DETHLEFFS BUILDS MORE motorhomes that any other European brand, and exports a fair few of them too.
At the 2015 launch event – themed around the football World Cup – there were
dealers from over 20 territories in attendance, from countries as far afield as
Israel, China and Japan.
In all territories
that Dethleffs exports to, the brand is renowned for design flair and build
quality. Part of the giant Hymer Group, Dethleffs ’vans are pitched at younger
buyers and their styling reflects that. Expect to see bold colour schemes,
contemporary fabrics and quirky fixtures and fittings, to accompany the genuine
innovation and willingness to try something new. Take last season’s Evan, for
example, an A-class with campervan influences that’s designed to appeal to
young professionals who can use it for the office run during the week, then
take it off to the beach at the weekends.
What’s changed
For 2015, Dethleffs
hasn’t unveiled any new ranges. Instead, it has consolidated its current
offering. With the entire portfolio based on the facelifted Fiat cabs, there
are spec bumps to every model. Advantage receives a root-and-branch redesign
and the A-class Globetrotter XLi is refreshed. The other ranges go into 2015
unchanged, apart from the base vehicle update – Globebus, Trend, Globe 4, Magic
Edition 4/Magic Edition, Esprit, Esprit Comfort and Evan. Dethleffs’ budget
brand, Sunlight, gets two new models and a special 10-year edition.
The headlines
Advantage has been
improved to consolidate its position between Dethleffs’ entry level and
mid-market ranges. It has been re-engineered inside and out, with habitations
now assembled using a new method called Lifetime Plus – Dethleffs claims this
will make vehicles rot-free while saving weight.
Six models are
available, and these can be specified in low-profile and A-class flavours. All
are built on 3500kg chassis. The popular configurations are covered, including
French beds (5901, 6.4m, and 6601, 6.9m), a transverse rear bed (6671, 6.9m), fixed
twin singles (6611, 6.9m, and 7051 EB, 7.4m) and an island bed (7051 DBM, 7.4m).
Improvements to
Advantage include wider habitation doors, large 142-litre fridges with bottle
drawers, and flyscreen doors and electrical entrance steps fitted as standard.
Kitchens benefit from split cooker covers and new work surface extensions;
lounges get new tables and wider seating, and mood lighting is fitted
throughout the new interiors. In A-class versions of the Advantage (and all
Dethleffs A-class motorhomes), pull-down beds and cab blinds now come as
standard.
To complement the
mid-toned Noce Solista wood finish, two new colour schemes are available: the
white and light brown Chevron, and dark brown Baku. The Chassis (base vehicle)
and Family (habitation) options packages continue, available on both
low-profile and A-class models.
Prices for Advantage
low-profiles start at £55,590 (5901), reaching £57,390 for the 7051 EB. The
A-class versions are priced from £63,990 (5901), topping out at £66,790 for the
7051 EB. Prices quoted include delivery and OTR charges of £2100.
At the top of the
portfolio, there are changes to the Globetrotter XLi. Riding on the new Fiat Ducato
with Al-Ko low-frame chassis, the range gets ESP as standard for 2015, and an
automatic gearbox is available as an option on the 180bhp engine, for orders
made from this autumn. The living quarters have been completely revised, using
the new Lifetime Plus bodyshell construction method. There are two equipment
levels, XLi or XLi Premium.
The new Globetrotter
exteriors have new two-piece front and rear GRP panels, LED daytime running
lights, LED rear lights and new habitation doors. Inside, low-weight furniture
has been used, with three new soft furnishings schemes and a comfortable lounge
with extra large window. There are two different designs of overhead locker,
new kitchens and an en suite washroom similar to the Premium Liner.
An extensive standard
kit list includes an electrically operated drop-down bed, LED lighting, a wide
habitation door, night illumination, horizontal windscreen blinds, Alde heating
and separate control of the heating in the living and sleeping area. Additional
equipment includes air-driven cab seats, electrical front blinds, central
locking, an electrical awning and a Jehnert sound system.
Two options packages
can be ordered. The Travel Package adds extras like a cab door, aluminium-trim
dash and Telair air-con, or you can have the Premium Version XLi Package, which
adds goodies including 16in alloys, a weight increase to 5400kg, air-driven seats,
the Premium White exterior colour and habitation central locking. You can
specify a white front and rear, with Titan Silver or Travertin Beige sidewalls;
Premium trim allows you to have the front and rear fully painted.
Prices for the
Globetrotter XLi models start from £91,790, including delivery and OTR charges
of £2100.
Sunlight, Dethleffs’
budget brand, also gets a makeover for 2015 and celebrates its 10th birthday. Upgrades to the Fiat base vehicle mean that safety features ESP, ASR
and hill hold have been added. Low-profile models get a new front hood, rear
bumper, new front decals and a new Macadamia soft furnishings scheme replaces
the current Sunflower one.
There are changes to
the line-up, too. The rear transverse bed T 60 replaces the T 57, the new T 65 offers
a rear transverse bed and optional drop-down bed on a 6.99m-long low-frame
chassis. The T 69 is now known as the T 69 L, and is joined by the slightly
shorter T 69 S. This features a rear island bed, again on a 6.99m-long
low-frame chassis.
A special 10 Years
Edition has also been launched, on two models only – the twin single beds T 68
and T 69 L. This sports silver sides, leather and cloth upholstery, and an ‘All
in One’ package of extras comprising automatic SAT system, 19in LED TV, TV
bracket, 4.5m awning and four-cycle bike rack.
In other news…
Fiat Ducato base
vehicle updates see the addition of safety features ESP with hill hold, and ASR
(traction control) on long-wheelbase and tag-axle ’vans. Travelling seat
headrests now retract into the backrest, and low-profiles and coachbuilts
receive new captain’s chairs in the cab. A-class models get Aguti front seats.
Cab doors are now
available in the Family package, blinds are standard for all A-class models,
and electric entrance steps are fitted to all Trend, Advantage, Globe 4, Esprit
and Esprit Comfort models. Flyscreen doors are now standard, except on Trend
and Evan motorhomes.
The new Lifetime Plus
bodyshell construction method will also be used to build all models from the
Advantage range upwards – Globebus and Trend are not affected.
Want more? Read our full 2015 preview of Continental motorhomes, learn about Adria’s 2015 range, the new Auto-Sleepers range, the 2015 motorhomes from Auto-Trail and Knaus, the 2015 Roller Team line-up, the new 2015 ‘vans from Hymer and Carado, and get details of the new Swift motorhomes for 2015.