BEST FIXED SINGLE BED MOTORHOME
JUSToccasionally, a new motorhome appears at a show without any prior hullabaloo and then it grabs our attention as an unexpected star of the show. That’s exactly what happened with the Frankia Now at this year’s Caravan Salon Düsseldorf.
From a premium brand best known for its big, luxury A-class models on Mercedes-Benz chassis, this is something completely different – a low-profile on the ubiquitous Fiat cab and with a 3,500kg maximum weight to suit any driver. But so far, so ordinary.
Nothing about the exterior of the Now prepared us for the fact that we’d nickname it the Frankia Wow. Bar the bold yellow graphics (to be toned down to a more brassy colour in production), this is a typical 7m motorhome with a rear garage. It has a black cab, alloy wheels and framed windows, so it looks contemporary but definitely not revolutionary.
It’s inside that the Now has the wow factor. Its German manufacturer says its “revolutionary concept is changing the way we think about motorhomes – especially when it comes to space, light, design and details”, before going on to add, “Frankia is entering a new age and making a deliberate departure from the traditional, all-too familiar style.”
There’s nothing of the usual conservative décor we associate with the brand here. And, if you’re put off by the colour scheme shown, don’t worry, there will be two alternatives – one a rose pink, the other a silvery blue.
As soon as you step aboard, the Now feels special – even from the first touch on a real wood grab handle. The interior is styled to mix Scandi modernity with 1920s Art Deco, via velour cord fabrics. Right-angles are out and curves are in, while great attention has been paid to lighting, both natural and artif
