Radical Alto priced from $48K

Roma Caravans has launched its radical new ‘baby’ – the Canadian-built, glass tilt-roof Alto – with a price tag of $48,500 at this year’s Victorian Caravan, Camping & Touring Supershow in Melbourne.

The first two examples of the radical lightweight ‘folding’ caravan arrived in Australia near the end of January and are the star attractions on Roma’s stand at the Melbourne Showgrounds this week.

Australia is initially getting the R Series (retractable roof) models of the Quebec, Canada-built aircraft inspired Alto range, which features novel teardrop aerodynamic styling and a tare weight of less than 800kg, complete with interior toilet, putting it within the towing scope of even the lightest of the current SUV crop.

Ironically, the new 5.26 metre-long Alto will sit alongside one of the largest caravans at the show, with Roma also displaying a new 11-metre long triple axle Roma Elegance on its stand.

While the Alto is short in length, it has surprisingly good headroom as Caravancampingsales discovered, when we invited a two metre tall friend to inspect it.

However the same person said that he would need more legroom in the rear convertible sofa king size bed.

Along with its light weight, the big attraction of the Alto for many people will be its low 2.1 metre travelling and storage height, ensuring it should fit into most garages.

Unlike the folding, solid-wall Avan Aliner and all-fibreglass Eco-Tourer, whose roof is rear hinged, the Alto’s Alufiber aluminium sandwich panel and tinted safety glass top is hinged at the front and rises electrically.

It's also unique in having a fixed flush toilet in a separate cabinet inside the door, which Roma hopes to enhance with an optional telephone handle-style shower to create an ultra-compact ensuite.

This makes it around the same weight, but better equipped than the Avan Aliner, which has no provision for a fixed ensuite, 600kg lighter and slightly more expensive than the smallest EcoTourer and nearly half the weight and around $2000 cheaper than the entry-level EcoTourer shower/toilet model.

It will be interesting to see Australian reactions to this snail-styled newcomer.