Morelo Empire Liner 93 LB A-class motorhome

Weight, size, price – all in the liner league…

Words & photos: Peter Vaughan

The Morelo Empire Liner 93 LB

Even amongst the German premium makers, it doesn’t seem to be certain when an A-class rises to the exalted heights of being called a ‘liner’. But one thing is for sure, this Empire Liner is worthy of that name. 

Based on a near-12-tonne chassis from Mercedes-Benz, this isn’t the top-of-the-tree for a company that, over the last decade, has risen from small beginnings to become the number one maker in its field. In 2023, the range is quite mind-blowing, both in its size and the size of some of its motorhomes (see the November issue for the 26-tonne Grand Empire!). 

The Empire Liner sits above the Home, Loft, Loft Liner, Palace and Palace Liner in the hierarchy and, when you get to this level, you can choose from the Atego (up to 15 tonnes) or the Actros chassis (18 tonnes). The latter also offers a step up from ‘only’ a 7.7-litre 299-horespower engine to 10.7 litres and close to 400 gee-gees! 

The spec

Standard equipment includes air suspension and an eight-speed automatic transmission. With a starting price knocking on the door of £400k, the Empire Liner offers a huge amount of choice. For a start, there are 10 different models, of which this 93 LB – at 9.65m long – is one of the smallest. Overall lengths go up to 11.99m.

Of course, with a motorhome like this, everything is on a grand scale, from the diesel (180 litres, or optionally 280) and gas tanks (120 litres) to the water capacities (410 litres fresh, 280 each for grey and black). You won’t need to worry about driving with empty reservoirs, either, as the standard payload is over three tonnes. You can tow a further 2,910kg, too. 

The body construction includes 52cm-thick walls and roof with aluminium inside and out and RTM hard foam in the centre of the sandwich. Cold-bridge-free technology features, as does a 480mm-deep double floor. The bodywork is entirely wood-free and the double-glazed windows are glass.

The options

Selecting the most suitable model is just the beginning of your Morelo journey. Then there are five pages of options to peruse. The vehicle shown here had close to £80k-worth of extra features, bringing to the total to £468,495.

The most expensive option was the TV package, including a 40in telly that lowers electrically into the lounge, a second (27in) screen in the bedroom and an 85cm Oyster V satellite dish on the roof – price £7,270.

Other little trinkets included leather upholstery (£4,025), 19.5in Alcoa alloy wheels (£5,690), automatic levelling via hydraulic jacks (£8,410), a six-metre electric awning (£2,885), roof air-conditioning for the living area (£3,235), plus another £3,235 for separate air-con for the rear bedroom (!), an additional 210Ah lithium battery (taking the total to four batteries) costing £3,500 and a Birdview camera system for manoeuvring this bus-sized vehicle (£3,235).

We were rather intrigued to know what the Royal Seating Group adds for an extra £6,950…

The interior

The layout of this model includes a bar-style lounge, a design that has all but disappeared from mainstream models – more’s the pity. With three swivel captain’s chairs and a long settee, it really does offer the best of all worlds for dining and relaxing.

Aft of all that cream leather is a kitchen that includes a Fisher & Paykel dishwasher (a £2,095 option) and a Nespresso coffee machine and milk frother (standard). Built into the mineral worktop, the three-burner Thetford gas hob looks so ordinary, but the double sink comes with a hose-style tap. Opposite is a Siemens 200-litre domestic fridge/freezer (£1,745) and a Blaupunkt oven/microwave combo. 

Perhaps, it’s the vast 1.61m by 2.18m washroom area with Tecma marine loo and huge shower featuring glass doors that’s the star feature, though. Or is it the conjoined twin beds at the rear that fill an area measuring 2.06m by 2.09m?

Where to buy

The sole UK dealer for Morelo is Premium Motorhomes of Bawtry, near Doncaster.

Expect to see a handful of Morelo demonstrators there in the company’s indoor showroom, alongside its other German franchises, Carthago, Knaus and Weinsberg. 

Premium Motorhomes also has an NCC-approved workshop.