This is the Verdier Westfalia Solar Power - VW-style van conversion whose manufacturers claim it is the shape of things to come:

It’s certainly a modern, strking vehicle with definite sex appeal but great practicality too.

Solar panels, a popup roof that sleeps two, a kitchen area that can be accessed from the outside, a retractable awning… the list goes on.

The only slight reservation I have is in the level of hype surrounding it. Most of these features are already available as production and/or aftermarket options on mainstream van conversions and motorhomes.

Leaving aside the pleasing aesthetics - its looks certainly beat most mainstream conversions - what are we left with?

The specifications published on Verdier’s website include:

• Hybrid vehicle engine - new, but not specific to the campervan and coming soon to vans everywhere
• 40W/12V solar panel - pretty unremarkable already. Why such low power?
• Hydraulic suspension - unusual on a small van, but does it really serve any useful purpose?
• Built-in satellite navigation - hardly groundbreaking. Already available as an option on almost all new vans
• Cooker & sink - sounds familiar…
• ‘Rock and roll’ bed to sleep two with a further double in the poptop - VW and other small van conversions have used this configuration for at least 40 years…

The Verdier Westfalia won the Special Prize from the Jury at the Caravaning Design Award 2006/2007 Innovation for New Mobility at the 2006 Caravan Salon Dusseldorf in Germany.

While an attractive, modern and fairly eco-friendly design - I like the wooden panelling - I can’t help wondering if the judges were blinded by style over innovation.

What do you think?

Here’s a few more pictures to whet your appetite. For the full lowdown, visit Vernier’s website at www.vernier.ca:

The beauty of doing your own van conversion is that (skill and money permitting) you can create exactly the campervan you want - not something that’s been designed to appeal to as many people as possible.

That’s certainly what this bloke has done with his Volkswagen Transporter T5. He hasn’t bothered too much with bathroom or cooking facilities but has concentrated on creating a cool, comfortable surf van with a great sound system.

If this is your cup of tea, there are plenty of pictures and clues as to how to do it yourself - you can see the full story with pictures here (takes a while to load all of the pics)

Here’s one I wouldn’t mind - in the US at least.

Legendary motorcycle stuntman Evel Knievel died late last year, leaving an incredible legacy of death-defying stunts. He also left one of the most awesome RVs I have ever seen, which is now up for sale on eBay.

The word motorhome doesn’t seem to do justice to this this custom-built Vogue / Mitchell 500hp behemoth - just take a look here.

A professionally-converted Nissan Micra motorhome.

Originally built for someone who wanted a campervan to go fishing with, this Micra was converted by Middlesex Motor Caravans into a proper miniature camper - including twin hob, sink and running water and single bed.

It’s got a proper popup roof, too and take note of the mains electric hookup connection in the front wing. What a great piece of work!

It’s for sale at £500 at the time of writing - see here for more details.

Photo copyright James Harland. You can see more of James’ Micra Motorhome pictures at http://www.flickr.com/photos/james-msc/sets/72157594198736850/

Continuing an occassional series of articles about motorhomes you can’t afford, couldn’t fit onto most campsites and probably won’t ever even see, here is a clip from last week’s edition of Top Gear, the popular BBC motoring show.

This is a German motorhome that sits at the top (think multi-millionaire) end of the motorhome market - I imagine it’s the kind of vehicle that Michael Schumacher used to live in at Grand Prix meetings.

The standard of fittings has to be seen to be believed - suffice to say it exceeds the level of luxury in most people’s homes. Click play below to take a look:

I just had to share this with you - a bit of Saturday night tomfoolery…

Take a look at this:

Don’t worry - it’s not sinking! This is the world’s first amphibious motorhome in action…

Terrawind specialise in making unusual amphibious vehicles and this is one of the latest examples of their work.

Inside, the decor is the usual RV-style dark wood, leather and plush carpet - but it’s the outside that makes this vehicle unique.

Here’s how it looks on the road:

Looks normal so far, right? How about this?

Slow down, I want to dive in and go for a swim - check out that rear platform!

Land Ahoy! We’re nearly there now, hold tight when we hit the beach:

I’m not sure I’d want to try crossing the channel in it, but you could certainly have some fun (although you might struggle to finding landing places in the UK).

