What’s new at the NEC?

THE International Caravan & Motorhome 2008 will take place at the NEC Birmingham between October 14 and 19. Here’s just a fraction of what will be on display and for sale at the show this year:

THE van conversion range from Adria has been expanded with three new models, all of which will be available with right-hand drive.

There’s the 4Twin bunk bed model, the Maxivan with its drop-down roof bed and the Renault Trafic-based 3 Way rising roof camper.

But the highlight is the revised Vision A-class, which gets a facelift and two new layouts.

Autocruise has introduced three distinct ranges this year with different levels of specification. The Star range is the brand’s entry-level line-up, while the newly named Star Plus models have an AL-KO chassis and more kit. The flagship Driving range now truly lives up to its role at the top of the Autocruise family tree with much improved standard specification.

You’ll also find two brand-new layouts (both in the Star range) from Autocruise at the show – the family-friendly Starquest (with front dinette and a rear lounge in a lowline body) and the Sportstar, which is set to take on the Europeans at their favourite game with a compact ‘Van’ garage layout – just like the Hymer Van, Hobby Van and countless others.

And don’t forget the Autocruise van conversion range, where the Tempo will now also be available with four travel seats, called the Tempo Plus.

Auto-Sleepers is being quite cagey about their new models but marque devotees will find two new Peugeot-based coachbuilts and a new long-wheelbase Peugeot high-top van conversion on show for the very first time.

The coachbuilt models will use the medium-wheelbase Boxer chassis and be designed to compliment the existing Sigma range but with rather different interior schemes.

There’s real excitement over at Auto-Trail where a range of compact (5.99m or 6.20m) luxury low-profiles – called Excel – will be on show..

The company will also be unveiling two new models within its existing ranges, the Apache 725 bunk bed model and the Apache 632 with a fixed rear transverse bed, offering a more compact garage layout for those buyers who find the Cheyenne 696G and Chieftain G too big.

Spanish firm Benimar is re-launching in the UK after several years’ absence – at the NEC you’ll be able to see its exciting new motorhomes, including the Ford Transit-based Sport and Tessoro ranges. The Tessoro 490 is probably the most compact island bed motorhome available.

On the Bürstner stand much of the excitement will revolve around the UK debut of the new entry-level A-class, the Viseo. With a choice of lengths and layouts – and prices from just £43,400 – the Viseo will introduce A-class ownership to a wider audience than ever before.

While you’ll have to wait until February’s NEC show to see Bürstner’s first van conversion, the City Car, Chausson are another brand joining the fixed bed high-top sector with their new Twist.

There are several additions to Chausson’s budget Flash range, too, including a sub-£30,000 5.99m garage model on Ford (Flash 04) and larger Transit-based garage layouts with adjustable bed/garage height and a choice of low-profile or overcab bodywork (Flash 11 and 18).

If you’re looking for the ultimate motorhomes head straight for the Southdowns stand where you’ll see a range of Concorde A-classes, including the new Credo on Mercedes AL-KO (as tested exclusively in last month’s Which Motorcaravan magazine) and the new Charisma 890 G with a garage specifically designed to hold a Smart car!

Dethleffs is taking up an entire hall at the show to display its full range, as well as a selection of ultra-keenly priced Sunlight models. The Mercedes-based Globeline is a must-see model as it’s the first Mercedes AL-KO-based low-profile to go on sale here.

The new Magic Edition (Fiat low-profile) will stand out in its optional black paintwork and a wider range of Iveco Globetrotter coachbuilts will suit those who like a big overcab bed and a double floor.

Van conversion specialists Devon Conversions will be unveiling a new version of its big Sapphire high-top, based on the nearly seven-metre long-wheelbase Mercedes Sprinter.

The new model will have a second seating area at the rear for extra versatility over the existing fixed bed derivative.

On the Eura Mobil stand the focus will be on the new Integra A-class as this German brand reintroduces its flagship range which was previously so successful in the UK.

Hymer is another marque introducing Europe’s favourite van conversion layout to the UK with the fixed bed HymerCar 322.

At the other end of the scale Hymer UK hope to display the flagship Liner, a 6.5-tonne 8.60-metre A-class that’s likely to carry a price tag of around £140,000.

Upmarket van conversion specialists IH Motor Campers is set to launch its second coachbuilt model at the show – this time based on Fiat. Meanwhile, its high-top range is to be expanded to include a Mercedes Sprinter-based model.

Carthago’s new Chic C-Line is not ‘entry-level’ in the usual sense of the term, but it is the brand’s lowest priced motorhome and its only 3.5-tonne model.

Priced to compete with more mainstream A-class motorhomes from the likes of Hymer and Dethleffs, it will be one of the stars of the Lowdham Leisureworld stand.

Another new A-class that’s sure to attract attention is the Knaus Sport-Liner, which brings the stunning S-Liner styling within reach of a wider range of purchasers.

