Next Cruiser is next step for Frankia motorhomes
News
Frankia reveals Next generation of luxury motorhomes
In 1960, Gustav Groß founded Feriela Caravan. That company became Frankia in 1983, which means the premium German manufacturer is now celebrating its 65th anniversary. It would have celebrated its sixtieth, but Covid put paid to that.
However that gave Frankia time to think. As Konstantin Döhler, MD of Frankia, stated, “We have been shaping the future since 1960” adding that he wanted the future strategy to build upon the three cornerstones of Frankia motorhomes: design, quality and comfort.
In fact, Frankia is keen to promote its early use of the double floor concept, integration of flatscreen TVs, the central supply hatch to access electrics and plumbing, the shortlived slide-out, the iconic lifting washroom basin in the compact rear lounge models, which also sported listing backrests to transition from comfy lounge to sleeping area more easily.
Taking all that into account, with the addition of a new range, the company is planning to streamline its current offering in the next few years and has redesigned its logo to reflect the new design path.
Rachel Scholes Content Editor: Motorhomes
Rachel Scholes Content Editor: Motorhomes
What’s Next
The idea started five years ago, but the all-new range, Next Cruiser, has been in the works for two years.
This is a premium low-profile, available on both the Fiat Ducato and the Mercedes Sprinter. The exterior is very distinctive with much more angular lines, both in decals and in the exterior corner and roof mouldings. This extends to the wheelarch mouldings, too.
The back panel steps out for the upper half, with full-width rear LED slights marking the divide between the black upper section and lower white part. That black panel has been designed so it can offer a panoramic rear window in the bedroom.
As befitting a premium product, the choice of base is not the only option – simple lined decals are standard, but can be infilled with black for a more striking look.
You can also opt for some of the lockers without handles – apply pressure at the right point and they will open electrically. Under-skirt lighting on both sides is also an option.
Next-level practicality
It’s not just about external style, the services have been reorganised. The 36cm-high double floor now has clearly defined areas for storage and the technical stuff – the electrics, for example – have been moved out of the garage into their own central locker.
That garage is now 127cm high and the design of the floor and door means there’s no lip, making it easier to load bikes into. You get two doors as standard, although one is slightly narrower than the other. You can also choose between chequered plate or anti-slip mats.
The ceiling light in the garage runs lengthways and is bright; useful if you travel with a lot of stuff in here.
The water system is centrally placed (for the best handling on the road) offering a 180-litre fresh water tank and 150-litre waste. The latter has an electric emptying function, but you can specify a camera to allow for precision positioning above the drain point.
The fresh water tank now comes with a Gardena-type filler point in the central hatch, doing away with the hose reel – Frankia found this could cause a build-up of bacteria unless properly drained. There is still a conventional filler point in the garage, if you prefer.
Double-floor sandwich construction has been improved with hatches now sporting different handles and hinges offer better access.
Next-gen interiors
Stepping inside, the interior takes many design cues from the Now, but this new range takes it to the, ahem, ‘next’ level.
At the very back there are single beds. As already mentioned the panoramic window for the bedroom is an option, it comes with a headboard and high-level lockers on the rear wall as standard.
The bed is accessed by steps, which can slide out so you don't need a ladder, even with the extension in place.
The drop-down bed in the lounge is another option – it comes with electric operation and Heki 3 above the bed.
Washrooms have been designed to be more domestic looking – with concrete-effect wallboards. Floor level is lower for better shower headroom (2m); the floor sits on supports that mean an even drainage of water around all the sides, with twin drain holes in the recess below.
There’s a choice of three toilets – a Thetford cassette is standard, then there’s a ceramic option as well as a Clesana water-free version. Frankia is currently working on a solution for a black water tank.
The cupboards are flat in style to match the angular exterior styling – with light and dark options. Then you can choose between two fabric accents: Forest (green) and Dune (beige), both of which can be married to cream or dark seats.
The lounge is face to face ish (it has a side seat adjacent to the door and a long sofa opposite, but this seat converts into a double travel seat. Slide the backrest out into the centre of the motorhome, add a backrest infil then use the lower mechanism to swing the base around.
Lighting has been designed to be more natural; the optional habitation door with a window has an illuminated handle and soft close as well as a coming home and leaving home function with LED lighting.
In the kitchen, the hob is a two-burner gas unit as standard, but you can opt for a version that also includes an induction cooking zone. Multifunction rails for accessories are standard but you’ll need to head to the options list for the accessories themselves.
However, the moulded resin worktop is standard. Like in the washroom it has a lip on all three sides to make spills easier to clean.
While the soft-closing drawers are standard, UK buyers can specific a full cooker with built-in hob or a low-level separate oven.
Prices of the Frankia Next Cruiser
It’s important to note that, whether you choose Mercedes or Fiat, it comes with an automatic geabox as standard, as well as a rear view camera and Alde heating.
Prices for UK are still to be confirmed, but European models are expected to start from €135k to €145k.
Together Edition
The other big news for the 2026 season is the new special edition range with two 4.5-tonne models available as either an overcab or an A-class. Both rear lounges (680 Plus and 740 Plus), they include around £25,000-worth of options over the standard F-Line models.
The Together Edition also has a new mix and match interior, where you can choose dark grey or cream fabrics for the seats and then a mix of dark wood and white locker doors or cream furniture with light wood doors.
Frankia past and present
- Founded 1960 by Gustav Groß as Feriela Caravan
- 1973: A Mercedes A-class motorhome was introduced
- 1976: First series production of a caravan
- 1983: Feriela became Frankia
- 1990: Frankia bought by Pilote Group
Today
The current line-up consists of the flagship Platin (Mercedes A-class), the Fiat-based Titan A-class, F-Line coachbuilts, Mercedes-based Neo low-profile, 1960 special editions and the Frankia Now, as well as the Yucon Mercedes campervan (dubbed its microliner).
In the future, we expect this to be streamlined to three ranges: Now, Neo and Next.
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