All pictures are copyright of Terrawind.

Although nothing beats a professionally-converted motorhome for comfort or ease of use, there is no escaping the fact they are expensive beasts.

I started off with (and still use) a home-converted van, and I came across this story the other day, which provides a well-illustrated guide to a slightly unconventional conversion.

It’s based on an American van, but could just as easily work for most European panel vans. They layout Jason’s gone for is very similar to one I’ve used myself and I can testify that it’s an excellent, easy design to build. You can go as far (or not) as you want with the facilties - from building in a full kitchen/wash unit to just having a wooden countertop, a camping stove and a plastic bowl!

Take a look here - there are plenty of pictures and it really shows how (relatively) easy and cheap it can be to build something comfortable enough to spend serious time in.

Over at the Truck and Van blog today, Will Shiers has a picture of a rare VW Beetle motorhome conversion that only a true devotee could love.

Apparently only a few were made - and one wonders what the interior layout was like, given that Beetles were rear engined… it must have made for a warm bed after a long drive, anyway!

Although it seems a wacky concept, very similar (albeit front-engined) motorhomes are still being produced today by two UK manufacturers.

(more…)

Anyone who has been in a motorhome or RV in the last few years knows that the days of peeling veneer, damp walls, running condensation and primitive facilities are well and truly over.

Even though many luxury motorhomes are already fitted out like a cross between Buckingham Palace and the Playboy Mansion, some people are just never satisfied - especially people like Will Smith, a.k.a. the Fresh Prince.

When he got wind of a new concept in motorhomes, he just had to have the first one - a bargain at $1.8m. It’s based around a full-size tractor-trailer unit - an articulated lorry to my UK readers!

You might think that this is way out of your league - but the great thing is that (almost) all of these features will end up trickling down to the motorhomes and RVs you and I buy - probably sooner than you think*.

So here are 5 reasons we should thank the Fresh Prince:

(If Will Smith isn’t your style, Robert de Niro has one, too.)

1. Let me just take you upstairs…

That’s right. Two floors. Upstairs & downstairs. This must be the coolest motorhome invention since the rock ‘n’ roll bed and the pop-top roof. Look at this party space:

Maker Anderson Mobile Estates has patented the technology used in Will Smith’s trailer - but I guarantee you that in a few years’ mainstream motorhomes and RVs will start extending upwards as well as sideways.

2. Electric privacy glass

Having completely blackened glass all the time is maybe a little too “Pimp My Ride” for some holiday parks - and it makes it a bit dark inside, too.

The solution is obvious - switchable privacy glass. At the touch of a button, all windows go from clear to opaque and you have complete privacy.

3. Wireless touchscreen controls

Darling, could you just turn down the heat? Oh, and switch off that light too, and turn up the music?

Imagine having a remote that controls everything. Wireless touchscreen controls are completely programmable and can be hooked into almost any system. They look cool, too.

4. A bathroom that would shame most hotels

No more turning on the spot, smacking your elbows on the walls and feeling like you’re in a sensory-deprivation chamber. This is how bathrooms should be - with real granite, porcelain and chrome in all the right places:

5. Man, I gotta lay down some tracks tonight…

You won’t necessarily want a full-on recording studio in your motorhome, but that doesn’t mean that you won’t benefit from the quality multimedia system design that enables the studio to work. Think about the cleverly-concealed wiring, electrical power and soundproofing this place needs.

Mobile home cinema, anyone?

*Proof: The future is here already!

Just in case you don’t believe me, some of these features are already arriving in motorhomes aimed at regular holidaymakers. Just take a look at this Knaus C-Liner, as owned by Jamiroquai frontman Jay Kay:

Click here for pics of the Knaus C-Liner

This German model is aimed at the European market and “only” costs around £42,000 ($85,000). The C-Liner is large enough to accommodate two people in comfort and small enough to go almost anywhere.

It boasts a fully-integrated multimedia system, electric, sun-reflecting blinds and a stylish bathroom with a separate, circular shower cubicle and a proper toilet. It all comes packaged in a modern, high-quality design that really is in a different universe from the motorhomes of the past.

Thanks, Will.

All pictures copyright of Anderson Mobile Estates.