The highlight of the 2019 Pilote range is a new tablet-style touchscreen control panel, introduced across the range.

As standard, it is a fixed unit, mounted in the entrance area on coachbuilts and above the cab on van conversions. The Xperience system enables easy monitoring of water and battery levels and controls the heating, while alarms can be set at desired levels for low fresh water level, etc.

Even more interesting is the optional Garmin Fusion upgrade, available across the line-up but standard on Al-Ko chassis A-classes. Now the unit includes radio and sat-nav functions, too, and the tablet display can be dismounted from its dashboard docking station and repositioned on a second dock in the living area. The navigation includes free updates for life, while the audio can be controlled separately for up to four zones.

Using digital switching, the Garmin tablet operates when removed from its docking stations, so you can lie in bed and switch on the hot water, turn up the heating and so on.

Turning to the motorhomes themselves, Pilote has introduced a new double floor for A-class models built on the Fiat camping-car chassis. Designed to improve insulation and save weight, the new design increases payload by 60kg.

Across the range, specifications have been improved, so 2019’s entry-level Essentiel trim level comes close to the 2018 Sensation spec. Sensation, meanwhile, gains features such as a backlit headboard in the bedroom, Credenza LED lighting, a new hob with two high-power burners for greater efficiency, a new full-height mirror and a slide-out spice rack.

Sensation trim is now only available on motorhomes (A-class or low-profile) over 7m in length, while the flagship Emotion specification is reserved for Al-Ko chassis A-classes (which will be shown for the first time at the Düsseldorf Caravan Salon in September). In fact, the Al-Ko models now come only in Emotion trim, but this simplification of trim levels – previously three finishes were offered across all coachbuilts – is seen as a way of reducing customer confusion.

Other casualties of the 2019 range revisions are the U-shaped rear lounge models (P650U and G650U), which were well received in the UK but did not catch on on the Continent. The G650L A-class has also been dropped this year.

New this time, however, are lounges with side-facing benches in 7.4-metre models with an ‘F’ in their classification, so the P740FC (island bed) and P740FGJ (twin beds) as well as their A-class equivalents with a ‘G’ prefix rather than a ‘P’. These layouts are sure to go down well in Britain as they feel especially open and spacious and they offer additional versatility as the benches can be converted into face-forward travel seats without using extra cushions. As standard, one rear travel seat is included but a fourth passenger seat is an option.

Models with a more Euro-conventional half-dinette/L-settee lounge can now use a similar variable seating system to convert the inward-facing single seat into a forward-facing travel seat. This means that a fifth belted travel seat is now available on a wide variety of models, including 3.5-tonne motorhomes (depending on spec).

A further novelty is a redesign of the bedroom in island bed models, so that the bedside wardrobes are shorter. This makes for a more spacious feel in the bedroom, along with a much greater acreage of bedside table – complete with twin USB ports on each side.

Pilote’s van conversion range continues to offer a wide variety of fixed bed formats but new this season are the V630J (single bed, 6.36m model) which has a large rear garage area simply by hinging the head end of the beds out of the way and Premium spec layouts with an extra large kitchen. These new galleys incorporate a clever slide-out unit which retains worktop when the sink is in use. In models with a low-level fridge the new concept creates unprecedented amounts of worktop for this style of motorhome. 

Pilote remains 100% family-owned and manufactured 6,000 motorhomes in 2018 (season). It aims to increase this to 8,000 vehicles by 2022 (not including the company’s new factory in China which could build a further 3,000 units for the domestic market).