout is 2.03m and the two rear single beds are available in extra-long 2.10m versions.

Aft of the lounge is a huge 1.40m-long side kitchen with large rectangular integrated sink, electric hotplate and three-burner gas hob. Below the worktop is a raft of large drawers. Opposite the kitchen is a Dometic fridge-freezer with Dometic oven above.

Stepping back towards the bedroom there is a door that swings across to create an en-suite for the rear occupants. Alternatively, a sliding door between the rear beds and the washroom can be used to create an en-suite area for the front occupants.

And this washroom is impressive. On one side is a huge shower room with bi-folding glass doors, while on the opposing side of the corridor is the WC, basin and storage for washroom essentials.

In the rear are the two large single beds, accessed via a central steps. At the foot of one bed is a wardrobe while at the foot of the other is a TV (its wardrobe is located in between the fridge and the washroom).

Below these beds is a large triple-access garage (two side doors and a rear access panel) with room for cycles and all the kit you will need. The payload across the entire motorhome is an equally huge 1,500kg.

New I 680 G A-class motorhome

The second of the new models for 2019 is the I 680 SG, a shorter 6.98-metre A-class that adapts the layout of the very popular but shorter 640 SD to include a large rear garage below a set of cupboards and storage within the motorhome itself.

The new model features a drop-down bed at the front above the cab in typical A-class style. This is also available with Frankia’s Duo Bed system, which means the bed length can be extended to a surface of 195cm x 193cm.

When the bed is not in use, there is a large three-person L-shaped sofa, which incorporates a hidden forward-facing travel seat on one side and a side-facing two-person sofa on the other, which also converts into a second forward-facing travel seat. Of course both cab seats swivel to complete the lounge area.

The well-equipped kitchen is unchanged, although it does get Frankia’s Coffee Corner system as standard, from the shorter 640 SD.

But it’s at the rear where the real changes can be seen – a much larger washroom split across the motorhome with shower on one side and WC and wash basin on the other, has been added and, over the new garage is a wardrobe with hanging rails.

The garage, which has twin 1.24m high side doors – large enough to easily load bicycles – and a rear hatch adds a huge amount of storage space that its shorter sibling just cannot offer.

The all-new M-Line

The last of the big news of new model launches from Frankia for 2019 is a new low-profile M-Line built on the new five or 5.5-tonne (this has increased from the previous 5.3-tonne chassis) Mercedes-Benz Sprinter. This will be available in rear-wheel drive only.

It is available as a T 7400 GD (rear twin beds over a garage, which is the model pictured here) and a T 7400 QD (rear island bed over a garage) and features a large Heki3 ‘panorama’ rooflight at the front which. There are also new driver and passenger cab captain’s seats.

Both are 7.67m long and have an internal standing height of 203cm matching the rest of the 2019 Frankia range, as is the fact that both have Frankia’s double floor meaning a flat floor throughout and tanks within the floor (fresh water 150-litres and 120-litre waste water).

Frankia said it wanted to create the feeling of an A-class in these new low-profiles and also to provide the specification normally associated with A-class models. From the rear, it looks like an A-class.

As a result, specification is high both in the cab and habitation area with extras such as Alde heating, two 80Ah Gel batteries and an electric blind on the windscreen.

All Frankia motorhomes are sold exclusively in the UK by the German manufacturer’s sole UK dealer, SMC in Newark.

It is expected that all the new 2019 Frankia motorhomes will be shown at the NEC show in October although this has yet to be confirmed, as have sterling prices which are likely to be announced at the show.