Highlights from Caravan Salon

[markopolo]

I stumbled upon this slideshow of highlights from the Caravan Salon show:

Highlights auf dem Caravan Salon - Bilder - autobild.de

So many smaller units to choose from & always fun to look at the design differences.

[mlts22]

I always love seeing what can be done with class Bs and Cs overseas.

The things that were outstanding to me in those pictures were the overhead storage refrigerator and drawer freezer, aisle bathrooms in a Travato 59G-esque floorplan, the restyle of the Ducato's front end, Seitz windows, and so on. I just wish we could get that stuff over here.

[GeorgeB]

Originally Posted by markopolo

I stumbled upon this slideshow of highlights from the Caravan Salon show:

Highlights auf dem Caravan Salon - Bilder - autobild.de

So many smaller units to choose from & always fun to look at the design differences.

Thanks for sharing this overview of Düsseldorf's 2016 Caravan Salon.
I should say I wasn't as impresssed as last year's crop, from what I could find on the web. That said, it's a zillion time more interesting for class B enthusiasts than what you see in North American shows.

A quick overview of what I found:

Album at:
Düsseldorf 2016 Highlights
https://www.facebook.com/kampervanfu...14485555478858

My highlights:

An interesting trend toward short 6m (lenght of the Zion SRT) campers with lenghtwise beds.
Album at:
6m (19' 8") camper vans with lengthwise beds
https://www.facebook.com/kampervanfu...10696809191066



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The Hymercar (/Aktiv) floorplan build on a short Sprinter 4x4 chassis, like the concept Adventure vehicle from Winnebago.

Album of recent MB campers:
3 Point Star Camper Vans
https://www.facebook.com/kampervanfu...13045728956174



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The upper cabinet fridge on the Vantana van from Hobby
Album at:
Hobby Vantana K60 and K65
https://www.facebook.com/kampervanfu...15401395387274



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Always impressed with the clean and clever design of the Westfalias
A short album taken fron a 2017 brochure:
The new 2017 Westfalias
https://www.facebook.com/kampervanfu...13671862226894





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[GeorgeB]

Always interesting to see the extremes of space usage at the Caravan Salon

In the Super Tiny Camper Category the
Compacito VW T6 with fixed bed and sliding washroom!

On the Düsseldorf's Highlights Album : https://www.facebook.com/kampervanfu...14485555478858



Also in the compact class C, The luxurious and well designed Smove by Niesmann+Bischoff that was launched before the Salon

Album at: https://www.facebook.com/kampervanfu...98272780433469






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[gregmchugh]

That Hymer Car Grand Canyon on the short 4x4 Sprinter might be a good model for Hymer to bring to North America...

[GeorgeB]

Originally Posted by gregmchugh

That Hymer Car Grand Canyon on the short 4x4 Sprinter might be a good model for Hymer to bring to North America...

Yes indeed!

Another album on that beast
https://www.facebook.com/kampervanfu...64452260482188

[cruising7388]

Originally Posted by mlts22

I always love seeing what can be done with class Bs and Cs overseas.

The things that were outstanding to me in those pictures were the overhead storage refrigerator and drawer freezer, aisle bathrooms in a Travato 59G-esque floorplan, the restyle of the Ducato's front end, Seitz windows, and so on. I just wish we could get that stuff over here.

Here's an interesting review of the SMOVE.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Y0swiCB8ps

[markopolo]

I posted this link to some Caravan Salon Dusseldorf 2016 commentary:

Google Translate

in another topic but it's worth posting here to highlight the differences between what some European and North American buyers might have.

The first quote:

Typical north american the Interior presented rather rustic, dowdy and dark. Not so our taste.

When you think of the brighter, clean and almost cold interiors more typical over there you can appreciate the comment.

The second quote:

Typical of North American "RV's" is also the lounge-like scale seating and sleeping area. What we always miss in German vehicles, the possibility of how to relax comfortably on a sofa. So a hybrid between sitting and lying. This is possible here. Whether the sun shop is also back-friendly, we could not test unfortunately.

