2015 Motor Caravan Design Awards - Auto

PLUS: New dealer special categories
Van Conversions up to £40,000
Winner
Tribute 670
The long-wheelbase, Sevel-based (Fiat Ducato, Peugeot Boxer or
Citroën Relay) van dominates the conversion market right across
Europe, so it’s a hard-fought sector, with loads of choice at different
prices. This class saw entries from smaller campers – on the Volkswagen
T5 and Renault Trafic – but it was the Ducato-based Tribute 670 that
emerged triumphant and for several very good reasons.
Tribute van conversions are manufactured by Trigano in mainland
Europe, but imported into the UK by Grimsby-based Auto-Trail – its
influence is apparent in terms of the design and execution of these
campervans.
The first place that this makes itself felt is with the sliding side
entrance door. Unlike many continentals, it’s on our – UK – nearside, so
entering and exiting can be done safely when parked at the kerbside.
Inside you discover a layout that’s designed to suit British motorhomers’
needs, too.
That means a rear lounge, where others house a fixed bed –
providing a comfy room to retreat to when our weather is behaving
badly and, let’s face it, that’s quite often on this side of the Channel. At
FACTFILE
Price from £37,694
Base vehicle Fiat Ducato
Berths 2
Length 5.99m
Width 2.05m
Height 2.65m
MTPLM 3,300kg
Max user payload 375kg
Contact
Tribute Motorhomes
Trigano House, Genesis Way,
Europarc, Grimsby,
North East Lincolnshire DN37 9TU
01472 571075
tributemotorhomes.co.uk
caravanclub.co.uk • 01342 326944
Second
Tribute 669
night the lounge converts easily into a transverse double bed and, if the
weather’s good and you’re living outside, you can leave the bed made
up, giving ‘just-jump-in’ convenience come lights-out.
Up front, there’s a dinette with two belted seats – perfect if you want
to use this two-berth ’van as a four-seater car. Performance is very good
from the 130 horsepower motor, but 150 and 177bhp engines can be
had, as well as automatic transmission.
The kitchen is compact, and again, with UK tastes in mind, an oven is
fitted. A practical touch is the centrally-locked drawer stack – a feature
more often found in high-end motorhomes. Even the washroom has a
trick up its sleeve, as the washbasin is rail-mounted, sliding to one side
when not needed and creating a larger space for showering.
Plumbing, too, provides for British tastes as Truma’s Combi runs on
both gas and mains electricity to produce heating and hot water.
The Tribute really is good value, but it’s also very nicely customised
to suit the needs of the UK motorhomer – the judges thought so,
commenting that it’s a “tightly focused panel van conversion, sharp
price and handed for the UK. What’s not to like?”.
Third
WildAx Callis
Callisto Independence
Van Conversions over £50,000
Joint winner
Auto-Sleeper Warwick Duo
This category has joint winners,
winners which have so much iin common. Both
offer comfortable rear lounges and are based on a six-metre Sevel-built
panel van – Fiat’s Ducato in the case of the Auto-Trail, Peugeot’s nearidentical Boxer for the Auto-Sleeper.
The approach to construction, however, is very different as Auto-Trail
grafts on its own GRP high-top roof and adds stylish, double-glazed
windows that look like glass. Auto-Sleepers, meanwhile, sticks with the
standard van that comes with factory-fitted single-glazed glass side and
rear windows.
The V-Line’s high roof gives additional headroom, allowing a flat
floor throughout that the Warwick cannot provide. The Warwick’s floor
has a step down from the cab, but this is of trifling consequence as cab
seating plays little part in the living space.
Both ‘vans provide high levels of standard equipment – the Warwick
with its full cooker and microwave plays the V-Line’s rather radical glasstopped hob/sink and drawer-style fridge.
