NEC motorhome show preview

The largest motorhome show of the year takes place next week at the NEC in Birmingham.

The Motorhome and Caravan Show is the best place to see all the new season motorhomes and campervans in one place.

And, if you're planning to go, have a look at these new 2017 motorhomes:

Adria Sonic

The Slovenian marque has built a solid following in the A-class sector since it launched the Vision – the first Motorhome of the Year back in 2006.
More recently, the Sonic has been Adria’s flagship and it goes into 2017 with two big changes, the first one quite literally big news. That’s the arrival of the company’s first tag-axle, the Sonic Supreme I 810 SC. If this island bed model is too large for you, though, take a look at the single-rear-axle versions – all get a bold new front that makes them stand out from the crowd.

You can find out more about Adria Motorhomes here

Autocruise Select

We’ve tested two of the new Autocruise Select range in this issue (see pages 36 and 50), so suffice to say here that the starting price for a Swift Group van conversion is now just £36,490. To that base model you can add a series of packs, so compare the spec/price ratio carefully with other van conversions that appeal.

You can discover more about Autocruise campervans here

Auto-Sleeper Corinium RB

If you’re one of the Auto-Sleeper faithful then there’s a good chance this is the ’van you’ve been waiting for. Here, at last, is an island bed layout from Britain’s longest established manufacturer. And it’s not just a ‘me too’ design as it places more emphasis than usual on the kitchen, rather less on the bathroom. And the bedroom really does feel like a room in its own right.

You can discover more about Auto-Sleeper motorhomes here

Auto-Trail Comanche S

The British arm of the Trigano empire has long been the leader in tag-axle models, so it’s no surprise to see a new entry here in the 5-tonne sector – especially as it boasts the increasingly popular format of permanent twin beds. Like all the Frontier range, the new Comanche S also benefits from improved body construction, a new rear panel and luton moulding, new LED rear lights, a fridge/freezer with bottle drawer and bow-fronted lockers with positive locking. Engines are, of course, Euro VI – in 177bhp form for the tag-axle models.

Auto-Trail Imala 734

Auto-Trail’s entry-level Imala range grows again this year with the arrival of the 734, a fixed single bed model with easy-access low-level beds. Unusually, you can also order it in a Hi-Line version with overcab bed, increasing the model’s versatility.

Bailey Autograph 79-6   

The new season’s Autograph range is a game-changer for Bailey. Not just a rehash of its highly successful predecessor, but a completely new
– and more upmarket – line-up, there are actually six layouts on offer here. But it’s the six-berth 79-6 that gets us most excited. With two generous lounge areas, this 7.99m motorhome has loads of space for a family to relax in comfort, whilst building on the Peugeot means a high standard spec, including Alde heating and low Al-Ko chassis.

You can discover more about Bailey motorhomes here

Bürstner City Car  

This highly regarded German brand joins the fixed bed van conversion market in the UK with the City Car line-up. All four models are coming here, including a 5.4m version. There’s nothing revolutionary here but with the inexorable rise of the van conversion market, Bürstner’s dash of style is sure to win friends.

You can discover more about Bürstner motorhomes here

Benimar Tessoro

To state that Benimar’s Mileo range has found appeal amongst UK buyers is like saying that mice like cheese. Next season, however, you might be swayed away from the Mileo by this – a new range of Ford-based models that’ll undercut their Fiat-based sisters by around two grand. Despite that, they’ll get the Transit’s new 170bhp Euro VI motor and spec that includes a solar panel, 4kW diesel heating, alloy wheels, AES fridge and a reversing camera. We’ve not seen them yet, so don’t want  to pick a favourite, but the compact Tessoro 481 is sure to be one of the top sellers.

You can discover more about Benimar motorhomes here

Bürstner Ixeo 640

The Ixeo 680 quickly rose to become Bürstner’s best-selling motorhome in the UK in its first season on sale. Thank the big lounge and clever, lengthways, drop-down bed for that success. Now here comes a little brother for the 680 – this 6.49m-long Ixeo 640. It still has a superb end washroom and the drop-down bed but access to that latter is now improved so it’s effectively an island bed. Add in the neat, space-saving, transverse galley and super-comfy rear travel seat and Bürstner has another surefire winner – especially with an expected price around £51,000.

