Lithium-powered Matrix arrives

As part of its continued move upmarket, Sunshine Coast specialist RV builder Australian Off Road is launching a more aerodynamic new Matrix full-height off-road caravan at this week’s Victorian Caravan, Camping & Touring Supershow in Melbourne.

Although visually similar to a casual observer, the new Matrix 4 is comprehensively different to its predecessor, which has remained largely unchanged in its size and configuration since its introduction in 2009.

Outside, the all-fibreglass bodied van has been re-positioned on its Supagal and powder-coasted steel chassis and has a new Aurora-inspired chiselled front, revised profile with new and re-positioned aluminium-framed Aussie Traveller windows and a slightly fuller tail panel, sharing only its roof with its predecessor.

In other exterior changes, the cavernous front boot created by the new nosecone replaces the A-frame storage box of earlier models, while the twin 4.5kg gas bottles have been relocated out of sight behind a vented hatch in the caravan’s left rear corner.

Inside, the centre-mounted door is 50mm wider for easier access, the queen-size bed has been pushed further forward to create 170mm more space at the two-seater dinette, there’s a new switch and gauge panel, 110-litre EvaKool fridge/freezer, a new, positive pressure dust sealing system and a stylish, new interior design, taking its cues from its Aurora big brother.

However equally bigger changes are underneath.

The most significant of these is a reduced-weight steel chassis, to which a new 15mm thick fibreglass floor is now glued and then bonded to its adjoining walls as a structural element.

This has contributed to a weight reduction of around 40kg overall, despite the van’s slightly larger body dimensions, with the Matrix 4 now boasting a tare weight of 1820kg.

Because of their new positioning, the van’s twin 140-litre water tanks and 125-litre black water tank for its standard macerator toilet are claimed to have no effect on the van’s ball weight of 190kg irrespective of their level.

The other big change is on the options list, where the Matrix 4 – like the AOR flagship Aurora – is now available with a newly developed Enerdrive Lithium Power Plant battery system as an alternative to its standard twin 120Ah AGM batteries.

The new lithium system, which is a $3000 option, reportedly takes up less than two thirds the space and weighs just over half that of the AGM batteries.

And because of its rapid recharge rate it can run an inverter of up to 2000 Watts – enough to power, if only for a short period, the Matrix 4’s standard and lightweight (24kg) Truma Saphir modular air conditioning system.

Al-Ko disc brakes are also an option for the first time on the new Matrix 4, which has jumped slightly in price to $99,900, positioning it $10,000 above AOR’s top-selling Quantum hybrid pop-top and $28,100 below the Aurora.