FACTFILE Auto-Sleeper
Price from £48,700
(Price as judged £53,995)
Base vehicle Peugeot Boxer
Berths 2
Length 5.99m
Width 2.26m
Height 2.64m
MTPLM 3,500kg
Max user payload 562kg
Contact
Auto-Sleepers
Orchard Works, Willersey, Nr
Broadway, Worcestershire WR12 7QF
01386 853338
auto-sleepers.com
Joint winner
Auto-Trail V-Line 610
The lounges are the
better
he reason to buy; one doesn’t really
ly be
tter the other
as both offer a choice of double or single beds. The biggest difference is
that the Warwick has opening rear doors that let you out and the Great
Outdoors in. The V-Line, however, has a GRP rear panel that replaces the
doors; no rear access, but you get a lovely boot lid that opens to reveal
storage, with an underfloor space that accommodates long, slim items.
The companies take different approaches to the washroom. The
Warwick stays traditional, with a drop-down basin, bench-type loo and
integral shower. It’s a bit old-fashioned, but the design works well; if it
ain’t broke... The V-Line goes for plastic-lined, wipe-clean ablutions in
sparkling white and, following Auto-Trail tradition, provides a separate
shower area. Is it a feature too far in a small washroom? You decide...
The judges piped up about the Auto-Trail V-line 610: “One of the best
new high-tops to emerge in recent years,” and “Phwoar! What a looker!”
About the Auto-Sleeper Warwick Duo: “It packs in everything you need
for a comfortable trip” and is an “excellently-equipped tourer for two”.
Third
Auto-Sleeper Warwick XL
FACTFILE Auto-Trail
Price from £49,964
(Price as judged £50,963)
Base vehicle Fiat Ducato
Berths 2
Length 5.99m
Width 2.05m
Height 2.81m
MTPLM 3,500kg
Max user payload 410kg
Contact
Auto-Trail
Trigano House, Genesis Way,
Europarc, Grimsby, North East
Lincolnshire DN37 9TU
01472 571000
auto-trail.co.uk
01342 326944 • caravanclub.co.uk
Coachbuilts £40,000 - £45,000
Winner
Roller Team T-Line 590
Married to the latest version of Fiat’s doughty Ducato, this model offers
a cutting-edge layout contained within a pleasingly compact frame.
The Ducato base comes with 130bhp motor mated to a manual
gearbox as standard, but there’s a 150 horsepower engine option, with
Comfort-Matic auto transmission also on the extras list.
The cab has built-in TomTom sat-nav as standard, while the optional
Driver’s Pack (£999) adds such things as cruise control, passenger airbag
and cab air-conditioning.
Roller Team’s latest build method – Extreme Protection System (ExPS)
– features plastics where there was once wood, upmarket Styrofoam
insulation and GRP skinning all round. Even the internal wall linings
are in laminated plastic – the aim is to banish leaks and rot, while the
benefit for buyers is a 10-year water ingress warranty.
One of the great things about the internal layout is that it packs in so
many user-friendly features with few compromises. Cab seats swivel to
face a large lounge with generous table. It’s great to have somewhere to
hide away from the rain, but you might seat as many as nine friends in
here, too, so generous is the space.
FACTFILE
Price from £42,990
Base vehicle Fiat Ducato
Berths 4
Length 5.97m
Width 2.31m
Height 2.80m
MTPLM 3,500kg
Max user payload 750kg
Second
Tribute T-715
Four berths are on offer as lounge seating transforms into a bed and
a second double descends electrically from above. When just two need
to sleep, the drop-down double can be lowered all the way to lounge
seat squab level; it’s a near-instant, easy-to-jump-in bed that’s a great
feature for a touring couple.
The L-shaped kitchen is compact, but still provides a 150-litre fridge
and, thanks to clever design, its smaller hob/sink combo allows a usable
slab of worktop.
A door to the rear opens to a super washroom with fully-separate
shower. The basin’s pretty good too: stylish in its rectangular shape,
and with plenty of surface to hand. If you like a dressing room in your
motorhome, then you’ll like the fact that the wardrobe is located in this
area.
Needless to say, the judges loved this little jewel of a ’van. “A clever
use of interior space” and “a drop-down bed, big lounge and lovely
washroom has massive appeal” were just two of the comments.
