Chris Fincham•17 Mar 2016

REVIEW

Lotus Tarmac

It’s built for smooth roads but this classy new van shapes up as a great all-rounder

A replacement of sorts for the discontinued Sprint, the Tarmac is Lotus Caravans’ first dedicated on-road model, albeit retaining plenty of Lotus’ ‘tough road’ DNA.

New for 2016 and one of four Lotus models that include compact to full-length rough and off-road caravans, the Tarmac comes with single and tandem axles in four body sizes ranging from 17ft 6in to 21ft.

All feature a similar and familiar ‘grey nomad’ layout of front, north-south queen sized bed, cosy dinette and fully-equipped kitchenette and a full-width rear ensuite.

For this review we looked at the range-topping 21ft Tarmac, which like all Lotus models now comes with a two year factory warranty.

HARD OUTSIDE, SOFT INSIDE

It may be targeted at blacktop travelers, but the new Tarmac retains the familiar Lotus off-road family look including a ready-for-battle, black-highlighted exterior.

As much for looks as protection, this includes Lotus’ trademark aluminium checker plate, running about a third of the way up the sides, front and back. There’s no such additional protection underneath, apart from some shiny checkerplate around the two 95 litre water tanks located fore of the tandem axles.

The ride height is a little higher than many on-road vans thanks to a 4in chassis raiser, although this could help prevent the exposed plastic plumbing towards the rear from being damaged if you do venture too far off the smooth stuff.

The Tarmac is the first Lotus model fitted with Dexter’s Torflex independent rubber axle suspension, which should help it ride a bit smoother than on traditional leaf springs.

It also utilizes 3mm thick Dibond aluminum composite panels across the sides, front and back, covering the Meranti timber framework. There’s insulation for the walls and roof, which is covered with more traditional aluminium stucco cladding, while the floor is ‘one piece’ marine ply.

Add in sinister black 16in alloys and chunky tyres and the result is a good looking, if somewhat masculine exterior. Rather than the standard silver/grey theme, less conservative types can choose from a range of brighter body (as well as interior) colours including white, blue, green, or even orange.

Still on the outside, the Tarmac’s no-fuss ‘front end” includes twin 9kg gas bottles, Al-Ko 50mm hitch and removable jockey wheel, an A-frame mounted tap and mesh platform for carrying wood or wet or dirty gear. Another external storage option is the full-length, gal-lined tunnel boot.

Other exterior features include a spare wheel on the rear bumper bar, drop-down picnic table, roll-out awning, external speakers and lights, gas bayonet, and mains water and 240V inlet and outlet.

Entry is via a drop-down step and Camec security door.

HIGH GLOSS INTERIOR

The 21ft Tarmac may feature the sort of interior layout you find in hundreds of Aussie vans, but the design and execution is hard to fault in the Lotus’ case.

Especially if you appreciate the very latest finishes including ‘premium grade’ laminate benchtops, glossy handle-less cabinet doors and real, Italian leather upholstery.

Our review van had a classy, natural stone decor to match the gunmetal grey-look exterior theme.

For the Tarmac, Lotus has opted for lighter weight, ‘flat pack’ style modular furniture, enabling the introduction of trendy ‘handleless’ doors on overhead lockers. It certainly looks the part, although we found opening them a bit fiddlier than traditional handles, which were fitted to the other drawers and interior doors.

As a result furniture is not quite as robust as the old-style ‘stick’ furniture construction in the hard-core Lotus Trooper, for example, although this shouldn’t be an issue if you stick mostly to the bitumen.

COUPLE’S RETREAT

Big enough for two, or four if you’re really close friends, the comfy leather-lined dinette features a sturdy, tri-fold table as well as two equally sturdy, pop-up footrests to create a lounge-like experience for two.

The well-equipped kitchen, opposite the dinette, has everything you need for a big cook-up, including Thetford four-burner stove with grille and oven, rangehood, microwave and 190 litre Dometic three-way fridge.

Some might prefer a bit more benchspace but there should be enough, especially if using the glass-lid on the cooktop.

The rear bedroom area also has some nice touches, including a deep storage ‘nook’ either side of the bed; big enough to hold books, phones and iGadgets, and charge them from nearby USB and 240V sockets.

