What Motorhome September 2022

Normal. I barely remember what it means, or what it was. There were hints of the motorhome market returning to some sort of ‘normal’ when we started getting invites to the traditional summer press previews for next season’s vehicles. But only a few makers held their events on the scale of pre-Covid times and many chose not to have a launch at all. Quite a few brands have told us that they are making no changes for 2023 as they try to catch up with building sold orders delayed by component and chassis supply problems. It’s the latter that’s the talking point of the new season. Chausson says it will build over 90% of next year’s ’vans on Ford. Knaus has added Ford, Mercedes and VW to a portfolio that…

Xbus – described as an ‘urban all-rounder’ – is a modular electric vehicle that can be a minibus, pick-up, van, tipper – or even a campervan. That’s despite an overall length of under 4m and an empty weight of less than 800kg. It is powered by a 15kWh battery, with the possibility of adding exchangeable additional batteries of up to a further 30kWh. Its power output is quoted as 56kW (75bhp). Meeting the criteria of the L7e-B2 light vehicle class (officially a ‘side-by-side buggy’) means the Xbus must have electric drive, a net weight under 600kg, transport for up to three people and be limited to a top speed of 100km/h (62mph). Whatever the regulations say, this vehicle is certainly cute, with its round headlights giving it a face reminiscent…

MOTORHOME SHOW TRADERS GEARING UP FOR BUSY SEPTEMBER Dealers and accessory retailers are preparing for a bumper month as Warners Shows squeezes three events into the next few weeks. The South West Motorhome & Campervan Show, which takes place at the Bath & West Showground in Shepton Mallet from 9 to 11 September, will welcome several new traders. Somerset Campervan Company, Taylored Campervan, Sterling Automotive, P&P Campers and Winchester Caravans are all first-timers at the Somerset event; meanwhile, southern-based dealers and converters, such as Bilbo’s and Highbridge Caravan Centre are set to return for the first time since the pandemic. The Caravan and Motorhome Club will also be in attendance offering free manoeuvring courses and the advice centre will be in full swing, with talks such as Choosing a Motorhome…

Camper Tribe has a new partner Campervan hire specialist, Camper Tribe, has partnered with VW converter, CamperKing, to grow its UK fleet. Its new rental campervans, based on the ever-popular VW Transporter T6.1, offer four berths (two in the pop-top roof, two made from the rear seat), a 50-litre fridge, combined sink and two-burner hob unit, a sliding table and genuine VW alloy wheels. Spencer Grey, CamperKing’s Managing Director, says, “CamperKing is delighted to be working with Camper Tribe as they continue to grow their campervan hire fleet. We can’t wait to see customers getting out there and using the Camper Tribe ’vans for great adventures.” MARQUIS PROVIDES LPG REFILL AT EXETER BRANCH The UK’s largest motorhome and caravan dealership network, Marquis Leisure, has installed the provision for LPG refills…

ADRIA has launched its all-new Supersonic range of Mercedes-Benz-based A-class motorhomes. The new line-up comprises four models, with UK deliveries expected from October/November this year. “The Supersonic started its life as a concept in the Adria innovation hub, a top-secret part of our principal manufacturing site, where our designers and engineers create their vision for new vehicles,” explains Matjaž Grm, Adria Mobil Executive Director for Sales and Marketing. “When we started this project, we looked in unusual places for inspiration, not just at motorhomes but also at luxury yachts and the latest in interior home design. Design, and the experience it delivers, is incredibly important for any vehicle, especially this one, as the pinnacle of our motorhome range.” The Supersonic is built on a front-wheel drive Mercedes Sprinter with Al-Ko…

AROUND a year ago, Reading-based dealer, Webbs Motor Caravans, began a project to launch its own range of campervans. This has now come to fruition with the debut of three models under the Auto-Explore brand. Each will be sold exclusively from Webbs’ premises, including the previously caravans-only branch in Salisbury. Production is expected to run at around one vehicle a week initially, increasing to 100 ’vans a year once sufficient base vehicles can be sourced. All Auto-Explore campers will be based on brand-new or pre-registered Peugeot Boxer panel vans in Professional spec, which includes sat-nav, air-conditioning, cruise control and reversing sensors as standard. They will come with the 2.2-litre BlueHDi 140bhp motor and sixspeed manual gearbox and Webbs will add aftermarket alloy wheels and paint the front bumper. As well…