Adria slides into uncharted territory

European brand Adria took the wraps off its first slide-out caravan model for the Australian market at this year’s Queensland Caravan Supershow.

Based on the range-topping Adora 612 PT model which features a queen sized, walk-around bed up front, galley and L-shaped lounge/dinette in the middle and full width rear ensuite, the 612 PT Slide boosts interior width by around 50cm around the dinette and kitchen areas with the slide opened.

Anita Cripps, marketing manager of Adria’s Australian distributor Apollo Motorhome Holidays, said the slide-out was developed by the Slovenian manufacturer specifically for the Australian market, and offers a number of advantages compared to alternative slide-outs offered on Australian-built caravans.

“When it’s in, it’s completely flush unlike Australian slide-outs, which sit on top. This one is completely recessed into the van and it has the curved edges so there are no pinch points,” she said.

Cripps said the electric slide-out also features tight sealing to prevent water and dust ingress, and a quiet quad drive mechanism requiring little maintenance.

“For (Adria), it’s not only water ingress, it’s dirt and dust, they were really pedantic about that. They didn’t want anything getting into the drivers or any other problems … They wanted to do (a slide-out) better than what they could get off the shelf,” she said.

Weight gain is “negligible” compared to the standard, composite-bodied Adora 612 PT model, which has a Tare weight of 1650kg and 2000kg ATM for the four-berth caravan with 6.776m long body.

The slide-out adds around $5000 to the price of the Adora 612, with the display model boasting a price of $65,500 thanks to a current $5000 factory rebate deal (normally $70,500).

While Adria is the first European manufacturer to release a slide-out caravan in Australia it’s unlikely to be the last, with British manufacturers including Bailey and Swift working hard to develop their own slide-out models to boost their Australian-spec ranges.

Also new for Adria Australia is an optional ‘rough road’ pack for the smaller single-axle Altea range.

Priced at $2000, the Sports pack includes checker plate body protection, bigger 16in wheels and 88mm more road clearance, new carbon fibre-look decals, a bigger 130 litre water tank mounted under the chassis, and an ABL multi-functional outlet for USB, TV and 12V supply.

Meanwhile, Apollo is keen to introduce a range of Adria motorhomes to the Australian market, despite a failed earlier attempt by Adria's previous Australian distributor.

With a drive-away price of $133,990, the Fiat Ducato-based Adria Coral A 660 DU motorhome on display in Queensland is based on a UK model with ‘rental-spec’ six berth layout. 

“We’re testing the market to see what sort of demand there will be for (Adria motorhomes),” Cripps said.

“We got it as a concept vehicle to investigate different possibilities for the Apollo (rental fleet) and for the retail market, so we’re not exactly sure where we want to take it yet.

“We thought we’d bring it to the show and see how people reacted to it, and so far it’s been very, very positive.”