Adria Super Sonic (2011)

Adria Super Sonic I 701 SL 2012

Adria has confirmed that it is to launch a new generation A Class motorhome in the Sonic family, which it will name the Super Sonic. This motorhome review was published in the October 2011 issue of MMM.

Adria’s latest addition to its Sonic range - the Super Sonic - will arrive here in weeks. The new model will have an all-silver exterior, Alde hot water central and underfloor heating and will also have an Al-Ko chassis, which Adria says will give it greater payload options and more stable road handling.

According to Adria, the new Super Sonic also has a “very striking, contemporary and modern interior”. Just one model will be available and UK pricing has not yet been finalised. A choice of two Euro 5 engines will be available - Fiat’s 2.3-litre 130bhp and its 3.0-litre 180bhp.

Meanwhile, still with Adria, MMM road tester Jonathan Lloyd returned to the company to update his report on the latest Sonic, which was published in August’s MMM. In that report, Jonathan felt he couldn’t examine the habitation electrical installations in general and the electrically-operated overcab bed in particular because the vehicle came without a leisure battery.

Adria does not fit leisure batteries as standard. Here he updates his report in a model with the battery fitted. Entrance and egress was easy via the now operative single electric step. It slid in and out rather than rotating as was popular a few years ago, plus it featured auto-retract, and an audible ‘step-out’ warning.

MANAGEMENT PANEL

Located above the door and with two coloured pictorial sector readouts, the left hand crescent illustrates battery voltage, the right hand one illustrates water tank levels.

The two-way rocker switch immediately to the right of the panel operates the overcab bed and the reset button above the switch should prevent overload on the motor which powers the raising and lowering mechanism.

Before the bed can be accessed, the backrests of both cab seats have to be folded (lowered). The large knurled knob on the side of each (extremely comfortable) Aguti seat looked as though it would have to be twiddled endlessly to achieve this. Not true though, it actually offered a better mechanical advantage in the guise of a two-stage quick release mechanism.

The bed itself lowered to a step-up height of 1.22m (4ft). A short lightweight aluminium ladder was supplied. This clipped on the frame to aid ascent, plus it would be perfectly possible for the reasonably agile to ‘hop up’ via the adjacent lounge seating. The mattress itself stretched the tape to 1.86m (L) x 1.46m (W). (6ft 1.25in (L) x 4ft 9.5ins (W).

Folk will have to sleep transversely though sweet dreams should be guaranteed by the one-piece mattress under which there was a Rekarflex plastic ‘petal’ suspension system. It probably won’t be the default choice of location for the highly calorifically-challenged to sleep - there is a weight limit of 200kg.

Adria had also placed a warning sticker on the bed frame, informing that it is not suitable for children under six years of age. Older children will be prevented from unscheduled exits by the mesh safety net included.

Natural light and ventilation was available via the opening rooflight, artificial light via LED downlighters. The motor operating the mechanism was located on the offside close to the ceiling and behind the fabric bellows. It’s a surprisingly small unit and (almost) silent in operation. I guess it was possible to reduce the wattage of the motor because the mechanism was aided by filled struts and counterbalance springs. It was certainly very efficient.

LEISURE BATTERY

An Exide G85 sealed leisure battery connected to this particular vehicle was of the ‘Gel-type’ and was stored (unrestrained) under the offside inward-facing settee. Adjacent, but in a separate compartment was the Schaudt Electroblock consumer unit and charger.

Decoding the latest format of labelling the output of leisure batteries revealed that this one claimed to supply 85A (20hr) and 95A (100hr). Be aware though that Adria’s technical specs list a 100 amp hr leisure battery as an extra-cost option - so double check.

I have been informed that during my last evaluation the habitation electrics would have worked if I’d turned the ignition on, even without a leisure battery attached. Intrigued, I disconnected the leisure battery and turned on the ignition. I found the management panel dead and the step inoperative. However, if I started the engine, everything worked!

It is customary for motorhomes sold in the UK to automatically isolate the habitation electrics at least on engine start-up and preferably on turning the ignition on.

CONCLUSION 

It was great to re-examine the Sonic, plus photograph and measure that luxurious electrically-operated cab-bed. As I said, the exterior is drop-dead gorgeous, the interior is generally well-constructed and it features luxurious fabrics and finishes. It’s a worthy successor to the Vision.

To read the full motorhome review in PDF format exactly as it appeared in the October 2011 issue of MMM, please click here

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The Adria Super Sonic may have a daft name, but its a seriously good luxury A-class with a wow-factor to the interior. No wonder Oasis sang a song about it!