The 2018 season for Bürstner is one of consolidation and integration, including some new model lines based partly on existing formats.

Above all, the Erwin Hymer Group company is keen to stress that from now on, all Bürstners will be built with a feeling of “wohnfühlen”. Strictly translated as “feeling for living”, this is actually a play on the German word “wohlfühlen”, which means “to feel good”.

It’s a phrase the company says it has at the back of its mind throughout the design and manufacturing process to make sure that all Bürstner motorhomes are comfortable and easy to live in.

At the press launch at Bürstner’s service centre at Kehl, just across the French border from Strasbourg, Chief Executive Jens Kremer said he hoped that this would mean that all Bürstner motorhomes are characteristically Bürstner, regardless of which individual has designed them.

The headlines

First the consolidation. For 2018, the Brevio, Nexxo and Aviano ranges have all disappeared as part of what product manager Markus Pangerl says is the company’s drive to simplify its ranges.

Bürstner says elements from all these ’vans have been included in other new models this season. In particular, elements of the Aviano have been included in the new Ixeo I, an A-class version of Bürstner’s existing upmarket model range.

The entry-level Lyseo Time is also now being offered in a Lyseo Time I A-class format, which will be based this year on the Citroën Relay with AdBlue facility, although UK-oriented RHD versions will also be available on Fiat Ducatos for those who prefer the ComfortMatic gearbox.

Lyseo Times are also this season available as low-profile Lyseo Time TDs with a double floor, although UK models will only be available in this format with an extra high spec.

Meanwhile, the City Car van conversion range – only two years old but already the inspiration for Sunlight’s new Cliff van conversions this year – is extended, with a new model offering a drop-down transverse double bed.

The Elegance range continues as a three-strong, tag-axle only A-class range, while Argos continues as a single-model overcab range, which this year has been revamped.

The changes

All ’vans in the seven-model-strong Ixeo I A-class range have flat double floors as standard, as well as extra-wide doors and LED lighting throughout.

Their front façades have been designed to include a characteristic ‘smile’ in the shape of the headlight panel, which can include LED headlights alongside LED daytime running lights as an option.

Inside, kitchens come with scratch-proof worktops and coffee makers, while beds have adjustable lumbar support.

The seven layouts include two at 6.99m in length (the fixed-single-beds I 690 G and island-bed I 700), one at 7.39m long (the fixed-single-beds and end-washroom I 720), and four at 7.49m long.

Two of these, the I 728 G and I 729, share the same fixed-single-beds layout, with the I 728 G having a garage large enough to hold a bicycle under the beds.

Ones to watch?

But the remaining two are potentially of more interest. The I 736 has an island bed in the back with two facing settees in the front lounge, that can quickly be converted into two comfortable and fully belted travel seats, complete with their own mini table.

The I 744, meanwhile, brings the rear L-shaped lounge layout first introduced on the low-profile Lyseo last season into the Ixeo mould. We are told that with this layout, “you can almost have a three-room apartment measuring 17 to 18 square metres”.

The low-profile and single-floor Ixeo TL continues as a four-model range, comprising two end-washroom models (the 6.49m TL 640 and 6.99m TL 680 G, which also has a rear garage) and two 7.49m models (the fixed-single-beds TL 728 G with a bike garage, and the island-bed TL 734).

The Citroën Relay base vehicle underpinning the four-strong Lyseo I range comes with a 2.0-litre 160PS engine with ABS, ESP and 16-inch alloy wheels all fitted as standard.

With a GRP floor and GRP hail-resistant roof, the Lyseo I also includes a special storage closet for an optional TV by the habitation door.

The four Lyseo I models are the 6.9m-long I 690 G and three models at 7.43m: the fixed-single-beds, end-washroom I 720, the fixed-single-beds, central-washroom I 728 G, and the island-bed I 734 G. All bar the I 720 have a bike garage with doors (where fitted) that can be opened with one hand.

The low-profile Lyseo TD continues as an eight-strong range, covering everything from the 5.99m-long end-washroom two-berth TD 590, to the 7.65m-long island-bed TD 745.

British quirks

On the Continent these are being offered as standard TD and as TD Harmony Line with extra spec. But in the UK, they will only come with even higher spec than Harmony Line!

This will include an additional garage door, a solar panel, an awning, a cab radio with sat-nav, an oven, the Truma Combi 6E heating system and carpets throughout.

In addition, while on the Continent Bürstner is continuing to offer a two-model overcab Lyseo A range, this will not be making it to the UK at all.

The new addition in the City Car range, due to be unveiled at this year’s Caravan Salon in Düsseldorf, is the 5.99m-long C 601.

Bürstner has been taking account of people who like to use their panel van conversion for sporting activities, because the new C 601 dispenses with a standard fixed bed in the rear and, instead, has a drop-down bed over a seating area.

A second double bed is an optional extra, however, while Bürstner says in future years it may also offer a UK-friendly, rear U-shaped lounge as an option here as well.

In other news

Perhaps the biggest surprise in the deleted ranges this season is the loss of the Brevio line-up, the USP of which was an opening tailgate.

This is particularly curious given how this can be said to have been the inspiration for Swift’s Rio range (although only some Rios now feature an opening tailgate).

Bürstner export sales manager, Guido Ventner, says that in the end the range proved a bit too expensive to produce to the required volume, although the company has not ruled out the option of reintroducing the option as a competitively-priced alternative to panel vans in a few years.

