outandaboutlive.co.uk
11
For 2015, Italian manufacturer, Laika, which
is part of the Hymer Group of companies,
has introduced a new A-class range, which
expands its existing Ecovip line-up.
Laika has also introduced its ‘all-in’
philosophy, which bundles an impressive
range of features into its ’vans that would
previously have been optional extras.
The new Ecovip A-class ranges from
sub-6m up to 7.5m in length with a total of
nine different layouts. They are all four-berth
but with the option of a fifth travel seat. The
front ends are very distinctive with a large
curved windscreen that gives it an excellent
panoramic look and the lights are sourced
from the car industry rather than using
commercial van units.
There is one large cab door
on the European driver’s side.
The dashboard is a virtually
unmolested Fiat layout aside from
a few trim flourishes and brushed
aluminium or chrome replaces the
previously used wood effect.
A flat and winterised double floor
runs throughout each ’van housing
all of the wet components and also gives
room for a multitude of storage spaces.
Each model has a good-sized garage, large
enough and with sufficient payload for a
motorcycle in all but the 610 model.
Every kitchen is fitted with a full
oven plus grill with the option for
a microwave which takes up one
of the cabinets. Washroom sizes
are generous and well laid out with
a circular shower compartment
featuring a solid, folding shower-
door with duckboard in the base.
The beds are transverse in the 609 and
709 with fixed singles for the 610 and 712.
The overcab drop-down bed in each ’van is
a pure joy to operate with a very easy to use
and smooth swing-down action and, once
packed away, it is barely noticeable.
Dining space is half-dinette or L-shaped
dinette around a fixed-leg table that matches
the anthracite kitchen work surfaces.
Rather than offer different heating and
insulation levels, Laika says every Ecovip
A-class is built to handle every environment.
The new Fiat Ducato is used almost
exclusively by Laika, apart from the double-
rear-wheel Iveco that supports the huge
garage and payload of the Kreos 3001.
While not a manufacturer of its own models,
Marquis, Britain’s largest motorhome dealer
group with 11 sites across the UK, does
have a large range of bespoke models that
are made for it by British manufacturers.
These ‘dealer special’ models are
made exclusively for Marquis and are only
available from the dealer group. They are
extremely popular among buyers as they
offer great value for money and generally
have much better specifications than the
manufacturer’s equivalent standard model.
For 2015, Marquis has commissioned
some very attractive new models to
complement its portfolio. First is the
2015 range of Lifestyle coachbuilt
models, which are built for Marquis
by Swift. This means they are all
built using the manufacturer’s
new wood-free construction
method and also come highly
specced with sat-nav, cab air-con,
captain’s cab seats, metallic black
cab and reversing camera as standard.
Called the 2015 Lifestyle Black Edition,
this six-model range has a new addition for
2015 – the 622, which is a pure two-berth
low profile with a rear lounge. All the
Lifestyles sit on Fiat’s 130bhp Ducato
and are available with either manual
or auto gearboxes. A special
introductory deal means prices
range from just £42,495 for the
new 622 to £46,495 for the six-
berth 696.
Also new for 2015 are some
significant enhancements to the Elddis-built
range of Marquis Majestic motorhomes. All
12 models within the line-up now come with
150bhp engines as standard (all are built on
the Peugeot Boxer base). They also get cab
air-con, reversing cameras, automatic lights
and wipers and a factory-fitting awning as
standard.
A special introductory deal means prices
for the 2015 Marquis Majestic range start at
just £42,995 for the two-berth Majestic 105.
The
Swift-built
Lifestyle
is one of
two ranges
of dealer
specials
from
Marquis
Laika’s 2015 Ecovip A-class
N
E
C
O
N
S
T
A
N
D
1
0
.
4
5
S
E
E
L
A
I
K
A
A
T
T
H
E
E
N
E
C
O
N
S
T
A
N
D
6
.
5
5
/
6
.
4
9
S
E
E
M
A
R
Q
U
I
S
A
T
T
H
E
Read more about Marquis’s exciting range
of 2015 motorhomes on page 36
