by Ed Davies
With the Motorhome and Caravan Show firmly behind us it is time to take an in depth look at the new innovations in Swift’s motorhomes this year
Although, not quite so invasive as in 2016 there are still several tweaks and upgrades throughout the fleet to peak our interests.
Kon-tiki
The iconic flagship in Swift’s motorhome fleet, like several of its counterparts, goes forward to 2017 largely unchanged.
The five models from the previous year go into the next but with certain changes such as a new Fiat Euro 6 engine and 150bhp output as standard.
There are four Kon-Tiki four-berths making up the bulk of the range, including the 625 – front dinette/rear island bed – the 635 – front dinette/fixed twin single beds – the 669 – tag-axle, front dinette/rear island bed – and the 679 – tag-axle, front dinette/transverse rear bed.
The one six-berth in the line-up is the tag-axle overcab 649, which sports a front dinette and rear lounge.
Although primarily low-line coachbuilts, the 669 and 679 can be ordered as high-lines with overcab beds offering two extra berths.
For 2017, Swift Kon-Tiki interiors benefit from a new soft furnishing scheme and a leather upholstery option, called Winchester Stone.
Escape
The most wide-ranging revamp in the Swift line-up is reserved for its biggest seller, the Escape, which has seen six new models added to the fleet.
All eight Escapes are low line-profiles and have been given a new glass reinforced polyester overcab pod design.
Each model is constructed on a Fiat Ducato Chassis, with a Euro 6 130 bhp engine coming as standard.
Last season’s two-berth 622 and four-berth 664 are carried forward but joining them are four four-berths – the front lounge/end washroom 614, end lounge/front dinette 674, front lounge/rear twin single beds 684 and front lounge/island bed 694.
Families are well catered for by six-berths 685 – front dinette/rear lounge – and the 695 – front lounge/rear bunks.
Manually operated drop-down beds are offered as options to boost sleeping spaces in the 674, 684 and 694.
The new-look Escape has smart blue side graphics, interior and exterior walls in GRP plus a new one-piece full-height GRP back panel.
Interiors get a boost with a new overhead locker design and finish with white cupboard doors. New Nova soft furnishings and the provision of LED lighting throughout ramps up lounging and sleeping comfort.
Swift Bolero
Following major surgery last year, there are only a few changes to the Swift Bolero, with 2016’s debutant, the two-berth 612EK, getting the chop.
Four Boleros make the cut this year, all of which get the Euro 6 engine and the new Ritz soft furnishings scheme inside.
The optional Vogue pack is retained, which would add air con, cruise control, a twin-view reversing camera and TV aerial.
All models are four-berths, containing four travel seats or a lounge option, with their chassis heavier than 3500kg.
The models comprise of the 684FB – a front dinette/rear French bed; 3700kg chassis, the 714SB – front dinette/fixed twin single beds; 4250kg chassis, the 724FB – front dinette/rear French bed/end washroom; 4250kg chassis and the 744PR – front dinette/rear lounge; 4250kg chassis.
The 684FB comes with a 130bhp power output as standard but for the other three models, 150bhp is preferred.
As last year, parallel lounges are available in lieu of dinettes in the 684FB, 714SB and 724FB, making them two-berth vans with two travel seats.
As with every model in the Swift Motorhomes stable the Bolero comes backed up by a ten-year water ingress warranty, for added peace of mind.
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Bessacarr
There are limited changes this year to the Bessacarr range as the same eight models roll over again but with tweaks and upgrades here and there.
The Fiat Ducato’s new Euro 6 engines lead the changes, supported by a full glass reinforced polyester roof.
Interiors get what Swift calls “Moonlight” soft furnishings and Dometic CU600 ovens for improved efficiency, but a standout addition is the arrival of Alde wet central heating.
The optional Lux Pack adds cab air con, cruise control and a TV aerial.
The range comprises of three two-berths – the front parallel lounge/end kitchen 412, the front lounge/end washroom 442, and the end-lounge 462.
Four four-berths are offered: the front dinette/end washroom 424, front dinette/French bed 454, front dinette/elevating rear bed over garage 484 and front dinette/rear transverse island bed 494.
With the exception of the 494, which rides on a 3700kg chassis, and the six-berth, 4250kg chassis 496 (front dinette with drop-down bed/rear lounge), all Bessacarr motorhomes are based on 3500kg chassis.
If not required, buyers can specify parallel lounge seating in lieu of the dinette in the 454, 484 and 494 models, making them two-berth, two-travel-seat motorhomes.
Autocruise Select
It is all change for 2017 in the Swift Autocruise Select range, with the four models from last year carried through to the current season.
The four models have new names, a new basic standard spec and have a starting price of £36,490 OTR.
The idea is that buyers can start from scratch and build their own bespoke Autocruise motorhome from option packs covering base vehicle and living area upgrades.
This new Select line-up is based on the Fiat Ducato with the latest 2.3-litre, 115bhp Euro 6 engines.
There are two 5.99m-long units, on 3300kg chassis – the rear lounge two-berth 122 and rear lounge/front dinette two-berth 144.
The two-berth French bed 164 and two-berth twin-lounge 184 both measure 6.36m long and are 3500kg. Extra berths and travel seats can be specified in the 144, 164 and 184.
The base specification includes swivelling cab seats, electric cab windows, a radio/MP3 player and key fob locking.
The living areas get vinyl floor coverings, soft furnishings, and 4kW Truma Combi space and water heating.
Kitchens are fitted with two-burner hobs and sinks, plus 50-litre Waeco compressor fridges.
Washrooms have all the necessities, and the Swift Command digital control panel is standard kit.
Swift Rio
In terms of models, the Swift Rio is unchanged for next season’s line-up and sees only minor detail improvements.
Just as last year there are three two-berths; the 310, which has a front dinette/end washroom, the 320 with its rear lounge and the front dinette/elevating rear transverse bed and the 325.
The one four-berth model is the 340, which has a front dinette and a rear lounge.
All models were built on the Fiat Ducato with 130bhp Euro 6 engines, on 3500kg chassis.
Rio has been bumped up to black edition status, with metallic black cabs and new graphics.
Enhanced SMART Plus construction continues its roll-out and Swift Command also features in the new Rio.
As elsewhere in Swift’s coachbuilt portfolio, Rio bodyshells are now full glass reinforced polyester, thanks to new sidewalls with inner and outer GRP skins.
Inside, soft furnishings are upgraded to Cordone, while curtains are ditched in favour of contemporary looking window surrounds with a honeycomb design.
Drop-down beds in Rio models are now manually operated, as is standard across Swift Group’s vans.
Kitchens benefit from the Dometic CU600 oven, which offers better performance and less noise during transit, and which debuted in last year’s Bolero and Kon-Tiki.
Under the ‘vans, Rio models also benefit from electronic fresh and waste water tank drain valves. As before, the optional Lux Pack brings cab air con, cruise control and a TV aerial into the Rio.