Lowdhams also hope to show the new Fiat-based Knaus Sun TI low-profile – the latest version of an award-winning model.

And the latest Eriba motorhomes will also be on show with both the Car Emotion low-profile and representatives of the expanded Jet A-class range.

The new fixed bed Goldstar 650 from Lunar will be making its first appearance at the show, while the Lancashire firm will also be updating their flagship Roadstar range with extra thick mattresses, LED reading lights and the latest ceramic bowl toilet.

Marquis will be introducing three new models to their Mercedes-based County range (built by Auto-Sleepers).

The new Gloucester is the first fixed bed model in the range (sharing the Berkshire’s 7.29m overcab body but featuring a lengthways fixed bed and side-facing settees up front).

The Hampshire is even more closely related to the Berkshire but swaps that vehicle’s rear U-shaped lounge for twin settees that double as single beds with Froli springs and electrically adjustable mattresses.

The mid-sized Northants is based on the 6.45m Surrey but replaces its L-settee with a second inward-facing bench. There will be special show offers available on these and the other Mercedes-based models. You can read a full Touring Test of the Auto-Sleeper Berkshire in the November issue of Which Motorcaravan, on sale October 9.

Don Amott will have the 2009 McLouis range on show, with Tandy 640, 650 and 672 sure to be exhibited alongside the entry-level Lagan 250.

The entry-level Avantura range from Pilote has been completely re-designed with a narrower body, while at the other end of the range the Explorateur line-up includes Fiat AL-KO-based low-profiles for the very first time.

Also from the Pilote Group, the budget brand Moovéo has more A-class layouts for 2009, while the compact A-class City Van gets a new rear lounge layout that’s sure to appeal to British buyers.

Rapido will have a bigger selection of island bed layouts than ever before, with beds running lengthways, across the ‘van and even diagonally. Its new 9009dFH is the biggest A-class the firm have ever built – at 7.99m – but the star of the Rapido display will certainly be the 9010dF (tested exclusively in the current issue of Which Motorcaravan).

The distinctive new nose of the all-silver 70+ range will catch the eye too, while sister brand Itineo have new front end styling for their budget A-class range.

If you like your motorcaravans to be small, then the Romahome stand should be your first port of call. Brand-new will be a conversion of the Citroën Nemo – a van even smaller than the Berlingo, at a tiny 3.86m long.

This ‘one man and his dog’ conversion will have an elevating roof (incorporating purpose-made solar panels) and a GRP interior. An automatic version will be offered and amazing economy figures are claimed for the 1.4HDi engine. A second (slightly larger) Nemo-based model will follow in the New Year.

Meanwhile, the Citroën Berlingo van has been replaced by a new model and the last Romahomes based on the old chassis will be badged Bon Voyage and will feature a number of extras.

The Dimension high-top will be offered in a new winterised version with inboard water tank, underfloor heating and upgraded insulation. Romahome are working with Eberspächer on this to ensure that the vehicle meets Grade 3 approval standards. And finally, the Citroën Dispatch-based R40 monocoque coachbuilt has had lots of detail changes.  

Roy Wood Transits will be unveiling two new Westfalia models. First is the West Van – Westfalia’s first coachbuilt for 50 years – which will be available in right-hand drive.

This compact low-profile has a fixed bed across the rear with garage below and, unusually, is based on the rear-drive Ford Transit with twin rear wheels. Details have yet to be revealed for the second new model.

You will be able to see all the new Swift Group models together for the first time. Lowline Kon-Tiki models (and equivalent E700 Bessacarrs) with Skyview sunroofs were revealed exclusively in September’s Which Motorcaravan.

And the lowline theme continues with new versions of the Swift Voyager (and Bessacarr E600 and Ace Adventurer) ranges with three models, two of them with new layouts – the 630EK with end kitchen and the 670G with transverse lounge and high-level double bed over a garage.

The Mondial van conversion range now comes with a layout that offers four travel seats – the GT Plus.

Importers Techleisure will have new models from several brands at the show. The TEC FreeTEC 718Ti and 588 will be the first coachbuilts from this German brand with their habitation door on the UK side.

Pössl van conversions will be making their first UK show appearance – including the new four-berth Vario and the striking 2-Win Style. And the stunning Mercedes Silverdream, which is unique in having roll-out awnings on both sides will finally – we are promised – also make its British debut.

Wildax Motorhomes are all set to launch a new model at the show, based on a brand-new Citroën Relay van.

The Constellation to be launched at the show will be the first time Wildax has converted a brand-new van, the company historically having built on secondhand panel vans. Prices will start from £30,995 on-the-road including a free Lux Pack worth £1500 for any orders placed at the show.

Source: Which Motorcaravan.

Fact-file:

When: From 10am to 6pm, 14 to 19 October.
Where: NEC Birmingham, B40 1NT.
Advance tickets: Tel: 08701 288 288 (until 13 October)

For full details visit www.caravanshows.com (link opens in new window)