Third
Elddis Auto
Autoquest 155
Contact
Roller Team
Trigano House, Genesis Way,
Europarc, Grimsby, North East
Lincolnshire DN37 9TU
01472 571000
rollerteammotorhomes.co.uk
01342 326944 • caravanclub.co.uk
Coachbuilts £50,000 to £60,000
Winner
Auto-Trail Tracker EKS
Auto-Trail’s Tracker range has grown over the years – both in size and
popularity – and still remains at the heart of the firm’s products. This
ethos means providing luxury touring and unique options, such as a nocost choice of different overcab styles, offering ultimate aerodynamics
or enhanced storage and, in some models, double beds.
The EKS breaks the notional six-metre barrier by a third of a metre or
so, but in doing so provides a very spacious lounge in its classic layout.
External styling exudes class in its Carbon Black metallic-painted cab
and curvaceous overcab, with items such as faired-in awning and spare
wheel, mounted under its own cover on the rear, impressing greatly.
Fiat’s newly facelifted cab only adds to things, with sharpened nose
styling and sparkling LED running lights that grab attention on the
road. The motor’s power output is a very usable 130 horsepower, but
there are 150bhp and 177bhp options, with the Ducato’s Comfort-Matic
robotised transmission available with all engine sizes.
Step aboard and you’re greeted by modern styling; the upholstery
is simple, chic and of very high quality. The classic layout and that extra
length sees two long sofas, which are ready for lounging. A drop-down
FACTFILE
Price from £50,906
Base vehicle Fiat Ducato
Berths 2/4
Length 6.39m
Width 2.35m
Height 3.10m
MTPLM 3,500kg
Max user payload 360kg
Second
Bessacarr 496
TV appears from above the cab and it’s in just the right spot for viewing,
feet-up, with a sofa each.
Mealtimes are simple, taken from a free-standing table between the
sofas. When it’s time for bed, two easily-made singles can be 5ft 6in
long, or using the cab seats’ squabs for feet, over seven feet. With sofas
drawn together there’s a bigger-than-king-sized double.
In the rear, the galley should make a camper chef swoon as a full
cooker, sink with drainer, microwave and oodles of worktop make just
about any dish easy to prepare. Christmas dinner in the ’van? Here, it’s
perfectly possible.
Bathing facilities occupy the rear corner and, as Auto-Trail always
provides a separate shower in its ’vans, you can look forward to a
decent soaking every morning in a good-sized compartment. Truma’s
convector heater stands ready to quietly warm at night or boost
the interior temperature with blown-air when needed – gas/mains
operation is a given.
The judges enthused: “Chic, compact, capable” and “highly desirable
motorhome for a couple with neat design touches – well thought out”.
Third
Swift Bolero
Bole 684FB
Contact
Auto-Trail
Trigano House, Genesis Way,
Europarc, Grimsby, North East
Lincolnshire DN37 9TU
01472 571000
auto-trail.co.uk
01342 326944 • caravanclub.co.uk
Coachbuilts over £60,000
Winner
Auto-Trail Frontier Delaware
Auto-Trail produces some of the UK’s largest luxury motorhomes
and the Delaware sits right in the thick of the firm’s top-end Frontier
range. It’s large too, at a smidge (100mm/4in) under eight metres long
and provides much the same layout as its bigger brother, the Comanche
(see below right).
That layout centres on an island double bed in the rear, but crucially,
the Delaware does it all on a four-wheel chassis, while its super-sibling has
six. The result is a shorter ‘van that’s potentially more manoeuvrable, with
few compromises internally. There’s an Al-Ko chassis under the rear so
it benefits from a lower stance, independent rear suspension and wider
track.
The standard motor is Fiat’s 130bhp unit, but with a motorhome this
size, the 150bhp or 177bhp upgrades would be well worth paying for,
in terms of both performance and relaxed driving pleasure. In standard
form this is a luxury tourer for two, but can become a family-friendly
motorhome thanks to the no cost option of an overcab double bed and
the option (£875) of two rear belted seats in the lounge.
