Knaus reveals Tourer Van to rival VW California

Knaus has revealed its all-new Tourer Van, which is a small low-profile coachbuilt based on the VW Transporter T6.1. It was officially unveiled at the Caravan Salon in Düsseldorf and is set to go into production next March.

The introduction of the Tourer Van is said to be a reaction to the fact that the T6.1 is massively popular, with VW’s own California being the best-selling campervan in Europe. Knaus is deliberately undercutting the California Ocean on price, although the two vehicles offer quite different facilities.

The Van Tourer will also be available in two layouts, the 500 MQ and 500 LT, which both offer up to four berths. The 500 MQ features a fixed double bed at the back, above a garage, and a slide-out double bed in the cab will be optional.

Unlike the California Ocean, the Tourer Van will feature a proper washroom and its design is a real USP. In regular guise, it features everything you would expect to see – a toilet, shower and washbasin with a mirror above, a number of cubbies, and LED lighting. But the shower area of the room steals space from the bedroom and, when not in use, an innovative system allows it to fold away.

The alternative floorplan, the 500 LT, features face-to-face seating in the front lounge, which also convert to a double bed. With both cab seats swivelled, the lounge can seat up to six people. The 500 LT features a full washroom and, again, a bed above the cab can also be ordered.

Both layouts come with a 90-litre compressor fridge, two-burner hob and diesel heating.

The Tourer Van can also be ordered as a Vansation model, which adds extra equipment, including cab and side panels in Ascot Grey, a seven-speed DSG automatic transmission, 17in alloy wheels, LED headlights, Light Assist main beam control, fog lights and cornering lights, heated windscreen, adaptive cruise control, heated cab seats, Naviceiver streaming & internet, a rear view camera, awning and more.

Even more exciting than the Tourer Van is the Tourer CUV. Up until now, the CUV title (Caravanning Utility Vehicle) has been reserved for Knaus’ campervans, but this is a coachbuilt motorhome designed to compete with van-based models. Knaus calls it a game-changer.

Like the Tourer Van, it is based on the VW T6.1 and it, too, is designed to be compact, suitable for urban driving, and appealing to younger drivers. It has a maximum gross weight of 3,500kg. It travels and sleeps four, but, unlike the Tourer Van, it has an elevating roof to reduce overall height when driving by around 50cm.

As with the Tourer Van, it is available in 500 MQ or 500 LT layouts and it can be ordered in CUVision specification, which offers the same features as Vansation spec on the Tourer Van.

The full specifications and UK prices have yet to be confirmed.

 

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