Interesting new motorhomes are joining the Roller Team and Tribute line-ups for 2017. Both brands are managed by Grimsby-based Auto-Trail and all are part of France’s mighty Trigano Group.

Tribute manufactures a range of high-top conversions and overcab coachbuilts, all based on the Fiat Ducato. For the UK market, the Italian Roller Team exports a range of overcab coachbuilts built on the Ford Transit and Fiat Ducato chassis-cabs and an A-class on the Ducato chassis-cowl.

Roller Team

The brilliantly realised Zefiro range has a new model for the 2017 touring season, the 685 low-line coachbuilt with a drop-down double-bed above the cab and twin permanent single beds above garage-style storage at the far rear. This is the first time Roller Team has offered this layout on Ford’s much-admired eighth-generation Transit.

Blue-oval Euro 6 offerings are powered by an all-new 2.0-litre ‘Panther’ engine which has an equine count of 130bhp as standard and 170bhp as an extra-cost option. Although the Ford Transit requires AdBlue, there may not be a payload penalty. Plus, after much speculation and several false starts, we’re pleased to reveal that automatic transmissions will be available on Ford’s finest for 2017 models. Hooray.

Tribute

The big news here is that the award-winning range of Tribute high-top conversions will now be executed in the UK at Auto-Trail’s brand new (additional) production line in the company’s hugely-expanded cutting-edge manufacturing facility on Europarc in North Lincolnshire.

And there’s more! Tribute has two new models: the 680 high-top, which has the 670 layout but with the addition of a two-person forward-facing rear passenger seat behind the driver. To accommodate this, and also to retain the option of singles or a double-bed at the far rear, the 680 utilises the 6.36m-long XL LWB base.

Tribute’s (UK-built) coachbuilt range gains a new 7.05m model, the 726, featuring bunk beds along the nearside rear. This will appeal to families as it offers four travelling seats and up to six sleeping berths. Thus four-up and with the Luton bed in use, the lounge/diner remains available at all times. It’s at 3500kg as well. Perfect!