Liegestatt probably translates better to sofa in this instance rather than sun shop.

This I also understand. It's one of the first things I've noticed common to units in the Hymer NA announcements that I've seen so far (excluding previous RT models). You can sit at the dinette or lay in bed but no sofa. A sofa was a requirement for us when purchasing a Travel Trailer. A sofa/lounge is versatile.

It's interesting reading of different perceptions.

[GeorgeB]

Originally Posted by markopolo

I posted this link to some Caravan Salon Dusseldorf 2016 commentary:

Google Translate

in another topic but it's worth posting here to highlight the differences between what some European and North American buyers might have.

The first quote:

When you think of the brighter, clean and almost cold interiors more typical over there you can appreciate the comment.

The second quote:

Liegestatt probably translates better to sofa in this instance rather than sun shop.

This I also understand. It's one of the first things I've noticed common to units in the Hymer NA announcements that I've seen so far (excluding previous RT models). You can sit at the dinette or lay in bed but no sofa. A sofa was a requirement for us when purchasing a Travel Trailer. A sofa/lounge is versatile.

It's interesting reading of different perceptions.

Very true! The design of recreational vehicles reflects the different cultures of it's users but the manufacturers are also trying to standardize it for obvious economic reasons when they are mass producing them for specific markets. The results are not always representative of the wide variety of lifestyles that exists in different countries but it is still a good indication of the strong cultural trends.

The difference in material culture is very obvious when you compare photos of North American RV shows with the ones across the pond. Almost the same as when you see photos of cities from different countries.

[markopolo]

Long video here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1noonWl0Zz4

Over 1/2 hour I think. I got through 3/4's of it. As George noted earlier LOTS of Class B's & small C units.

The front dinette area for 4 or more, no counter space small kitchen area & rear twin bed layout was in a lot of units. You can see why an actual sofa could cause some excitement over there.

[GeorgeB]

Originally Posted by markopolo

Long video here:

Over 1/2 hour I think. I got through 3/4's of it. As George noted earlier LOTS of Class B's & small C units.

The front dinette area for 4 or more, no counter space small kitchen area & rear twin bed layout was in a lot of units. You can see why an actual sofa could cause some excitement over there.

Good find!

It's the most complete and thorough report of the Düsseldorf show I've seen. with very high video quality. Almost like being there.

Always impressed by the critical mass of quality RVs and the wide variety of formats, from tiny units to huge refined class A's (with integrated car garages!). Not everything is interesting. A lot of tacky luxurious interior designs but at least most of the vehicles have some quality features in terms of functional and esthetic aspects. Also impressed by the younger crowd with kids in an RV show.

How come North America is so far behind all this! Apart from a small 40% of the class B market (which represent less than 1% of the whole RV market) and some of the Adventure and custom made RV vehicles, the rest is IMO a vast pathetic primitive production. It hasn't evolved. It actually got worse. Look at the early Airstream and Winnebago RVs. They were great. Look at all the recent Class A's, they all look like Casino hotels. Maybe that's what people like. I simply don't understand how all those ugly designs are so popular.

OK, you can't have it all! (smile) I wouldn't want to have the sophisticated European RVs and loose the great National and State parks and wonderful campgrounds we have in North America.

So let's be patient and hope the industry will slowly evolve with a new breed of more sophisticated customers.

In the video, the future of RV design in a few concept vehicles The Triaca by Roller Team






And Europeans seem to have discovered the North American slide-outs this year! But they understand that an RV doesn't necessarily have to look like a chocolate sundae with swirls and stripes!




My my, Hymer's Niesmann+Bischoff made quite a impressive showcase!
You can really measure the level of the investments made by the RV industry in Europe. Almost like a car show.




Updated my album with screenshots of this excellent video:
https://www.facebook.com/kampervanfu...14485555478858


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