British brand Auto-Trail continues to go from strength to strength and, unlike its main rivals, it does not produce touring caravans or static caravans, just motorhomes – and the company is very good at it.

Auto-Trail is part of the pan-European Trigano Group, which has a turnover in excess of £1billion – seriously big hitters. In fact, one in three motorhomes sold in Europe is a Trigano Group product. Its 2017-season line-up comprises eight van conversions and 21 low-profile motorhomes.

What’s changed

With the introduction of the new Euro 6-compliant Fiat Ducato engine and the imminent commissioning of a huge factory extension, Auto-Trail could have been forgiven for making do with just a minor make-over for 2017 – after all, the company has achieved record sales figures in the year to date. But no – there are major improvements across its four ranges of coachbuilts – Apache, Tracker, Imala and Frontier – and several all-new models are set to launch.

The headlines

For 2017, Imala gains an additional model – the 734 – which is similar to the 730 except that twin low-level single-beds replace the latter’s peninsula double a the far rear. Apache 632 and 634 have both grown a little in length and as a result the 632’s permanent transverse double bed benefits from a considerable increase in width.

Moving on through the ranges, next up is Tracker. The revised RB’s double bed has swapped sides and the RS has grown considerably, now stretching the tape to 6.94m. That extra length does allow a much improved rear changing/showering area, plus a more spacious lounge.

Flagship Frontier will all be running on Al-Ko Kober independently-sprung chassis extensions. Navajo, Savannah, Arapaho and Chieftain are all ‘resting’ and the Mohawk will be replaced by the longer-but-similar Serrano. Comanche is the sole tandem-axle offering, though it does now come in two flavours. The original has a permanent peninsula double-bed at the far rear and the new Comanche S features (convertible) permanent single-beds in the boudoir. In the same vein, Delaware also gains a single-beds derivative known (I feel you are ahead of me on this) as the Delaware S.

Moving into Auto-Trail’s ‘compact leisure vehicle’ segment, The V-Line SE offering is strengthened by a new 6.36m model. The 636 has a 3500kg MTPLM and adds a forward-facing double passenger seat immediately behind the driver. The somnolent have a choice of single beds or a large all-over double.

In other news

Firstly, a quick Euro 6 recap for planet Zog inhabitants. All 2017 Auto-Trails will be built on Fiat Ducatos powered by the company’s unique Euro 6 engines – unique because only Fiat has managed to build clean, powerful engines that exceed the very latest emission standards without having to employ a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system using diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) like AdBlue for NOx reduction. The 2.0-litre 115bhp unit will be standard in all V-Lines and a 2.3-litre unit is available at 130bhp, 150bhp and 180bhp. The ComfortMatic robotised gearbox will be available on all engines except the two-litre unit.

Although Auto-Trail is continuing to offer three lounge layouts for most of its coachbuilts, it has dropped the Super Lo-Line roof option – though of course Lo-line and Hi-Line continue.

In addition, the two leading ‘U’-shaped rear lounge layouts – Apache 634 and Imala 625 – can now be specified with either roof option (previously Hi-Line only).

Soft furnishing options now number 10. There’s an attractive new finish to the high-level locker doors, plus Frontiers have an improved rear panel and a roof-mounted awning instead of the recessed one previously used. This frees-up nearside high-level locker space but doesn’t add to the vehicle’s overall height.

Auto-Trail will continue up-speccing its base vehicles with ESC, Hill Holder, Hill Descent Control and Traction+.

