New motorhomes for 2015: Dethleffs & Sunlight

DETHLEFFS BUILDS MORE motorhomes that any other European brand, and exports a fair few of them too.

Israel, China and Japan.

In all territories

that Dethleffs exports to, the brand is renowned for design flair and build

quality. Part of the giant Hymer Group, Dethleffs ’vans are pitched at younger

buyers and their styling reflects that. Expect to see bold colour schemes,

contemporary fabrics and quirky fixtures and fittings, to accompany the genuine

innovation and willingness to try something new. Take last season’s Evan, for

example, an A-class with campervan influences that’s designed to appeal to

young professionals who can use it for the office run during the week, then

take it off to the beach at the weekends.

What’s changed

For 2015, Dethleffs

hasn’t unveiled any new ranges. Instead, it has consolidated its current

offering. With the entire portfolio based on the facelifted Fiat cabs, there

are spec bumps to every model. Advantage receives a root-and-branch redesign

and the A-class Globetrotter XLi is refreshed. The other ranges go into 2015

unchanged, apart from the base vehicle update – Globebus, Trend, Globe 4, Magic

Edition 4/Magic Edition, Esprit, Esprit Comfort and Evan. Dethleffs’ budget

brand, Sunlight, gets two new models and a special 10-year edition.

The headlines

Advantage has been

improved to consolidate its position between Dethleffs’ entry level and

mid-market ranges. It has been re-engineered inside and out, with habitations

now assembled using a new method called Lifetime Plus – Dethleffs claims this

will make vehicles rot-free while saving weight.

Six models are

available, and these can be specified in low-profile and A-class flavours. All

are built on 3500kg chassis. The popular configurations are covered, including

French beds (5901, 6.4m, and 6601, 6.9m), a transverse rear bed (6671, 6.9m), fixed

twin singles (6611, 6.9m, and 7051 EB, 7.4m) and an island bed (7051 DBM, 7.4m).

Improvements to

Advantage include wider habitation doors, large 142-litre fridges with bottle

drawers, and flyscreen doors and electrical entrance steps fitted as standard.

Kitchens benefit from split cooker covers and new work surface extensions;

lounges get new tables and wider seating, and mood lighting is fitted

throughout the new interiors. In A-class versions of the Advantage (and all

Dethleffs A-class motorhomes), pull-down beds and cab blinds now come as

standard.

To complement the

mid-toned Noce Solista wood finish, two new colour schemes are available: the

white and light brown Chevron, and dark brown Baku. The Chassis (base vehicle)

and Family (habitation) options packages continue, available on both

low-profile and A-class models.

Prices for Advantage

low-profiles start at £55,590 (5901), reaching £57,390 for the 7051 EB. The

A-class versions are priced from £63,990 (5901), topping out at £66,790 for the

7051 EB. Prices quoted include delivery and OTR charges of £2100.

At the top of the

portfolio, there are changes to the Globetrotter XLi. Riding on the new Fiat Ducato

with Al-Ko low-frame chassis, the range gets ESP as standard for 2015, and an

automatic gearbox is available as an option on the 180bhp engine, for orders

made from this autumn. The living quarters have been completely revised, using

the new Lifetime Plus bodyshell construction method. There are two equipment

levels, XLi or XLi Premium.

The new Globetrotter

exteriors have new two-piece front and rear GRP panels, LED daytime running

lights, LED rear lights and new habitation doors. Inside, low-weight furniture

has been used, with three new soft furnishings schemes and a comfortable lounge

with extra large window. There are two different designs of overhead locker,

new kitchens and an en suite washroom similar to the Premium Liner.

An extensive standard

kit list includes an electrically operated drop-down bed, LED lighting, a wide

habitation door, night illumination, horizontal windscreen blinds, Alde heating

and separate control of the heating in the living and sleeping area. Additional

equipment includes air-driven cab seats, electrical front blinds, central

locking, an electrical awning and a Jehnert sound system.

Two options packages

can be ordered. The Travel Package adds extras like a cab door, aluminium-trim

dash and Telair air-con, or you can have the Premium Version XLi Package, which

adds goodies including 16in alloys, a weight increase to 5400kg, air-driven seats,

the Premium White exterior colour and habitation central locking. You can

specify a white front and rear, with Titan Silver or Travertin Beige sidewalls;

Premium trim allows you to have the front and rear fully painted.

Prices for the

Globetrotter XLi models start from £91,790, including delivery and OTR charges

of £2100.

Sunlight, Dethleffs’

budget brand, also gets a makeover for 2015 and celebrates its 10th birthday. Upgrades to the Fiat base vehicle mean that safety features ESP, ASR

and hill hold have been added. Low-profile models get a new front hood, rear

bumper, new front decals and a new Macadamia soft furnishings scheme replaces

the current Sunflower one.

There are changes to

the line-up, too. The rear transverse bed T 60 replaces the T 57, the new T 65 offers

a rear transverse bed and optional drop-down bed on a 6.99m-long low-frame

chassis. The T 69 is now known as the T 69 L, and is joined by the slightly

shorter T 69 S. This features a rear island bed, again on a 6.99m-long

low-frame chassis.

A special 10 Years

Edition has also been launched, on two models only – the twin single beds T 68

and T 69 L. This sports silver sides, leather and cloth upholstery, and an ‘All

in One’ package of extras comprising automatic SAT system, 19in LED TV, TV

bracket, 4.5m awning and four-cycle bike rack.

In other news…

Fiat Ducato base

vehicle updates see the addition of safety features ESP with hill hold, and ASR

(traction control) on long-wheelbase and tag-axle ’vans. Travelling seat

headrests now retract into the backrest, and low-profiles and coachbuilts

receive new captain’s chairs in the cab. A-class models get Aguti front seats.

Cab doors are now

available in the Family package, blinds are standard for all A-class models,

and electric entrance steps are fitted to all Trend, Advantage, Globe 4, Esprit

and Esprit Comfort models. Flyscreen doors are now standard, except on Trend

and Evan motorhomes.

The new Lifetime Plus

bodyshell construction method will also be used to build all models from the

Advantage range upwards – Globebus and Trend are not affected.

Want more? Read our full 2015 preview of Continental motorhomes, learn about Adria’s 2015 range, the new Auto-Sleepers range, the 2015 motorhomes from Auto-Trail and Knaus, the 2015 Roller Team line-up, the new 2015 ‘vans from Hymer and Carado, and get details of the new Swift motorhomes for 2015.