$2million-plus motorhome wins design award

A stealth-black 12m long mega-luxury motorhome from legendary Porsche tuner Brabus has picked up a prestigious Red Dot Design Award.

The German built 'masterpiece' motorhome which retails from 1,260,504 euros (AUD$2.26million) in its home country, won a Red Dot: Best of the Best trophy for 2025 in the annual awards, which have been recognising outstanding quality of design around the globe since the 1990s.

Known for its tricked-up sports cars, 4x4s, boats and other 'big boy' motorised toys, the German tuning house unveiled its first 'Masterpiece' motorhome, the Brabus Big Boy 1200 (named after one of the biggest locomotives in the world), in late-2024.

Based on the Mercedes-Benz Actros truck, the 12.0m long x 2.5m wide x 4.0m high A-class motorhome gets Brabus' signature all-black exterior, plus all the latest appliances and techno-wizzardy you'd expect in a multi-million-dollar, European luxury RV.

Powered by a 390kW/2600Nm 12.8-litre six-cylinder turbodiesel engine, the 26 tonne-rated motorhome has a limited top speed of 90km/h, and was developed in conjunction with Belgian RV specialist STX Motorhomes.

Externally, the Brabus Big Boy 1200 boasts auto-levelling hydraulically extendable supports, an electric fold-down stairwell and digital entry, fog light covers, a roof light bar, sports side wind deflectors and a 360-degree camera system.

It also comes equipped with a diesel heater with underfloor heating plus an air-conditioner, and the 427L fresh water tank, 270L grey water tank and 170L black water tank, are also heated and insulated for sub-zero camping.

To run all the power-hungry appliances off-grid there's a 24V 1000Ah lithium battery system with 960W rooftop solar and a 5000W inverter, plus a 6.4kW diesel generator.

Inside, it's like a six-star hotel with more than 30sq.m of living space thanks to four powered slide-outs that expand the bedroom and living areas.

Sleeping is on an electric 160 x 200cm double bed, with the 'Masterpiece' fit-out including a kitchen with induction cooktop, dishwasher, two fridges (one for wine!), plus a slide-out pantry for your wine glasses.

One of the two lounges cleverly converts to a dinette, and the luxury ensuite is about as spacious and modern as you get in an RV.

There are lots of other clever packaging and storage solutions inside, not to mention lashings of premium leather, plush carpet and wood trim, while entertainment and communications features include two 43-inch 4K TVs, a PlayStation 5 and a Starlink satellite link.

To top it off you also get fancy mood lighting, double-glazed windows, electrically opening skylights and auto window blinds.

But if that's not enough, buyers can opt for the Brabus Carbon Package, which includes a driver's cab wind deflector, fog light frame, door handles and radiator grille trim, all made from carbon fibre.