German manufacturer Dethleffs is part of the Hymer Group, and is Europe’s biggest motorhome producer. The Dethleffs brand features a huge line-up of low-profile and overcab coachbuilts, and A-class motorhomes.
What’s changed
Dethleffs has launched a new budget range, the compact class Globe S, featuring five new overcab and seven new low-profile models.
In the Globebus range, sadly the rear-lounge I/T 5 layout has been discontinued.
The big news in the Advantage range of overcabs, low-profiles and A-class models is the new-look nose of the latter, which inherits the eye-catching grille treatment introduced to the Esprit A-class line-up last season. It also adopts the Esprit’s flamboyant, pastel colour schemes. The Esprit low-profiles get a new customised bumper, that shortens the nose when compared with a standard Ducato front-end. Dethleffs has discontinued the Lifestyle range of family-friendly overcab coachbuilts. The Globetrotter XXL is now available as an A-class, in addition to the overcab models, which resemble the Premium Liner.
Finally, there are two interesting new special editions available. First, the Eighty, a low-profile model with a French bed, designed to commemorate Dethleffs’ 80 years of manufacturing leisure vehicles. Second, there’s the intriguing Alpa, designed in collaboration with two Dethleffs customers.
Generic changes include a change-over from Series 7 to Series 8 Dometic fridges throughout, and movable spotlights in several ranges. UK models will get an oven below the cooker as standard, or a TEC tower, including an oven and a microwave.
Finally, all Fiat-based models will be powered by the new Euro 5 engines, and benefit from the facelifted cab environment.
What you need to know
We rather like the Globe S overcab models, which feature a mix of fixed double-bed and bunk-bed layouts, and include six-berths engineered down in weight to still offer a decent payload. The A677, for example, claimed a payload of 799kg. With UK pricing yet to be confirmed, though, it’s hard to say whether they’ll be able to compete with the likes of Escape, Tribute and Autoquest.
We also rather liked the new 6851 layout in the Advantage class, with its offset island bed, that still manages to squeeze in a separate shower alongside, and a washbasin at the foot of the bed.
Now that Advantage looks so much like the Esprit A-classes, the latter gets a little facelift, too, with new headlamps and a new rear bumper with LED lights. Esprit low-profiles get a new low-line mould that incorporates a skylight alongside a Heki rooflight, flooding the cab and lounge with natural light. Luxury Alde heating is also thrown in as standard.
Next, the Globetrotter XLI, which also gets the Esprit grille, front-end. All layouts now feature a separate toilet and shower, sited either side of the ’van. There are no longer any wooden battens in the shell construction, and the kitchen features a stylish and durable GRP work surface.
The Globetrotter XXL, now available as an A-class as well as overcab coachbuilts, takes on the look and shares the same chassis as the top-of-the-range Premium Liner – the 7000kg Iveco Daily chassis.
The Premium Liner itself gets a raft of new options, including a toilet with macerator!
Sunlight
Also available in the UK, at several dealerships, and even popping up as dealer-specials, is the Dethleffs sub-brand Sunlight. It’s an entry-level range that’s built at a different factory from Dethleffs-branded ranges, along with its sister model, the badge-engineered Carado; the latter sits within the Hymer brand.
Our pick of the line-up is the new T67, which features twin-single beds and an optional pull-down bed over the front lounge area.
Must-see new ’van: Alpa
You’ll either love or hate it: the bulbous overcab houses twin single beds, and the rear U-shaped lounge has three panoramic windows, and also features optional belted seats that disappear beneath the sofa bases. It’s a very useable living space, if a little externally ugly.