Morelo Grand Empire 120 GSO A-class

Base vehicle: Mercedes-Benz Actros Price from: €826,800 Berths: 4 Travel seats: 4 Length: 12.00m Width: 2.55m Height: 3.86m Gross weight: 26,000kg Payload: 11,300kg

Words & photos: Peter Vaughan

The Morelo Grand Empire 120 GSO

When your entry-level model is priced at €186,450 (before the inevitable list of extras), your flagship has to be something very special. And so we come to the Morelo Grand Empire 120 GSO, a vehicle that stands out even in the Caravan Salon’s Premium Hall, where a motorhome’s garage is frequently frequented by a car, not an e-bike.

Morelo modestly describes this 12-metre monster as “better than anything you have seen before”. Its customers wanted more luxury, more space, more performance and more safety, so it created this 26-tonne penthouse-on-wheels, based on a Mercedes-Benz Actros 2553 L chassis.

The big news is the third axle, which is not only claimed to give better straight-line stability, but also improves manoeuvrability due to its rear-wheel steering. Grip on slippery surfaces is also said to be improved, although you wouldn’t want to attempt a muddy CL site in this!

The details

However, we wouldn’t argue with its maker that “the technical data puts everything in the shade.” Just look at some of the stats – a 12.8-litre engine producing 530bhp, a 500-litre fuel tank (run that to empty and it’ll be a £900 bill), a 12-speed automatic gearbox and over 11 tonnes of payload.

Then there are four 340Ah lithium batteries, a 560-litre fresh water tank and a 200-litre domestic fridge/freezer. Actually, that last one sounds relatively normal in such an extreme machine…

The payload

Of course, you’ll use up some of that enormous load-carrying capacity with your Mini Cooper, leaving just 10 tonnes or so for food, clothes, outdoor gear, bikes and passengers… Some Morelos can carry more exotic cars (even a Maserati), but here the third axle limits you to a runabout up to 3.85m long. Oh, the sacrifice.

Don’t feel too sorry for Grand Empire buyers (of which there have already been two in the UK, if not yet a purchaser of this biggest ever version), because Morelo says this is “a statement of self-sufficient luxury and brilliant standard equipment.”

What’s included

Naturally, with a starting price that equates to around £720,000, the air suspension and fully automatic levelling system are standard, as is the Mirror Cam digital camera system with BirdView that should take some of the stress out of piloting a motorhome that’s about twice the length of a Ducato campervan and worth well over double the value of an average British house.

At least multi-millionaire owners can relax in the knowledge that their investment is looking after their safety with systems such as Active Brake Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, Roll Control Assist, Distance Keeping Assist and Traffic Sign Assist.

The luxury items

When you find a campsite with a big enough pitch – or, perhaps more likely, find a slot in the paddock at Silverstone – the Grand Empire’s insulation will keep you cosy with 52mm exterior walls and roof and double-glazed real glass windows.

Climate control is available at the touch of a button in the driver’s cab, of course, but you’ll also be able to regulate the temperature just as effectively in the living and sleeping areas, thanks to roof air-conditioning units (plural!).

And there’s underfloor heating in the cockpit, living area and washroom as well. You could save yourself €49,500 by opting for the model without a slide-out, but why would you?

This is the ultimate motorhome with a much shorter options list than other Morelos – here, almost everything is standard, from the electric reclining sofa (my favourite feature) to the dishwasher and induction hob. It’s gas-free, too, with electrical appliances and diesel heating.

Just won the Euromillions? Already got the Rolls-Royce and the Ferrari? Then this could be next on the list…