Yep, that is a giant head. However there is a methodology to the Franken-headed insanity – the cartoonishly large roof on the brand new Vanyx camper van is a habitat in itself, splitting the van into separate flooring for sleeping and daytime dwelling. The brand new all-German camper seems to deliver an unprecedented degree of land yacht luxurious to the Class B section whereas nonetheless providing sufficient hard-nosed grit and self-sufficient provide to deal with prolonged treks off street and grid. Ingenious creation or proof the overland-glamping market has lastly pushed its luck too far?
“Off-road outdoors, luxurious inside” is the straightforward dichotomy that Vanyx’s Ringsheim-based guardian firm Sensible Journey GmbH is hoping will encourage of us to spend near 1,000,000 {dollars} on a camper van. We have by no means beforehand seen a camper van with that sort of price ticket, normally reserved for large, amenity-stuffed expedition vans, live-in supercar-carriers and design-project-like freeway yachts.
The primary a part of the two-way Vanyx formulation begins with a MAN TGE 180 4×4 base van. At 236 in (599 cm) lengthy, it is not even that giant of a van in comparison with the actually stretched extra-long MAN campers already roaming street and path for a fraction of the Vanyx worth. The shorter, extra manageable size ought to add to the Vanyx’s off-road enchantment however not essentially its luxurious inside.
Sensible Journey GmbH
Serving to the tuned-up 250-hp engine distribute energy out to the grippiest of the 4 tires is a differential lock. Sensible Journey additional upgrades the bottom chassis with a four-wheel air suspension that delivers as much as 6 in (15 cm) of top adjustment for higher off-road floor clearance and a decrease (i.e. as-low-as-possible-with-that-giant-roof) on-road stance, plus automated leveling. Drivers can alter that suspension straight from the Vanyx good management touchscreen.
As tough as that enormous exhausting hat is to forgive from each an aesthetics and center-of-gravity standpoint, the penthouse chambers earn their place with regards to the luxurious inside facet of the equation. The aim behind the outsized carbon fiber-sandwich roof, developed in partnership with Germany’s famed Fraunhofer Institute, is to deal with two double beds, one in entrance and one on the rear. The entrance mattress stretches near queen dimension at 79 x 54 in (200 x 138 cm), whereas the rear mattress is available in only a contact shorter at 77 x 54 in (195 x 138 cm).
Sensible Journey GmbH
The twin-roof-bed structure stands in distinction to the common pop-up or hard-wall camper van sleeper roof, which homes a single mattress, both as the one mattress in a two-sleeper camper or because the second mattress of a four-sleeper.
We’re stunned Sensible Journey selected such an off-road/off-grid-focused camper for debuting its double-bed sleeper roof. The characteristic, and ensuing price ticket, appears better-suited to an expensive pavement cruiser constructed for hopping high-priced glamping resorts and motorhome paddocks at unique occasions. When off-roading, that towering roof is all however assured to bulldoze via tree branches, catch some heavy canyon crosswind and/or provoke undesirable gravitational pull when slow-rolling over uneven terrain.
Sensible Journey GmbH
That mentioned, the Vanyx dual-zone technique has some clear benefits, making a extra residential-like dwelling area that requires no conversion between day and night time modes. Benefit from the night downstairs earlier than retiring upstairs to mattress, no want to rework a dinette or bench into your mattress. The mattress platforms do elevate to extend headroom under, however that is a lightning-quick adjustment from day to nighttime.
Sadly, the Vanyx design staff has actually underutilized the additional ground-level area, in our opinion. If you are going to make a devoted non-bedroom decrease degree, it needs to be one campers will need to spend time in, emphasizing spaciousness and luxury. However as an alternative of the roomy lounge (or two) you’d truly need to sit in for greater than a 30-minute meal, Sensible Journey sticks with the underwhelming, cramped entrance dinette seen in so many different European camper vans.
Sensible Journey does enhance the area with an expandable desk that slides its means almost to the alternative facet wall, however we nonetheless cannot think about having fun with sitting on that upright two-seat bench for very lengthy. After which there’s the throw-in worktop console throughout the way in which, area that would have been higher used for a loveseat or leisure middle.
Sensible Journey GmbH
However we suppose anybody spending this type of cash on a camper van will probably be extra all in favour of whiling away their days on the nation membership or aboard the yacht and evenings consuming at unique eating places, possibly having fun with the occasional non-public chef-prepped multi-course on their designer one-of-one out of doors glamping furnishings.