You can discover more about Bürstner motorhomes here

Bürstner Lyseo 744   

The Lyseo is a brand-new range from Bürstner and one that’s likely to become increasingly important in the coming season, with A-class versions due mid-year. This is the model we’re excited about right now, though. It’s a low-profile with the usual half-dinette/travel seat lounge up front but the surprise is in the stern where a luxurious L-shaped seating area is combined with a very neat slide-away coffee table and a drop-down double bed above. The best of British-style lounging plus on-site space with German design and quality? Quite possibly!

You can discover more about Bürstner motorhomes here

Carado Perfect 10

Celebrating a decade of production – and record sales last year – the Perfect 10 is an unsurprising mix of added spec to proven layouts. Champagne sides and half-leather (that’s real leather) upholstery add a touch of class and the solidity of Carado’s build was never in question. Choose from three layouts, of which the T135 compact with French be is the most intriguing.

You can discover more about Carado motorhomes here

Carthago Chic C-line T   

Doesn’t it look angry?! Carthago’s decision to fit a new grille/bumper to its pair of Chic C-line low-profiles is a reminder that this prestige Teutonic brand doesn’t just manufacture A-classes. Inside, it’s the full dark wood Carthago design, just like the A-class versions, but here the luxury is a tad more affordable.

Chausson 630   

Chausson has brought us drop-down beds in all manner of layouts, even the award-winning 620 with its drop-down island bed, but this is a first – a pair of drop-down single beds. The layout of the rest of the new 630 is very conventional and very Brit-friendly – side sofas up front (converting to individual travel seats) and a generous washroom (and a garage) out back. But the clever bit is the beds – generous lengthways singles – that lower electrically and separately over the lounge. No longer do you have the issue of “one goes to bed, both go to bed”. With just the nearside bed down, even the table can still be used. It’s the sort of innovation that ensures Chausson’s sales chart position – ahead of every other European maker  – seems unlikely to be challenged any time soon.

You can discover more about Chausson motorhomes here

Chausson Welcome 611

You can rely on Britain’s number one imported brand to come up with something different but they’ve really excelled themselves this time. Think about this – two drop-down double beds, four automotive-style travel seats, a rear lounge and two habitation doors, one on each side – all in one motorhome. With a sub-£50k starting price, all this innovation won’t break the bank, either!

You can discover more about Chausson motorhomes here

Danbury Last Edition

Thought you’d missed your chance to buy a classic Type 2 camper brand-new? Well, this could be your very last opportunity. Danbury is converting just half a dozen of the special Last Edition Type 2s from Brazil into full campervans. They won’t be cheap – from £51,999 – but you’ll never see anything of its ilk again. Each will come in duo-tone blue and white with whitewall tyres and a numbered commemorative plaque.

Dethleffs Grand Alpa   

The Alpa is an unusual beast – an overcab coachbuilt with single beds in the luton and a rear lounge at the opposite end. Designed for a touring couple, it maximises storage with a deep double floor. And now – making its UK debut, following a Düsseldorf launch – is Alpa’s big brother, the Grand Alpa. It’s an 8.60m tag-axle with supremely spacious C-shaped end lounge incorporating an optional 32in TV. With bathroom and kitchen designs inherited from the Globetrotter XLi A-class, the Grand Alpa is very upmarket model competing with top-end A-classes but offering something a bit different.

You can discover more about Dethleffs motorhomes here

Dethleffs Globebus GT    

This top-quality German marque has revised its slimline Globebus range – available as
an A-class or low-profile – for 2017. Now 2.19m wide, they feel roomier inside – an impression enhanced by the extra-wide door. Check out the oh-so-neat slide-out-and-up worktop extension, too, as well as the sportier GT trim level.

You can discover more about Dethleffs motorhomes here

Elddis Autoquest 196

All Autoquests sit on a lowline Peugeot chassis – for improved handling on the road – in 2017. All are also low-profiles – no more overcabs are coming from Consett. But the sole new layout is the 196, which replaces the old luton-bodied 180. Its front lounge is bigger than before and there’s now an electric drop-down bed above, while the 196 still offers six berths and two generous seating areas. Look out, too, for special edition versions from a number of dealers.

