Tougher new Lotus Trooper coming

Rough road specialist Lotus Caravans is set to take on Australia’s off-road RV heavyweights including Bushtracker and Kedron with a more rugged version of its tough-looking Trooper model.

Due for release early next year, the updated Trooper will feature a new, heavier-duty chassis and suspension set-up designed to take it even further into the bush. 

Well known for its bold exterior styling including black checkerplate body armour, the volume-selling Trooper will get a redesigned, slightly heavier G&S steel chassis with the Control Rider tandem axle independent suspension rated to 3500kg.

"The new Trooper coming out next year is definitely rugged enough, compared against anyone on the market," claimed Lotus Caravans’ director George Josevski.

"Given what he hear our customers are doing with these vans, we’re giving it a heavier chassis and independent suspension, something that will hopefully make it tow better and work better," he said.

The Trooper currently runs a Simplicity load-sharing independent suspension with up to three tonne rating.

"The chassis is definitely a huge improvement on what we’re doing now," Josevski said.

Externally, the new Trooper will retain its distinct look with a new light grey aluminium exterior and new logos, while it will also get winch recovery points at the rear and side scrub bars to boost its off-road credentials.

It will also feature a new electrical management system, which automatically chooses the best available power source, from solar, battery or other source.

The chassis sits 100mm higher off the ground, allowing for extra suspension travel as well as better packaging and protection of underbody components. The flat floor design will also eliminate wheelarches; a common entry point for dust entering the cabin.

Interior styling changes will be minimal, though there will be a new Fusion audio system that can be operated remotely from outside the van.

"We’ll probably run flat doors inside to give it more of a flush, new modern look. We’ve got new exclusive colours coming in next year, which are fantastic,” he said.

Josevski said the recently introduced Freelander model will move up a notch in the company’s  off-road range, while the new Trooper will be aimed at “the more serious (off-road) buyer”.

“Whereas the Freelander will still give you good off-road ability but in a lighter duty style of caravan, the Trooper will cater for those people who want a real heavy duty style van,” he said

Pricing will increase slightly for the Trooper, which is currently available in 18ft to 20ft6in body lengths in a number of two-berth, full ensuite layouts.

“Depending on what size you stretch it out to, the new Trooper will start from high-$70,000 and work its way up to $110 to $120K (depending on options fitted),” he said.

Established in 2004, Lotus Caravans recently moved to a bigger factory in Campbellfield, Victoria. With 2100 square metres of floorspace, it will allow the company to expand production to 400 vans a year. The company has more than 30 staff which currently produce around 300 touring and off-road caravans annually.

Josevski said future plans for Lotus include an “elite level” all-terrain caravan catering to the custom market. Lotus is also building a test caravan for the first G&S aluminium chassis (see wooden frame van pictured). Although yet to undergo testing, the new chassis should reduce weight by up to 200kg compared to a traditional steel chassis.