Storage is another strongpoint of the Tarmac’s interior design, with many highlights including two deep pot drawers and decent-sized pull-out pantry in the kitchen, and clean, compartmentalised storage areas under the bed and dinette seats.

Along with half wardrobes either side of the queen bed, the larger 21ft Tarmac also gets a handy, three quarter length wardrobe near the foot of the bed, along with additional ‘sock’ drawers.

SQUEAKY CLEAN

Also impressive is the spacious, shiny and well-equipped rear ensuite, which includes a Dometic cassette toilet, ceramic basin, large mirror, top-loader NCE washing machine and plenty of storage cabinets. The separate shower cubicle with smoky glass door and 12V fan hatch is also a good size.

We also liked the sliding bathroom door which has an excellent steel sliding mechanism that will lock the door in various positions from the inside, and was fitted with two chrome towel racks.

Although not fitted to the review van, a TV wall bracket (but not TV) is standard, as is a Winegard Sensar antenna and ‘Explorer’ plug for hooking up to Foxtel in the caravan park.

Electricals are also thoughtfully located, with switches, fuses, a Prostar 30 solar controller (for the 150W roof-mounted solar panel) and water tank monitor neatly located in an overhead kitchen locker.

The standard 120Ah battery and 25amp Projecta battery charger are located elsewhere, as is the sophisticated Fusion 650 audio unit with internal and external speakers.

Our only question mark was the awkward position of the 240V and TV points under one of the overhead kitchen cabinets, which might create some untidy cords hanging down over the bench.

SEE THE LIGHT

The Tarmac has five double glazed and tinted Dometic windows with built-in blinds and screens, but none are overly large.

However, with the centrally-located Dometic Midi Heki hatch open, there’s sufficient natural light on a sunny day. There’s also plenty of internal and external LED lighting to fill the gaps, including countless downlights and twin reading lamps in both the dinette and bedroom.

Our review van was also fitted with a couple of extras, including a roof pressure hatch (a standard feature on Lotus' off-road models) and a water filter and tap, which might add a few hundred dollars to the overall price.

But it’s the quality fittings and hard-too-fault finish that really sets the Tarmac apart, from the soft leather upholstery that extends all the way to the floor, to the extensive vinyl coverings and in some cases aluminium edging protecting all benchtops and cabinetry.

The laser-cut ‘Lotus’ grab handles on the outside are other nice bespoke touches.

VERDICT

If you’re a fan of Lotus’ tough, off-road look but don’t plan to spend that much time off the bitumen, then the Tarmac is for you.

It looks remarkably similar to the more off-road-oriented Lotus Trooper, but without the six figure pricetag. As an added bonus you get the same level build quality and many of the appliances of its pricier bigger brother.

WE LIKED:

>> Retains Lotus’ ‘off-road’ look

>> Beautifully finished interior

>> Lots of interior storage

NOT SO MUCH:

>> Smallish dinette

>> It’s pretty heavy for an on-road van

>> You pay a bit more for the quality finish

LOTUS TARMAC 21FT

Travel length: 8655mm (28ft 10in)

Body length: 6300mm (21ft)

External body width: 2373mm (7ft 11in) incl awning

Travel height: 2874mm (9ft 7in)

Interior height: 1899mm (6ft 4in)

Tare: 2500kg

ATM: 2900kg

Ball weight: 115-350kh

Body: Meranti timber frame/Dibond 3mm aluminium composite (sides), aluminium cladding (roof)

Chassis: G& S 150 x 50mm steel, Supagal, 4in raiser

Suspension: Dexter Torflex independent rubber torsion

Brakes: 12in electric

Stability Control: Optional

Wheels/tyres: 16in alloy/245/75R16 A/T

Fresh water: 2 x 95L

Battery: 1 x 120Ah

Solar: 1 x 150w

Air-conditioner: Air Command Ibis

Gas: 2x9kg

Hot water: Suburban 22L gas/240V

Cooking: Thetford four-burner, grill and oven

Fridge: Dometic RM8555 190L

Microwave: NCE

Toilet: Dometic cassette

Shower: Separate cubicle

Lighting: 12v LED

TV: wall bracket (TV optional)

Price: $79,250 (on-road, Vic)

Supplied by: Gateway Caravans, Newcomb, Geelong, Victoria
More info: Lotus Caravans

Lotus Tarmac

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