Even the toilet, arguably the Vanyx’s most original and opulent space, feels only a contact underdeveloped. As a substitute of utilizing the van’s further flooring area for a full-width dry rest room, Sensible Journey sticks with a moist rest room. It does improve the area with a rainfall bathe accompanied by a singular temper lighting system built-in into the genuine-stone partitions, together with a dry separating bathroom made out of carbon fiber, however it might have extra substantively improved the area with a dry structure of closed bathe and separate sink/bathroom space.
Sensible Journey GmbH
As a substitute, it leaves some empty area subsequent to the toilet to be used as a rear gear locker accessed from an inside closet door and outdoors rear van door. We suppose some space for storing is important, however the Vanyx locker feels half-cocked for any manufacturing camper, not to mention one sporting a seven-figure price ticket.
The van additionally features a rear drying closet accessed from inside via the swing-out rest room mirror or from outdoors by way of the driver-side rear door. It is meant for drying out ski jackets, wetsuits, rain boots and the like and in addition consists of an outside bathe sprayer for cleansing soiled gear.
The rainfall bathe head is designed to preserve water to provide longer showers from the finite onboard recent water reserves, trickling it out at a price of two.1 liters per minute, not even 1 / 4 of the 9.5 liters a minute the EPA says the common US family bathe dumps out.
From estimates and specs we have seen, RV bathe heads aren’t way more conservative, dropping right down to round 6 L/min on the low finish. So assuming it is not so gradual as to be drafty and uncomfortable, Vanyx’s low circulate price ought to show a pleasant plus for individuals who prefer to spend somewhat extra time within the bathe.
Sensible Journey GmbH
Filling out the middle of the Vanyx first flooring, between the entrance dinette and rear spa rest room, the L-shaped kitchen comes with an induction cooktop, massive rectangular sink (additionally carbon fiber!) and 90-L compressor fridge.
The upstairs bed room areas embody starry headliners over the beds, delivering a grown-up model of the glow-in-the-dark ceiling stickers many people would possibly keep in mind from childhood. The van’s 18-speaker audio system consists of devoted bed room audio system and under-bed subwoofers that present a extra immersive soundscape. Two facet home windows per mattress and a roof hatch make sure that campers can alter nighttime air flow.
And the mattress frames? Carbon fiber, as soon as once more.
Sensible Journey GmbH
Like its bigger, heavy-duty truck-based expedition car cousins, the Vanyx is designed to function self-sufficiently whereas out within the tough. Together with the standard recent water tank, the van makes use of a recirculation system that recycles grey water into recent utilizing a multi-stage filtration course of with UV.
A 1,200-Ah lithium battery financial institution delivers loads of electrical energy, drawing cost from the solar by way of an 800-W photo voltaic array. The gas-free setup eliminates LPG tanks and cylinders, counting on the MAN TGE’s diesel tank to run the 6,000-W heating system, which may additionally run straight off the battery. The rig stays related to the civilized world by way of a mixture of LTE and satellite tv for pc web {hardware}.
Sensible Journey GmbH
As you are doubtless effectively conscious by now, your entire Vanyx exterior is completed with a Line-X protecting coating. It is also dressed with a snorkel, entrance LED gentle bar and auxiliary bumper lights, electrical out of doors awning, and 18-in cast alloy wheels with all-terrain tires.
A 360-degree digital camera system, inside air-con and underfloor heating spherical out the excellent options package deal.
By utilizing the humbly-sized 599-cm TGE van and constructing with carbon fiber wherever doable, together with for the under-floor heated/cooled battery and tank housings, Sensible Journey is ready to maintain gross car weight down to three,500 kg (7,716 lb), which means the Vanyx camper will be pushed legally with a fundamental Class B driver’s license.
Sensible Journey GmbH
A few of Vanyx ideas, and the supplies portfolio of actual wooden, stone, leather-based, carbon fiber and Alcantara, appear to be they belong in a $1 million camper van, however we’re undecided they really add as much as an MSRP wherever close to that top. To that, Sensible Journey would possibly reply that the bottom worth for the “Luxurious Version” described is definitely €890,000 (after VAT), and never a cent extra. That converts to roughly $970,000 on this specific Thursday night.
Touché?
Sensible Journey debuted the Vanyx earlier this yr and plans to construct simply 99 examples of the complete “Luxurious Version.” German on-line market Cellular.de continues to be promoting chassis #01, so it seems just like the RV-buying public is not way more excited than we’re a couple of million-dollar camper van. Additionally being marketed is the less complicated, lower-spec “Pure” base model that also manages an eye-watering price ticket of €344,280 (US$375,250).
The Vanyx goes via some off-road testing within the video under. For a more in-depth have a look at the inside, RV YouTuber Alan Heath did a full walkthrough with the corporate on the van’s debut.
VANYX’s restrict? | Excessive 4×4 Offroad Check Drive
Supply: Vanyx
