The Multivan is one of VW’s campervans. Unlike the California, however, it does not have a pop-up roof. So German van fitter SpaceCamper decided to give it one. This pop-up roof is surprisingly large. When open, it reaches a height of 2.6 metres and, more importantly, has a span that is almost as wide as the vehicle’s rear-view mirrors. This width allows it to accommodate a 200 cm x 140 cm transverse bed and 700 litres of storage space. Because this pop-up roof doesn’t have to be closed when you’re driving. According to the team behind this new pop-up roof concept (we haven’t had a chance to see it on the road yet), you can drive at speeds of up to 120 km/h with the roof up. However, we won’t have the chance to try it out for a few months yet, as this pop-up roof prototype is due to be distributed from 2026 onwards.

Between the pop-up roof and the roof tent

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At first glance, the design of this pop-up roof is surprisingly similar to that of a roof tent. At 2.6 m high, it’s not far off the height of a van, to which you add the height of the roof bars and a roof tent. Unlike the roof tent, however, the SpaceCamper Roof is accessed from inside the vehicle, via the VW Multivan’s 80 cm x 100 cm sunroof. This eliminates the need to climb up the outside ladder of a roof tent. A plus when it rains. An advantage over a roof tent. The other advantage is that the roof can be folded down. While it’s great to be able to drive around with the roof up, so you don’t have to stow the bed, the SpaceCamper Roof can be folded down. This reduces the height of the vehicle from 2.6 m to 2 m, giving you access to underground car parks or car parks where vehicles taller than 2 metres are not allowed. It’s also great for those who drive long distances and want to reduce fuel consumption. When the camping season is over, the SpaceCamper Roof, like the roof tent, can be dismantled and stored until the warm weather returns. Although we have only seen a prototype for the moment, we are impatient and curious to see this new concept arrive on campsites in France and elsewhere.

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Derived from the SpaceTourer, the exterior of Citroën’s new van takes on the silhouette and colour of the legendary Type H, thanks to the work of Italian coachbuilder Caselani, while retaining the comfort and technology of today’s vehicles. For the interior, Citroën turned to Slovenian interior designer Bravia. The Type Holidays has a pop-up roof that allows you to stand upright in the vehicle, and offers sleeping accommodation for two, a bench that opens to form a bed, two side doors, a kitchenette and a folding table.

A diesel-powered van

While Stellantis, Citroën’s parent company, has already announced the discontinuation of certain vehicles such as the Berlingo and SpaceTourer in petrol or diesel mode, the Type Holidays will be offered in two diesel versions (a 145 bhp 2.0 BlueHDi in manual mode, and a 180 bhp 2.0 BlueHDi in automatic mode).

With its blend of retro design and modern technology, the all-new Type H is sure to win over its audience. There is one small downside, however: its price. We’ll have to wait until it goes on sale in early 2024 to find out the final price, but initial rumours suggest a figure of around €90,000. A relatively high price compared with the competition. Will the vintage charm be enough to take the plunge? The answer will be in the first half of 2024. Citroën hopes to deliver the first models before the summer of 2024. So we should be seeing a few of them on French campsites.

Type Holidays on the Citroën website.

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The festival is open to visitors for one day, but you can also camp on site if you wish and take part in the various activities by entering your Combi in the parade, for example.

Camping places or entrance tickets can be booked on the VW Bus Festival website for €29 for the 3-day festival. Additional people will have to pay 15€ (for over 18s) or 7€ for 6-17s (free for under 6s). Visitors will be charged €5 for the day.

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Festive weekend in Brissac

If you have equipment or even a van to sell, this year there will be a second-hand market area where buyers and sellers can meet.

In addition to the exhibition, the Camper Van Weekend is also a festive event with three days of music at the We Love Van festival. 9 bands will take turns on stage during the 3 days of the weekend. You can find all the information about the Camper Van Weekend on the website www.camper-van-week-end.fr.

Campsites around Brissac

The festival offers a campsite for those who wish to sleep on site. However, if you prefer a little more peace and quiet, we have a selection of campsites with pitches for caravans, tents, motorhomes and vans around Brissac.

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CampervanCo is a Scottish van fitter that was founded in the year 2000. A few years ago, the company made its mark with the first hybrid van with low greenhouse gas emissions. This model paved the way for the brand new fully electric van that was launched in February. With zero CO2 emissions, CampervanCo is several years ahead of the British government’s expectations, which have set a target of no more polluting vehicles by 2030.

Like its predecessor, this new model is designed on a Japanese base. It is in fact a Toyota that serves as its support. The roof is covered with 930 watt solar panels which, according to the manufacturer, should power the lights, induction hob, heater or fridge for several days without having to be plugged into the mains. The Scottish manufacturer has also taken its environmental credentials to the extreme. In order to avoid owners having to buy a second vehicle, CampervanCO has opted for a very flexible van that encourages multi-use. The Toyota Proace Eco REVOLUTION can easily be converted from a 4-seater van to a 7-seater MPV by removing the kitchen. A very practical idea for people who do not have the budget to afford a fully equipped van and a vehicle for everyday use.

When it comes to electric vehicles, the subject that always comes up at some point is range. This is probably where the problem lies. The Scottish manufacturer announces a range of 230 km to 330 km depending on the battery model chosen (50kWh or 75kWh). Since these figures are those announced on the Toyota website for its standard vehicle, this range should probably be revised slightly downwards with the weight of the interior equipment of its version equipped with a lifting roof. It’s a relatively short range, but one that lends itself well to those who like to take their time on holiday. It also makes it necessary to go to campsites with a charging station for electric vehicles in order to stop over.

