Industry names its Motorhome of the Year 2012

THE motorhome industry has named its best Motorhome of the Year for 2012, and the award goes to . . . the Knaus Sky TI 650 MF. At the inaugural motorhome of the year awards it also scooped the Fixed Bed Coachbuilt award.
The Motorhome of the Year Awards are the result of a coming together of the UK’s best-selling motorhome magazine, Motorcaravan Motorhome Monthly (MMM), and Which Motorhome, the UK’s only motorhome test and buying magazine.
The two magazines joined forces to create this set of combined awards to recognise the best new campervans and motorhomes on sale in the UK.
The awards were sponsored by the Caravan Club and were held at the Luton Hoo Hotel, with dealers and manufacturers from the motorhome industry present.
The Knaus Sky TI 650 MF is a superb example of a fixed bed coachbuilt motorhome. It impressed the judges from MMM and Which Motorhome because it offers such superb value for money, excellent design and impressive levels of equipment and all in a highly desirable package.
Judge Rachel Stothert, MMM’s deputy editor, said: “A great German motorhome which ticks the boxes.”
While Dave Hurrell, road test editor for MMM and senior judge, said: “The epitome of a French bed low profile layout, this Sky adds bags of style and practicality. It’s a big welcome back to the UK for Knaus.
“Knaus is a previous winner, and this year it’s done it again. The Sky TI 650 MF offers one of the most popular layouts in modern motorhoming – here presented in a high quality and appealing package that’s also extremely well designed.”
Editor of Which Motorhome and head of the judging panel, Peter Vaughan, commented: “The classic French bed layout refined to the max – a clever washroom, bed without a cut-off, big overcab sunroof, and that neat external services locker. All built to German standards.”
Unless you’re prepared to buy a monster of a motorhome, demanding a fixed bed can compromise on the rest of the living space. Therefore the judges were looking for clever design that means a buyer gets that desirable permanent double bed but still enjoys enough space to use the other facilities and rooms without feeling they have been compromised.
The bed, of course, must be large enough for two and as comfortable as a high quality hotel bed. The kitchen must not only be practical but also spacious and well designed and the lounge an attractive and comfortable place to relax.
But the judges were also looking for more, such as a no-compromise washroom and whether the designers had made best use of areas such as space below the bed, which, in a good design, can offer enhanced storage. Good external access to this area also attracted the judges’ attention.
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