Challenger Combo X 150
News from the Trigano house: Challenger, the brand is under the umbrella of the French caravaning group and a sister company of Eura Mobil, Forster and Karman mobil, wants to gain a foothold in Germany and is presenting an (almost) new motorhome concept. The Challenger Combo X 150 should combine the best of both worlds and be as handy as a panel van and spacious as a motorhome.
The dimensions speak for themselves. 5.99 meters long and 2.1 meters wide, the mobile built on the Ducato is hardly larger than the extended Fiat with a long wheelbase, but thanks to its straight walls and 2.75 meters high, it offers almost as much space as a large one. The motorhome will hit the streets at a total price of 59,990 euros.
Space for a handball team
Challenger combines the original Ducato's cab with a special structure made of XPS elements, which insulate better than the usual sheet metal structure of a campervan and is also more resistant to hail. The trick of gaining space, however, is based on the 1.4 by 1.9 meter fold-down bed, which floats over the face-to-face seating area under the roof in the living room while driving. Thanks to its light and compact aluminum frame, it hardly reduces the standing height below it, and it can be lowered electrically to the sleeping position. If you lock it halfway down, you can also use the seating group below with its two opposite longitudinal bench seats as a bed, so that four campers can sleep on board.
Four people can travel in the Challenger X 150 while it is in motion. The driver and front passenger sit on their pilot chairs, and two further seats facing the direction of travel can be folded out of the two sofas. They are equipped with three-point belts and reclining backrests, so the passengers in the second row are comfortable and safe. Unthinkable in Corona times, but certainly an incentive to buy in the future: If all seats are included, an entire handball team can take a seat around the rectangular, fold-out table. Only the trainer has to stay in front of the door or sit on the lid of the cassette toilet in the spacious bathroom in the rear.
Lots of storage space
In the wet cell - it stretches across the entire width of the vehicle - a cleverly designed folding washbasin provides space; it can be locked with the door of the wardrobe installed in front of it when showering or using the toilet. Opposite is another storage cabinet that is also accessible from the outside, which is good for the safe transport of camping tables and chairs, and a variable shelving system inside makes it possible to adapt to the equipment you have taken with you.
The space up to the seating area is filled by the galley with a gas cooker, sink and a 134 liter refrigerator. Its door is hinged on both sides and opens to the left or right as required. The entrance door to the living area is also pleasing, it not only has a deep entry, but is centrally locked together with the doors in the driver's cab by radio. In any case, the equipment of the Challenger X 150 is not bad. In the “Opening Edition” offered at the market launch there is a panorama roof over the driver's seats, blinds and fly screens on all windows and on the entrance door, as well as a TV preparation with a stop. The base vehicle will have air conditioning, light alloy wheels and electrically adjustable and heated exterior mirrors, among other things.
Increased security and convenience in packages
Extras such as a satellite TV system or an awning are not available from the factory; the customer has to have them installed by the dealer. Nevertheless, the combo can be upgraded with packages. In the automatic pack, it is already suspected, the ZF automatic with nine gear ratios and the powerful Fiat engine with 160 PS (118 kW) are included, for which an extra 5000 euros are due. The series models have the manual six-speed gearbox and the four-cylinder diesel with 140 hp (103 kW). The Connect equipment brings a DAB radio with touchscreen and a hands-free facility for 1100 euros on board, the safety package finally extends the equipment for 1500 euros to include assistants such as anti-collision protection, light and rain sensors, automatic high beam, traffic sign recognition and the Blind spot monitoring and lane change assistant.
Those who want to take their bicycles with them on vacation must also try the dealer. Due to the lack of a rear garage, the bikes can only be transported on a carrier on the rear wall. This was already the case with a similar concept, which is now around 20 years old. Bürstner's Brevio motorhome came onto the market with a similar approach. However, it could not really prevail. Not least because the manufacturer was unable to cure Brevio's teething troubles.
There is probably no reason to fear that the more complex structure of the Combo X 150 will suffer from water ingress. Challenger sold 1,650 motorhomes in Germany last year. The combo should boost sales properly. Interested parties still have to be patient. The market launch will not take place until autumn. (ampnet / mk)