Hillside Leisure 

Hillside is the first UK converter to tackle the Renault Trafic in its latest long-wheelbase high-roof guise. The resulting conversion will have individual RIB rear travel seats, making into single beds or a double. The kitchen, on the nearside, will be L-shaped and run partially across the back doors with the bathroom (with bespoke shower tray) in the offside back corner.  The rear doors will provide servicing access for the water pump, boiler, etc, plus a limited amount of stowage. This new two-berth campervan comes with either of Renault’s latest Twin Turbo engines (125 or 145bhp). Prices are anticipated to start at a very keen £39,995.

Hobby Vantana   

The Vantana is not new this year but its fridge is. A new fridge. Yawn. Boring… No, hang on, this is something special. If you didn’t know you’d think the top lockers over the kitchen were just, erm, lockers. But actually they form a long, eye-level fridge complete with slide-out wine bottle holder. In a sector where all fixed bed van conversions look oh-so-similar, this new fridge gives the Hobby range an edge.

HymerCar Grand Canyon S   

Mercedes-based van conversions are a rare sight. Those with a fixed bed are even rarer. But here is just that, from Hymer, so you know that it’ll be well-made and beautifully detailed. You can go for the full gamut of Merc safety systems and even have a 4x4 version, but watch the price rise as you tick all those options…

You can discover more about HymerCar campervans here

Hymer T-CL Golden Limited   

Based on the Hymer T-CL low-profile range and available in three versions – 668 (single beds, end washroom), 678 (single beds, garage) and 698 (island bed) – the Golden Limited made its debut in Düsseldorf. It gets over £7,000-worth of extra spec, plus exclusive new décor with Palatino Apple furniture and Mineral Grey locker doors. Golden Edition prices start at £58,491 – so you can afford a fully spec’d Hymer, after all.

You can discover more about Hymer motorhomes here

Hymer B-Class DynamicLine  

Call it the B-DL – that’s the easy bit. Which model to make a beeline for? That’s more difficult. The new bar layout 584 is, perhaps, our favourite. The compact 444 makes you wonder why any couple would ever need anything bigger than this six-metre minor miracle of space utilisation.  But the 534 is so obviously aimed at us Brits that it has to be your first port of call. It’s got a rear lounge, a garage and a good payload. It ain’t cheap but things this good never are.

You can discover more about Hymer motorhomes here

IH Motorhomes   

Details from IH were sketchy as we went to print, except that there will be a brand-new van conversion on display and it will be a medium-wheelbase (5.41m) Fiat Ducato, plans for a Transit having been shelved. The layout could be a surprise, though, as we’re told it’s not another rear lounge design.

You can discover more about IH motorhomes here

Itineo MC740 10th Limited Edition   

Here’s another anniversary special with extra kit to make it even better value. OK, so Itineo hasn’t made much of a mark on the UK market in its first decade but with its Rapido parentage and vehicles as good as this you really should investigate. It has a well-planned island bed layout that has a better lounge and a more open-plan feel than most rivals. And it’s even got some special dog-friendly features, such as a slide-out dog bowl!

Knaus Sun TI Platinum   

The Sun TI (low-profile with double floor) was already quite a package, but in new Platinum trim it looks even more alluring. Basically, Knaus has added all the options packs – including everything from sat-nav to cab blinds, from 19in TV to leather upholstery – to create a very high-spec motorhome, in a choice of five fixed bed layouts.

Lunar Roadstar & Telstar   

The return of Lunar to its own range of British-built coachbuilts is BIG news but details were sketchy as we put this preview together. Expect three models, all based – unusually – on the Renault Master platform-cab. Size-wise, around seven metres puts them into the mainstream and we’d expect traditional British layouts, including a rear island bed and a model with fixed single beds.

You can learn more about Lunar motorhomes here

Mobilvetta K-Yacht Tekno Line 

The Mobilvetta name has been away from the UK for a number of years but now it’s back with a range of three striking-looking A-classes – and with the might of Marquis behind its marketing. Three layouts offer not just the predictable island and twin beds, but a rear lounge floorplan, too. At around £65,000 they’ll undercut not just many other A-classes but homegrown luxury coachbuilts as well, so expect them to be received like patisserie fresh from the oven.

Morelo Empire Liner

OK, at around £373,000 the Empire Liner is probably out of your reach – as is the windscreen for washing! – but if you’re reading this magazine you’ll want to take a look anyway. Overall, it’s 3.72m high, based on a Mercedes Atego with 300-horsepower and 12 or 15-tonne gross weight. New features include an integrated awning, a garage for your Smart car with electric opening door, leather-covered ceiling canopies, assisted closing on the habitation door, a 360Ah lithium battery, real glass shower doors, 50mm-thick insulation, an optional water gel mattress, an in-dashboard fridge, full air suspension, air-conditioned cab seats… and so much more.