The 2017-season Auto-Trail range at a glance

   
Van conversions 

  • Auto-Trail V-Line 540 SE – two-berth, two travel seats, rear lounge, 5.4m-long 
  • Auto-Trail V-Line 605 SE – two-berth, two travel seats, rear lounge, 5.99m-long 
  • Auto-Trail V-Line 610 SE – two-berth, two travel seats, rear lounge, 5.99m-long 
  • Auto-Trail V-Line 635 SE – two-berth, two travel seats, rear lounge, 6.36m-long 
  • NEW! Auto-Trail V-Line 636 SE – two-berth, four travel seats, parallel lounge, end washroom, 6.36m-long 
  • Auto-Trail V-Line 600 Sport – two-berth, two travel seats, front lounge, rear washroom, 5.99m-long 
  • Auto-Trail V-Line 610 Sport – two-berth, two travel seats, rear lounge, end washroom, 5.99m-long 
  • Auto-Trail V-Line 620 Sport – two-berth, two travel seats (four optional), front lounge, transverse rear bed, 5.99m-long 

   

Low-profiles (with Hi-Line option) 

  • Auto-Trail Imala 615 – two-berth (Hi-Line option: four-berth), two travel seats, parallel lounge, 6.34m-long 
  • Auto-Trail Imala 620 – two-berth (Hi-Line option: four-berth), four travel seats, front dinette, 6.34m-long 
  • Auto-Trail Imala 625 – two-berth (Hi-Line option: four-berth), two travel seats, rear lounge, 6.34m-long 
  • Auto-Trail Imala 715 – four-berth (Hi-Line option: six-berth), two travel seats (four optional), parallel lounge, rear French bed, 7.06m-long 
  • Auto-Trail Imala 720 – four-berth (Hi-Line option: six-berth), four travel seats, front dinette, rear lounge, 7.06m-long 
  • Auto-Trail Imala 730 – four-berth (Hi-Line option: six-berth), two travel seats (four optional), parallel lounge, rear island bed, 7.25m-long 
  • NEW! Auto-Trail Imala 734 – four-berth (Hi-Line option: six-berth), two travel seats (four optional), parallel lounge, rear twin single beds, 7.25m-long
       
  • Auto-Trail Tracker EKS – two-berth (Hi-Line option: four-berth), two travel seats, parallel lounge, end washroom, 6.39m-long 
  • Auto-Trail Tracker FB – four-berth (Hi-Line option: six-berth), two travel seats (four optional), parallel lounge, rear French bed, 7.09m-long 
  • Auto-Trail Tracker RS – two-berth (Hi-Line option: four-berth), two travel seats (four optional), parallel lounge, end washroom, 6.94m-long 
  • Auto-Trail Tracker RB – four-berth (Hi-Line option: six-berth), two travel seats (four optional), parallel lounge, rear transverse island bed, 7.6m-long 
       
  • Auto-Trail Apache 632 – four-berth (Hi-Line option: six-berth), two travel seats (four optional), parallel lounge, transverse rear bed, 7.37m-long 
  • Auto-Trail Apache 634 – two-berth (Hi-Line option: four-berth), two travel seats, rear lounge, 7.37m-long 
  • Auto-Trail Apache 700 – four-berth (Hi-Line option: six-berth), four travel seats (six optional), front dinette, rear lounge, 7.5m-long 
       
  • Auto-Trail Frontier Dakota – four-berth (Hi-Line option: six-berth), two travel seats (four optional), parallel lounge, rear French bed, end washroom, 7.6m-long 
  • Auto-Trail Frontier Delaware – four-berth (Hi-Line option: six-berth), two travel seats (four optional), parallel lounge, rear island bed, 8.05m-long 
  • NEW! Auto-Trail Frontier Delaware S – four-berth (Hi-Line option: six-berth), two travel seats (four optional), parallel lounge, rear twin single beds, 8.05m-long 
  • NEW! Auto-Trail Frontier Serrano – four-berth (Hi-Line option: six-berth), two travel seats (four optional), parallel lounge, transverse rear bed, 8.05m-long 
  • Auto-Trail Frontier Scout – four-berth (Hi-Line option: six-berth), four travel seats (six optional), front full-dinette, rear lounge, 8.05m-long 
  • Auto-Trail Frontier Comanche – tag-axle, four-berth (Hi-Line option: six-berth), two travel seats (four optional), parallel lounge, rear island bed, 8.73m-long
  • NEW! Auto-Trail Frontier Comanche S – tag-axle, four-berth (Hi-Line option: six-berth), two travel seats (four optional), parallel lounge, rear twin single beds, 8.73m-long