Frankia Neo Black Line MT 7 GDK low-profile motorhome
Description
So much more than just a black cab...
Key Features
Full Review
Words & photos: Peter Vaughan
The Frankia Neo Black Line MT 7 GDK low-profile motorhome
Hymer has its B-Class ModernComfort in WhiteLine trim, so it’s perhaps no surprise that Frankia now has a Black Line version of its competing Neo. The recipe is the same, take an existing model and pick some choice add-ons from the normally lengthy options list, then throw them in as standard while not increasing the list price to the same degree.
In Germany, the saving is said to be around €12,000 compared with a standard Neo equipped to a similar level. And, of course, everyone will know you’ve got the one with the toys because of its metallic Obsidian Black cab.
What’s included
The 16in alloys are gloss black, too, and much of the extra spec is from Mercedes-Benz. That includes semi-automatic climate control, cruise control, a reinforced front axle, start/stop, a leather steering wheel, electric parking brake, automatic wipers, Highbeam Assist, lane departure warning, Attention Assist, the MBUX 10.25in display with DAB+ and sat-nav and a 92-litre fuel tank.
On the habitation side, there are further added features, such as the rear loading hatch for the garage, rear view camera, Duo Control to automatically switch to the second gas cylinder, a 120W solar panel, 105Ah lithium battery, front dinette bed, anthracite leather and microfibre upholstery, dimmable lighting and extra sockets.
The layout
What doesn’t change is the layout of the Neo – this 6.99m-long GDK model is the twin single bed version but you can also have a Black Line with the slightly shorter BD transverse double bed floorplan.
Like all Neos, they are based on the front-wheel drive Sprinter with an Al-Ko low-frame chassis and, unlike the larger, rear-wheel drive M-Line and Platin models from Frankia, they are offered with a 3,500kg gross weight.
The exterior
Externally, the Neo Black Line has a large rear garage with up to 1.20m internal height and an offside loading door as well as the trademark top-hinged rear hatch that’s such a feature of the brand. Another typically Frankia touch is the services locker with built-in fresh and waste water hoses.
Tanks hold 125 litres and 100 litres respectively and, of course, they’re both fully winterised, thanks to their location in the heated double floor. Bodywork uses Frankia’s ThermoProtect wall structure with a GRP hail-resistant roof and seven-year water ingress warranty.
The interior
Open the Hartal habitation door and immediately ahead of you is a hatch in the floor – somewhere to stow your shoes. Behind is a half-dinette lounge with wall-mounted table (complete with swing-out extension leaf). Above the cab are a large sunroof, ambient lighting and elasticated straps at the sides to safely stow some lightweight items.
Looking aft from the lounge, you’ll sense a more contemporary design in this Neo than traditional Frankias. The Black Line comes only with the Visby White furniture with a mix of pale woodwork and lots of white.
The kitchen
Running along the offside, from the entrance to the rear bedroom, is the galley (where an oven is added for the UK market). There’s a modern gas-on-glass hob here and a recessed sink with two-piece cover. Then the counter steps up over the 84-litre compressor-type fridge – something we’re only just starting to see in coachbuilt motorhomes and which was once the preserve of campervans.
The galley might be taller here but through-vision from end to end is maintained along the offside, which really helps with the feeling of space. Better still, there’s a step-free level floor right through the living area.
The washroom
In the stern are two 1.97m-long single beds, but it’s the washroom that’s the star feature of the Neo and where the model shows innovation. Here, both the bench cassette toilet and the large washbasin above can slide away, creating a truly class-leading shower for a sub-7m motorhome.
Where to buy
SMC Motorhomes in Newark is the sole UK dealer for Frankia motorhomes. This is a family-run business with a wide range of brands (Auto-Sleepers, Globecar, Knaus, Pilote and Weinsberg, as well as Frankia), and its own comprehensive on-site workshops, including an experienced insurance-approved bodyshop.
You can read an in-depth review of the Frankia Neo MI 7 GDK A-class model here.