Niesmann + Bischoff Smove   

The Smove is a totally new product from the leaders in top-end A-classes, Niesmann + Bischoff. But this isn’t an A-class, it’s a crossover between a liner and a low-profile with many of the features of the former in the body of the latter (at 3.5 tonnes). It boasts an electric tilt/slide sunroof that you can open on the move, hidden stereo speakers, a concealed kitchen, plenty of personalisation touches and the same construction as a Flair. Options include a 50kg gas tank, heated floor, underfloor air-conditioning, an electric remote control garage door and even buffalo leather trim around the windows and sunroof. For style and equipment the Smove is simply in a class of its own. It was the star of the Düsseldorf Caravan Salon and it’s sure to look equally impressive at the NEC in Birmingham.

You can learn more about Niesmann + Bischoff motorhomes here

Pilote Pacific P650U

Six-and-a-half metres has become a popular size for Pilote, with the P650GJ single bed layout scooping an award last year and its island bed sister model garnering plenty of praise. Now there’s a rear lounge model, too, developed especially for the British market.

Pilote Galaxy   

There’s already plenty to like about the Pilote Galaxy, not least the compact G600L (with its remarkably roomy front lounge) and the new G650U (with the same rear U-shaped seating as its low-profile cousin). But all of them get a new front design this year which isn’t just a whole lot prettier and more modern but actually has the practical benefit of improved driver visibility. Pilote has done a lot of work on reducing noise while motoring, too.

Rapido 604FF

We were hugely impressed by Rapido’s new baby – the smallest coachbuilt in the range but the one with the biggest kitchen in the line-up – when we tested it, exclusively, last month. With its generously sized front lounge, light and bright interior, choice of two décor styles and plentiful storage, the 604FF is sure to become one of the best – if not the best – selling Rapidos in the UK.

You can learn more about Rapido motorhomes here

Rapido 8096dF 55th Anniversary

Fifty-five is not the most obvious number to celebrate but who are we to argue when the result is a motorhome this good. It’s an A-class that feels especially open and spacious, with a flat floor from the cab through to the rear island bedroom, where the 1.95m by 1.58m mattress can be raised electrically to increase the garage space below. There’s double floor storage, too, while the Anniversary spec includes alloy wheels, special graphics and unique upholstery.

You can learn more about Rapido motorhomes here

Swift Escape   

When Britain’s best-selling motorhome range gets a whole new look – and a new line-up of layouts – then everyone has to sit up and take notice. Gone are the overcab versions and the all-low-profile range gets a more upmarket look inside and out. Key new layouts include single beds over a garage (684) and island bed (694) to take on the continentals, as well as classic twin lounge (674 and 685) and rear lounge (622) designs for more traditional buyers. Drop-down bed models also feature for the first time.

You can learn more about Swift motorhomes here

Tribute T-726   

Here’s a rare animal – a British overcab coachbuilt with bunk beds. From Auto-Trail’s budget brand, it a choice of lounge layouts, a kitchen with microwave and oven/grill and a bathroom with separate shower. The bunk beds run lengthways, opposite the galley, and the lower bed can be folded up to create a small garage. We tested it last month and our biggest gripe was the smallish fridge.

Wellhouse Moselle

Following the success of the Terrier 2, with its Italian Tecnoform furniture, the Moselle model is going down the same route. Base is the new Mercedes Vito with Euro VI engines, rear-wheel drive and optional seven-speed automatic gearbox. With that prestige badge and a drive that’s arguably better than a T6, this one has to be on the radar of any campervan buyer. Wellhouse is also developing a conversion of the new Toyota Proace (sister van to the new Peugeot Expert). This one’s a tad smaller but an all-new base vehicle that looks very promising. And there could be a third surprise new model on the Wellhouse stand, too!

Westfalia Columbus   

Darker wood interiors, an improved seat/bed system, better lighting, new flush windows, soft-close drawers… the changes to the Columbus don’t warrant its inclusion here. Except that this is a class-leader, beautifully built and superbly made and when you make the best better, well, you have a van conversion that’s hard to beat.

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