BENIMAR MOTORHOMES ARE returning to Britain, with the Spanish built ‘vans set to be sold exclusively at Marquis dealerships across the UK.
At first, Marquis will focus on Benimar’s Mileo models. These mid-range, low-profile, Fiat Ducato-based motorhomes, each powered by a 130bhp diesel engine, will be sold in five variants.
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Five Mileo models are coming to Marquis
There are three 5.99m-long options: the Mileo 201, with a rear transverse bed over a garage; the Mileo 202, with a large, rear L-shaped kitchen and a pull-down ceiling bed above the front lounge; and the Mileo 231 motorhome that features a French bed.
There’s also the Mileo 243 with a rear, height-adjustable bed over a garage that is 6.99m long, while the Mileo 294, at 7.39m, is the longest in the range and is fitted with an island bed and separate toilet and shower areas.
There will be a range of fabric trim options from launch and, unusually for a European import, all variants will be built for the UK market with the habitation door on the nearside of these right-hand-drive Benimar ‘vans.
A range of fabric upholstery options will be available
The Mileos will be almost entirely wood-free in their construction, with GRP skins used for the walls, the floor and the ceiling. They will also be subjected to NCC UK approval testing and cold climate certification.
“These stunning motorhomes perfectly complement our extensive range of special edition ’vans,” said Alan Buckwell, Sales Director of Marquis, “and offer customers a winning combination of individuality, quality and style.”
In fact, visitors to the Marquis Motorhomes’ Summer Show at Paultons Park last month would have seen a pair of Benimars on display, a Mileo 201 and a Mileo 202, priced at £39,995 each.
“It’s a toe-in-the-water exercise,” Marquis MD Mike Crouch told Practical Motorhome. “We wanted to gauge interest in them, so we’re offering them as used ’vans. It’s a Continental product that’s quite quirky and offers something different to the UK market – with drop-down beds and garages.”
Marquis is the UK’s biggest motorhome and caravan dealership network, with 11 branches spread across the country. You can find outlets in Chieveley (Berkshire), Ivybridge (Devon), Poole (Dorset), Chester-le-Street (County Durham), Tewkesbury (Gloucestershire), Lower Upham (Hampshire), Preston (Lancashire), Northampton (Northamptonshire), Sheffield (South Yorkshire), Ipswich (Suffolk) and Golden Cross (East Sussex).
A selection of the 2015 Benimar range will be on the Marquis stand – 6-55 in Hall 6 – at the Motorhome & Caravan Show at Birmingham’s NEC on the 14-19 October 2014. When you consider that, in addition, there will be three larger Majestic motorhomes launched at the NEC show in October – making a 12-model line-up – it’s no wonder that Mike was buoyant: “Sales are up 15% year-on-year so far. I’m pretty happy with that in a flat market! As a group we now influence the decisions of one in five motorhome buyers.”
