German manufacturer Bürstner celebrated its silver anniversary this year – production began at the company’s Kehl-Neumühl base 25 years ago. And these are good times for Bürstner: strong sales have seen it become the market leader in France, Spain, Norway and now – crucially – Germany.
In 2012 it’s planning to maintain and grow this success by introducing a new budget Argos range, and various new models throughout its line-up.
What’s changed
Last season, Bürstner introduced the Ixeo Time, a lower-priced version of its regular Ixeo range of coachbuilts. It’s proved popular, and this year the German manufacturer has repeated the process with its range of Argos motorhomes: the Argos Time has been launched for the 2012 season.
This grows Bürstner’s line-up to 11 ranges, encompassing 51 models – 18 of these have been redeveloped for the coming season; a raft of new floorplans and exterior and interior changes have also been introduced.
What you need to know
Travel Van (£44,780-£52,760)
Bürstner has made cosmetic alterations to its pair of Travel Vans for 2012: it receives a new interior finish, and blue exterior colour option.
Nexxo (£43,200-£55,600)
Two new floorplans have been introduced: the t715G is 7.14cm in length and features a transverse rear bed. The t740 is an island-bed model: it has an MTPLM of just 3500kg and a payload of 465kg.
Solano (£57,680-£66,650)
Last year’s transverse-bed t697G has been replaced for 2012 by the t736G: it’s around 50cm longer, but also features a fixed bed across the rear. It has a much larger washroom, with separate shower cubicle on the opposite side of the ‘van.
Ixeo Time (£45,220-£54,870)
Last year’s introduction of the Ixeo Time range was one of the industry’s highlights: we were pleased to see that it’s been expanded for 2011 with two new models. The range’s first bunk-bed layout arrives in the it660: it’s a six-berth that features a pair of bunk-beds across the rear. Heading up the range, meanwhile, is the it734. It’s got an island bed, and is almost identical in layout to the it720 ‘van, although the newer layout includes a slightly smaller lounge and larger fridge unit.
Ixeo (£50,840-£60,570)
In addition to cosmetic changes, both inside and out – including new exterior colour options of silver, champagne and graphite – the Ixeo range receives three new layouts this season. The two-berth it645, which featured a large lounge and end kitchen, has now made way for the impressive-looking it700; the latter has a fixed corner bed, corner washroom and spacious lounge. Elsewhere, the it735 (island bed, with large central washroom) and it740 (twin single beds and transverse rear washroom) are also new additions. All are available on the 3500kg chassis with optional 4000kg upgrade.
Ixeo Plus (£65,740-£74,030)
Out go the i664 and it 710G for 2012, and in come the transverse-bed it728G and it875G: the latter has fixed twin single beds. All four models in the Ixeo Plus range are based on the Ducato/AL-KO chassis; three with an MTPLM of 3500kg, and the it875G with an MTPLM of 5000kg. The latter also has an enormous payload of 1150kg.
Viseo (£55,990-£64,230)
The Viseo is Bürstner’s entry-level A-class range, launched three seasons ago. A trio of floorplans – including the i676 bunk-bed model – have been replaced by two new models, the i707 (with a fixed corner bed and full lounge) and the i737G (transverse fixed bed and large ensuite washroom).
Aviano (£67,500-£81,410)
The Aviano’s looks were revamped last year: this year, it loses four of its smaller models and inherits two layouts from the 2011 Elegance range. These are the island-bed i870G and twin-single-bed i875G; both are based on the 5000kg Ducato chassis. Also new are the fixed-bed i709, and the transverse-bed i739G.
Elegance (£87,030-£95,440)
Like the Aviano, Bürstner has trimmed the shorter Elegance models and replaced them with larger, 5000kg vehicles. The i890G and i895G are both exactly nine metres in length, and identical in layout save for the bed options: the former receives an island bed, the latter twin fixed beds. They both have a payload of around 1000kg.
Argos Time (£44,590-£51,010) / Argos (£78,360-£80,470)
Last year’s overcab-coachbuilt Argos has been sliced in two for 2012: the new Time section makes up the bottom end of this popular range. It consists of three all-new layouts, which Bürstner believes cover “the most import segments in the overcab market”: fixed corner bed (A650), transverse bunk beds (A660) and transverse fixed double bed (A670G).
The popular A747-2G, meanwhile, remains the sole vehicle in the regular Argos range: a pair of twin-axle models have been deleted, and replaced with the new models in the lower-priced Argos Time range.
Contact
Bürstner UK, PO Box 164, Bishop Auckland, Co Durham DL13 1WZ; tel 01388 537 960
Manufacturer: Bürstner