2018 UK-market Bürstner motorhomes at glance

Van conversions:

  • Bürstner City Car C 540 – 2-3 berths, 4 seats, transverse bed, 5.41m long, Fiat Ducato, £41,995
  • Bürstner City Car C 600 – 2-4 berths, 4 seats, transverse bed, 5.99m long, Fiat Ducato, £43,995
  • NEW! Bürstner City Car C 601 – 2-4 berths, 4 seats, drop-down bed, 5.99m long, Fiat Ducato, £44,995
  • Bürstner City Car C 602 – 2-3 berths, 4 seats, rear double bed, 5.99m long, Fiat Ducato, £44,995
  • Bürstner City Car C 640 – 2-3 berths, 4 seats, rear double bed, 6.36m long, Fiat Ducato, £46,995

Low profiles:

  • Bürstner Lyseo Harmony Line TD 590 – 4 berths, 4 seats, end washroom, 5.99m long, Fiat Ducato, £56,995
  • Bürstner Lyseo Harmony Line TD 690 G – 2-5 berths, 4-5 seats, fixed single beds, 6.99m long, Fiat Ducato, £59,995
  • Bürstner Lyseo Harmony Line TD 700 – 2-5 berths, 4-5 seats, island bed, 6.99m long, Fiat Ducato, £58,995
  • Bürstner Lyseo Harmony Line TD 710 G – 2-5 berths, 4-5 seats, transverse bed, 7.1m long, Fiat Ducato, £59,995
  • Bürstner Lyseo Harmony Line TD 728 G – 2-5 berths, 4-5 seats, fixed single beds, 7.49m long, Fiat Ducato, £61,495
  • Bürstner Lyseo Harmony Line TD 734 – 2-5 berths, 4-5 seats, island bed, 7.49m long, Fiat Ducato, £60,995
  • Bürstner Lyseo Harmony Line TD 744 – 2-5 berths, 4-5 seats, L-shaped rear lounge with drop-down bed, 7.49m long, Fiat Ducato, £62,995
  • Bürstner Lyseo Harmony Line TD 745 – 2-5 berths, 4-5 seats, island bed, 7.65m long, Fiat Ducato, £63,495
  • Bürstner Ixeo TL 640 – 2-3 berths, 4 seats, end washroom, 6.49m long, Fiat Ducato, £56,995
  • Bürstner Ixeo TL 680 G – 2-4 berths, 4 seats, end washroom, 6.99m long, Fiat Ducato, £57,995
  • Bürstner Ixeo TL 728 G – 4-6 berths, 4-5 seats, fixed single beds, 7.49m long, Fiat Ducato, £59,995
  • Bürstner Ixeo TL 734 – 4-6 berths, 4-5 seats, island bed, 7.49m long, Fiat Ducato, £59,995
      

Overcabs:

  • Bürstner Argos A 747-2 G – 7 berths, 6 seats, transverse bed, tag-axle, 8.86m long, Fiat Ducato, £84,995
      

A-Classes:

  • NEW! Bürstner Lyseo Time I 690 G – 4-5 berths, 4 seats, fixed single beds, 6.99m long, Citroën Relay, £58,495
  • NEW! Bürstner Lyseo Time I 720 – 4-5 berths, 4 seats, end washroom, fixed single beds, 7.43m long, Citroën Relay, £59,995
  • NEW! Bürstner Lyseo Time I 728 G – 4-5 berths, 4 seats, fixed single beds, 7.43m long, Citroën Relay, £59,995
  • NEW! Bürstner Lyseo Time I 734 G – 4-5 berths, 4 seats, island bed, 7.43m long, Citroën Relay, £60,995
  • NEW! Bürstner Ixeo I 690 G – 4-5 berths, 4 seats, fixed single beds, 6.99m long, Fiat Ducato, £67,995
  • NEW! Bürstner Ixeo I 700 – 4-5 berths, 4 seats, island bed, 6.99m long, Fiat Ducato, £67,995
  • NEW! Bürstner Ixeo I 720 – 4-5 berths, 4 seats, fixed single beds, end washroom, 7.39m long, Fiat Ducato, £69,995
  • NEW! Bürstner Ixeo I 728 G – 4-5 berths, 4 seats, fixed single beds, 7.49m long, Fiat Ducato, £69,995
  • NEW! Bürstner Ixeo I 729 – 4-5 berths, 4 seats, fixed single beds, 7.49m long, Fiat Ducato, £69,995
  • NEW! Bürstner Ixeo I 736 – 4-5 berths, 4 seats, island bed, 7.49m long, Fiat Ducato, £69,995
  • NEW! Bürstner Ixeo I 744 – 4-5 berths, 4 seats, L-shaped rear lounge with drop-down bed, 7.49m long, Fiat Ducato, £71,495
  • Bürstner Elegance I 840 G – 4 berths, 4 seats, fixed single beds, tag-axle, 8.61m long, Fiat Ducato, £96,995
  • Bürstner Elegance I 910 G – 4 berths, 4 seats, fixed single beds, tag-axle, 8.91m long, Fiat Ducato, £98,995
  • Bürstner Elegance I 920 G – 4 berths, 4 seats, island bed, tag-axle, 8.91m long, Fiat Ducato, £98,995