World's priciest RV rig rolls in
Six-star coach motorhome with garage for 400km/h sports car tops $10millionJust when you thought motorhomes couldn't get any pricier, along comes the latest six-star coach-style motorhome from Europe's Volkner Mobil, complete with supercar-holding side-garage that went on display at this year's Caravan Salon in Germany.
The 12m long Volkner Mobil Performance S alone costs a cool €2,035,000 (about AUD$3.3million), but add in the Bugatti Veyron supercar also displayed at the show and that rides snugly in the motorhome's side garage during transport stages, and the 'driveaway' price soars to €6.5million (AUD10.5million)!
Suffice to say, there's little expensive spared in the overall finish and fit-out of the 12 tonne uber-luxury motorhome, right down to the €300,000 ($485,000) Burmester audio system and hand-veneered, high gloss 'BrilliantBlack' furniture.
The Performance S is also awash with technology including four heating/cooling systems; a 1800Ah battery system with 1830W rooftop solar, as well as up to 1000 litre freshwater capacity.
Makes the Aussie-built SLRV MAN 8x8 motorhome seem underdone and dirt-cheap by comparison!
Rotary-powered electric motorhome
Meanwhile, the electrification of the RV industry continues apace with German RV giant Knaus Tabbert unveiling its first battery-powered EV motorhome at the big Euro show.
The Knaus E.Power Drive prototype was developed with motorsport and engineeering specialist HWA, and swaps out the diesel engine and manual transmission of an existing Fiat-based Knaus campervan for an electric motor driving the front wheels.
Knaus says the e-motor pumps out up to 180kW to deliver highway speeds of up to 110km/h, with the 35kWh lithium-ion battery delivering an electric-only range of around 90km in testing.
There's also a range-extending rotary engine (similar to that used in some Mazda car models) fitted, although Knaus is considering other engine types as as well as hydrogen fuel cells as a way to charge the battery and supply electric power directly to the e-motor when on the move.
Floating caravan
And in the latest example of boat builders turning their skills to caravan manufacturing, Bosnian luxury yacht maker Derubis has unveiled its first caravan at the 2021 Caravan Salon. Measuring 7.0m long by 2.4m wide, Derubis is hoping to entice an established RV manufacturer to help put the Derubis caravan into production, after it completed a six month design stage before building the slick show concept.
Sub-zero camper
Finally, as a follow up to its vanlife inspired Beachy, big European manufacturer Hobby unveiled its latest all-weather van, the Maxia 4K, in Dusseldorf.
While the 'hygge-style' interior decor looks inviting, owners will have to rely on melted snow when the tiny 47 litre water tank runs dry!
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