Australia's best motorhome?

Melbourne's Sunliner is celebrating its 40th anniversary with the release of a very special, limited-edition motorhome it claims is “the best in Australia”.

Featuring a stark black and white exterior reminiscent of the latest, trend-setting German caravans, the 24ft luxury motorhome boasts a number of ‘firsts' for the Australian RV industry, not the least one of the first production models based on the latest rear-wheel drive Renault Master commercial vehicles.

The interior layout and design is also unlike anything you've seen before on an Australian motorhome, bursting with curved cabinetry, sophisticated lighting and automated technology systems of the likes more often seen in super yachts and luxury homes.

Borrowing the best features of other Sunliner motorhomes the Anniversary model, along with a separate toilet/shower, dinette, lounge and kitchen, combines for the first time on an Aussie motorhome a drop-down bed system with a slide-out wall, according to Sunliner.

“The use of space (in the 40th Anniversary model) is the best you get in its class,” claims Sunliner's managing director Nick Hunter.

The Sunliner 40 also introduces some of the latest technologies available, including a “state-of-the-art climate control system” from Dometic that allows the Truma Combi ducted air and water heating system and Aventa air-conditioner to be controlled by Truma's new CP plus digital control panel.

Also fitted is the new Sphere wireless lighting control system, featuring at least six different interior and exterior lighting modes operated by an interior panel or by remote control up to 50m away.

A Finscan Intellicore computer management system also manages and controls functions such as lighting, battery power, water pump, heater, and TV and room slide-outs, all from a user-friendly touchscreen display.

The Finscan system can be pre-set for ‘one touch' modes, such as a ‘TV mode' where the blinds automatically come down, TV pops up and lights dim, or a ‘Park' mode where the slide-out and awning are automatically set up.

“We worked closely with our suppliers and really leaned on them to give us their newest technology,” Hunter said.

Timber and panel specialists Gunnersens supplied 12mm ultralight ‘elite' plywood that enabled the latest curved furniture designs popular in Europe.

?“Their range of flexible laminate products enabled us to create the modern curved finish that makes such a statement,” he said. “The different style of woodwork… caused a lot of frustrations with our cabinet-makers, I can tell you.”??

Other fresh features include a new ‘plug and play' fibreglass shower unit from Coast to Coast RV that allows a full bathroom to be squeezed into the rear of the relatively compact living area. ??

While a slick, electrically operated double bed that drops down over the dinette is supported by seatbelt-style webbing instead of chains for whisper-quiet operation.

Sunliner has also followed the latest European trend by adding bold black gloss panels over the sleek white fibreglass body, along with raised silver badging and a contoured, cab-over Luton peak with roof hatch for a classy appearance.

“We've gone away from the decal look,” he said.

Renowned for 'pushing the envelope' (remember the Deck motorhome with its snazzy, slide-out side balcony!), Hunter said Sunliner wanted to produce a motorhome for the baby boomer market “that is a reflection of their personal style, is simple to drive on a car licence and quick to set up”.

“We could have gone out and built a 38ft motorhome and said look at us, it's the biggest and best. But that's not what's selling. We wanted to produce something that we could see would be a viable proposition in the future.

“We've also tried a lot of new technologies, so some of the things you see in this motorhome may make the grade and may not, but we've got to try.”

Sunliner will limit production of the Anniversary model to 40, with driveaway pricing expected to be around the $165,000-$170,000 mark.

Hunter believes the new Renault Master base will also appeal to buyers, thanks to its 4.5 tonne GVM, rear-wheel drive platform, frugal 2.3-litre, 110kW/350Nm turbodiesel engine, competitive pricing and nationwide dealer support, and car-like driving experience including front swivel seats.

Sunliner is currently the only Australian motorhome manufacturer offering the Renault cab-chassis option, although other major manufacturers including Jayco are expected to follow suit.

As well as the Sunliner 40 model, the Renault cab-chassis is also available on Sunliner's Pinto, Vibe and Holiday ranges.