Knaus-Tabbert unveils the Tourer CUV at the Caravan Salon in Düsseldorf. In terms of structure, it is a semi-integrated vehicle, but looks more like a crossover between a camping bus and a camper van. When it comes to the caravaning utility vehicle, Knaus even speaks of a completely new vehicle category.
The Knaus-Tabbert Group has used the ongoing supply chain problems, especially at Fiat, to significantly reduce Ducato's dominance in the motorhome portfolio and to expand cooperation on the chassis to all relevant brands. 13 new series based on Mercedes, Ford, MAN and VW commercial vehicles have been created in this way within the past twelve months. A corresponding flood of new products is currently being served up at the Düsseldorf Caravan Salon (which ends on September 4th).
Knaus-Tabbert has particularly intensively stimulated the cooperation with Volkswagen. In the Tourer Van, a flexible bathroom-bed solution with a length of almost 5.90 meters was achieved that offers maximum living comfort with compact dimensions.
As an addition, another Bulli series is celebrating its premiere in Düsseldorf, also with a world first on board. When it comes to the Tourer CUV (Caravanning Utility Vehicle), Knaus even speaks of a completely new vehicle category. The newcomer actually presents itself as a kind of crossover, which is actually a semi-integrated vehicle in terms of design, but is as handy and manoeuvrable as driving a camper van and offers the living comfort of a camper van at the holiday destination. This is made possible by a lifting roof that extends almost the entire length of the vehicle.
With the roof retracted, the Knaus Tourer CUV is only 2.13 meters high. With the hood raised, it is then 2.75 meters, which gives the interior a generous feeling of space and a decent headroom of over 1.90 meters throughout. The 5.88 meter long tourer CUV 500 MQ offers up to four beds, has diesel heating and a kitchen with a two-burner stove, sink and 90-liter compressor refrigerator on board and also has the flexible bathroom-bed construction with collapsible shower cubicle. In the lower position, the top of the shower is part of the transverse double bed in the rear. In the upper position, there is also a good 1.90 meters of headroom under the shower. The rear garage with doors on the right and left holds up to 150 kilograms.
The basis of the Bulli camper, which is also available as a 500 LT with a face-to-face seating group, is the VW T6.1 in the entry-level engine with 110 hp and manual transmission. Right from the start, the lifting roof tourer will also be available as a special CUVision model in Ascot gray with 150 hp drive, seven-speed DSG and extensive standard equipment such as alloy wheels, LED headlights, navigation infotainment, reversing camera, awning and a complete TV package with holder and antenna offered.
Knaus-Tabbert has not yet announced prices for the Tourer Van, which will be produced from March 2023, but promised a tariff of less than 80,000 euros for the special model. Similar to the Tourer Van, the Tourer CUV will also be available as a slightly cheaper sister model, the X-Cursion CUV, from the Weinsberg entry-level brand.
The Knaus-Tabbert Group founded the two sub-brands K-Design (for Knaus models) and Own-Line (for Weinsberg) to meet the increasingly frequent requests from customers for an individual outfit.
In contrast to the wide range of new activities, the project presented last year for a semi-integrated e-mobile home is obviously only making small steps forward, even if management says it is right on schedule. In cooperation with HWA Engineering from Affalterbach - behind the three letters hides the company of Hans-Werner Aufrecht, co-founder of the Mercedes in-house tuner AMG - numerous tests and further development steps such as the implementation of the control software have been completed. In addition, a new range extender is now used in the Knaus e.Power Drive for the 180 kW/245 hp electric motor.
Instead of the previous Wankel engine, there is now a three-cylinder petrol engine from Fiat with 51 kW/70 hp under the bonnet, which primarily has the task of charging the traction battery, but it can also supply electricity directly to the drive motor. With the 35 kWh battery on board, the fully electrically driven semi-integrated vehicle can travel 90 kilometers without the support of the range extender. Knaus-Tabbert states the system range to be around 600 kilometers. Production is scheduled to start within the next two years.