It’s in the lounge where the Delaware loses out to its big brother as it is
FACTFILE
Price from £66,017
Base vehicle Fiat Ducato
Berths 4
Length 7.90m
Width 2.35m
Height 3.10m
MTPLM 4,500kg
Max user payload 610kg
Contact
Auto-Trail
Trigano House, Genesis Way,
Europarc, Grimsby, North East
Lincolnshire DN37 9TU
01472 571000
auto-trail.co.uk
caravanclub.co.uk • 01342 326944
smaller, but everywhere else it’s pretty much the same. You’ll buy this ‘van
for the island bed, en suite facilities at its foot and his ‘n’ hers wardrobes on
either side.
The kitchen offers a full cooker, sink with drainer, microwave and big,
two-door fridge/freezer. The lounge may be compact, but there’s plenty
of relaxing space on unequal-length sofas, served by a neat drop-down
TV and free-standing dining table, which emerges from its own dedicated
stowage locker.
The Frontier Delaware is decorated by modern, high quality fabrics,
while a cornucopia of LED lamps include ambient mood lighting – even
behind the kitchen splashback. Luxury touring demands the ability to
take lots of kit with you and that means decent payload. Thankfully, the
Delaware provides nearly two-thirds of a tonne of capacity on its 4,500kg
chassis. There are plenty of island bed equipped motorhomes out there
and now, it seems, this one should be on your list.
Judges described the Delaware as “single-axle luxury for two with an
island bed” and “a great ’van for those who wish for a Comanche, but on a
single rear axle chassis”.
Second
Swift Kon-Tiki 649
Third
Auto-Trail Frontier
Fr
Comanche
MOTOR CARAVAN
I DESIGN AWARDS I
2015
WINNER Coachbuilts £50,000 - £60,000
Auto-Trail Tracker EKS
MOTOR CARAVAN
I DESIGN AWARDS I
2015
WINNER Coachbuilts over £60,000
Auto-Trail Frontier Delaware
MOTOR CARAVAN
I DESIGN AWARDS I
2015
WINNER Coachbuilts over £60,000
Auto-Trail Frontier Delaware
Overall Winner
Winner
Roller Team T-Line 590
If a motorhome won its category, then it went into the ring as a
contender for the overall winner title.
All the judges were asked to nominate their preferred winner. It was
a hard-fought contest, with few points between class winners, but in
the end the judges’ decision saw Roller Team’s low-profile crowned
champion of The Caravan Club Motor Caravan Design Awards 2015.
It was only just over six years ago that the drop-down bed started
to feature in low-profile motorhomes; it’s been present in A-classes
since the dawn of the type. Now, it has changed the offerings from
continental manufacturers.
Europeans liked their fixed bed comfort, and were prepared to
sacrifice lounge and kitchen space to accommodate this. Well, the
drop-down bed low-profile changed all that, allowing much more
compact motorhomes to offer large lounges, spacious kitchens and
fixed double beds. Now, many European manufacturers can provide
sub-six-metre coachbuilts with spacious front lounges.
Choose between layouts where the kitchen and washroom share the
rear or, like this Roller Team, models that have luxurious washrooms/
dressing rooms that stretch across the width of the ’van.
So it comes as no surprise that the judges named this motorhome
as the overall winner, with the Roller Team T-Line 590 offering little
compromise in an excellent value-for-money package.
caravanclub.co.uk • 01342 326944
Join the
adventure
Discover a world of opportunities
when you join The Caravan Club.
Our Club sites and exclusive member only locations are
situated in some of the UK’s most stunning destinations.
With £10 off† pitch prices and outstanding member offers,
the most difficult part is deciding where to holiday next!
At just £46* a year, start exploring today
Visit caravanclub.co.uk/design
or call 01342 488207
†
Compared to non-members. *Price for paying by direct debit. A £10 joining fee is
payable if you choose not to pay this way. Price valid until 14 December 2015.