Germany's caravan of the future

As one of the biggest, most prestigious RV shows in the world, the annual Dusseldorf Caravan Salon in Germany always has a few surprises in store. This year was no different, with German manufacturer Knauss Tabbert unveiling its vision of the caravan of the future.

Borrowing heavily from the luxury yacht industry, the 26ft long, tandem axle Knauss Tabbert Caravisio is a slick, futuristic concept designed to not only rejuvenate a flagging European caravan market but appeal to younger buyers that might otherwise see caravanning as uncool.

Just some of its cutting-edge features revealed to stunned showgoers included a fingerprint entry system, fully-controllable air suspension and a frosted (smart glass) dual-paned sliding door leading to a drop down rear veranda; all controllable via a smart phone app.

Two years in the making, the eye-catching prototype stands out with smooth exterior lines and a stunning marine inspired interior. The nautical theme extends outwards with a classic maritime-style rear transom, while the large disc shaped bow up front contains two single beds configured in a V-shape.

Luxury features inside include a real wood parquet floor, large panoramic windows, and the piece de resistance: a full HD projection TV integrated into the ceiling which beams pictures directly onto the rear sliding doors on both sides, so you can entertain other guests at the park.

Of course, the one-off caravan also covers the basics, coming with a 50 litre fresh water tank and 45 litre black/grey tank, hot water heater, gas cooker and 105 litre fridge with ice box and wine cooler.

But despite its appealing looks, the Caravasio is unlikely to be seen on the road, as Knaus Tabbert says "the caravan does not claim to be reproducible nor to be suitable for series production".

The 52nd Caravan Salon Dusseldorf ran for nine days and attracted 175,000 visitors. Check out the video below to see the Caravasio in action...