Full review

FLEURETTE’S latest brochure describes its 72 SLB as ‘Gross und Hell’, which doesn’t sound terribly flattering (it actually means ‘large and bright’).

In reality, however, the superlatives really tend to come thick and fast when you first clap eyes on this, Fleurette’s first-ever attempt at building an A-class motorhome.

As part of the Rapido Group, Fleurette have had to cast envious eyes at their sibling companies’ range-topping A-classes from the side-lines, but if this first effort is anything to go by, they’ve got the knack of designing and building them pretty quickly.

The 72 SLB forms part of a four-strong assault on this increasingly popular sector of the market, each clearly designed to tackle the most popular layout niches, including en suite longitudinal fixed bed (the 67 LG), twin single beds/end washroom (73 LJ) and en suite island bed (73 LM).

Each is built at the company’s brand-new factory in the Loire Valley in France, and each trumps most of the competition by providing a double-floor for maximum space efficiency.

Fleurette chose the 72 SLB as the launch model (presumably as this is expected to be a big seller), complete with transverse double end bedroom, huge garage underneath, and a central split washroom that can be made a part of the bedroom by clipping the shower door across.

Up front, lounging is taken care of by an L-shaped nearside settee (which converts into a pair of travel seats), a smaller seat opposite and a pair of swivel cab seats, and while the launch model’s upholstery wasn’t exactly inspiring, few buyers will be offended by it.

The kitchen is distinguished by its paler woodwork and opaque plastic-fronted overhead lockers, and gets the full treatment, equipped with a Baraldi extractor fan, Techno-Tower (complete with 150-litre AES true fridge/freezer) and all-Spinflo cooking equipment.

What realty sets the Discover apart is its quite superb build-quality: the cabinetry is the match of anything Rapido can produce, and its magnificently over-engineered two-stage locker catches are a joy to use.

Expect the first right-hookers to appear in the UK in May.

This article originally appeared in the November 2007 issue of Which Motorcaravan. To subscribe to the magazine, click here.