Full review

Words: Peter Vaughan

Photos courtesy of Morelo

The Morelo Palace Alkoven 94 L

Think overcab motorhome and you imagine something budget-priced and Italian, designed for families or hire fleets. Think Morelo and you’ll have a picture of a gigantic liner-style A-class with an equally massive price tag. Now these two seemingly opposite ends of the leisure vehicle spectrum have come together in one unlikely combination to create the Palace Alkoven.

In fact, this 94 L model is the first prototype in a range that will stretch from 8.07m up to a scarcely believable 9.99m. If that doesn’t tell you that this Morelo is in a class of one, then the following stats should: a height of 3.50m, a maximum gross weight of 7.49 tonnes, and a six-figure price tag starting with a two. Or, actually, that could be a three – the demo vehicle boasted over €80,000-worth of options.   

The exterior

Based on the Iveco Daily, this is the first Morelo model ever to compete in this class. However, this is not just an A-class Palace with a different cab, the floorplans are not shared. The construction is inherited, though, and features 38mm RTM insulation, a hail-resistant GRP roof and a heated double floor with a depth of 420mm. Not only does that allow for huge storage but super-sized inboard tanks, too – 360 litres fresh, 250 litres grey and a further 250 litres for the marine toilet.    

The interior

Another first for Morelo is that this is a six-berth with six seatbelts. With an overcab bed (2.10m by 1.60m) and the lounge totally separated from the cab, the Alkoven also feels quite different from other models in its maker’s portfolio. It’s more like a bigger and much more prestigious Bürstner Argos, with its pullman dinette and side sofa, which can be connected to form an L-shaped seating area behind the cab and along the offside. Overhead lighting canopies with dimmable spotlights give a classy ambience, while an Alde gas/electric central heating system and a flat floor from the cab back ensure your comfort. Then, a heated floor and heat exchanger (to warm the living area from the engine while you travel) complete your sumptuous lifestyle.    

Kitchen and washroom

The kitchen comes with a 177-litre fridge/freezer, a three-burner hob and a microwave with grill function. Of course, here are mineral worktops with twin inset sinks, while the Nespresso machine is just one of the many options. You can even specify a dishwasher. More remarkable, perhaps, is the sheer scale of the full-width washroom, which would shame many a hotel bedroom. The shower is genuinely of domestic proportions, while the toilet is ceramic rather than plastic. A rain shower and heated towel rail are amongst the options on offer.       

Summary

At the rear, this model has twin beds (but without a central gap). These are two metres long and more than a metre wide, while an optional ‘watergel’ topper can further increase comfort. You can really get carried away with the extras here. An automatic hydraulic levelling system adds €9,065, while no one will forgo the Chassis Package and Driving Safety Package that, combined, cost over €20,000. You can have up to four leisure batteries and as many as eight solar panels, up to a 40in TV and much more. Most exciting of all, though, is that two rear lounge models are coming in the Alkoven range.