This vehicle is priced at £69,995 or approximately €80,000.

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For several years now, the van has been a real hit and now occupies several halls at the show. This year, however, the influence of vans seems to have spread to motorhomes and vans. And even to caravans. In fact, the folding roof, which is typical of converted vans, is now appearing on a number of larger vans as well as on some motorhomes. Bürstner, for example, used the Düsseldorf Caravan Salon to present its new Lyseo Gallery motorhome. The latter had already been successful, as the prototype that was to be presented at the CMT in Stuttgart last January (cancelled due to Covid) won several awards for its innovative design. It was the first official release for the newcomer of the Franco-German brand. And judging by the queues to visit the interior of the two models presented, the latter seems to have seduced the German public. Thanks to a system of pneumatic cylinders, the Lyseo Gallery folds and unfolds. When driving, this reduces the vehicle’s wind resistance and increases its aerodynamics. When stationary, the canopy can be folded up and provides a real “upstairs” extra room.

Luxury motorhome with pop-up roof from Hymer premieres at the Düsseldorf Caravan Salon

Hymer also brought a motorhome concept to life at the Düsseldorf Caravan Salon. Visitors to the show were able to see the first models of the Venture S, a luxury two-person motorhome based on a Mercedes Sprinter off-roader. With its living room that opens up to the outside world via the tailgate, this Hymer motorhome offers an attractive design. Like the Lyseo, it also has a pop-up roof. Here the pop-up roof is made of a pneumatic fabric that inflates in a few minutes. This has the advantage of protecting against noise, light and temperature fluctuations. Once in place, it offers a pleasant sleeping area that can be accessed via an integrated staircase. The two Venture S motorhome models presented at the Düsseldorf Caravan Salon were a great success with the Germans who queued up to see them. However, there must have been more curious people than buyers in the queues. The Venture S is indeed offered for sale at more than €200,000!

A pop-up roof on the Hobby Beachy Air caravan

Last year, it seduced us at the Düsseldorf show. The Beachy from Hobby is still as nice as ever. And this year, the German caravan brand has taken its dynamic-looking caravan a step further with the prototype of the new Beachy Air. Very similar to the other models, with an opening at the rear that opens the living room to the outside, this one also has the originality of having a folding roof. However, there is no question of sleeping here. The pop-up roof “just” increases the height of the caravan inside. It must be said that this caravan has been specially designed for electric vehicles. It is therefore lighter (500 kg) and less high than the traditional Beachy (1.98 m compared to 2.65 m). These dimensions allow it to be towed by an electric vehicle. At the Düsseldorf show, it was presented with an ID Buzz, VW’s electric combi.

Small is beautiful: mini caravans are becoming increasingly fashionable

While the Düsseldorf show is still all about XXL motorhomes with a hall dedicated to luxury vehicles that you can park a car inside, at the other end of the market, mini-caravans are increasingly present in the aisles of the Düsseldorf exhibition centre. While some brands have been around for years, this year’s edition of 2022 has seen some newcomers such as the surprising mini caravan from Latvian company Forma Campers. We will have the opportunity to take a closer look at this model in the coming months.

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Our campsites in France for caravanning

A caravan inspired by vans

It’s all in the name. The BiVan draws its inspiration from the vans from which it borrows the interior layout with a rear bench and two armchairs facing each other. The pleasant double side door is a tribute to the Volkswagen T1 combi offered by Westfalia in the 1950s. This heritage is hardly surprising. Before embarking on this project, Vincent Clédic was a salesman in the field of leisure vans. The BiVan has retained the folding roof of the vans, which has two advantages. Raised, it increases the ceiling height considerably. When lowered, it offers a very spacious bed of 160 cm x 200 cm. Combined with the bench seat, which converts into a 140 cm x 190 cm bed, this bed makes it possible for 4 people to go on a camping holiday in the BiVan. Perfect for families with two children. This caravan has a serious eye on the vans, but its interior space is greater than that of a conventional van. The space is used to install a bathroom and a chemical toilet.

A caravan that is easy to set up

The inspiration for the BiVan also comes from the American tear drops with a rear axle. This makes the use of rear kickstands unnecessary, as the jockey wheel completes the holding of the caravan. Two jacks at the front ensure that the trailer is levelled if necessary. This means that the caravan is quickly in place on the stage.

A caravan designed for camping holidays in all seasons

Thanks to its insulated cell, double-glazed windows and Truma heating with three outlets (two under the rear seat and one in the bathroom), the BiVan caravan remains comfortable even in spring or early autumn. Velcro fasteners are fitted to the pop-up roof cover so that an insulating cover can be attached and the BiVan can be used as for winter caravanning.

A 100% French caravan (or almost)

The Bivoak company that produces the BiVan is located in Ploeren, Brittany, not far from Auray. A large part of its components are therefore designed in Brittany, such as the furniture and the canvas. The electronics and the polyester cell come from Vendée and the chassis from Cherbourg. The only exception to the 100% French rule is the folding roof bed, which is made in Germany.

Prices and technical data

The BiVan has a starting price of €27,800. The full option version that we saw on the Camper Van Weekend is priced at €37,000. The options include a 150 W solar panel, embroidered and quilted leatherette upholstery and the Trum Combi 4E heater.

Length : 5,14 m
Width : 1,95 m
Height : 1,89 m
Weight : 900 kg
GVWR : 1200 kg

All in all, the BiVan caravan is very appealing with its pleasant interior space and original exterior design. As it made its first official appearance, two orders have already been placed with Bivoak. A good start as the two designers hope to sell ten of them in this first year. Given the curiosity aroused during the Camper Van Weekend, it’s a safe bet that they will succeed. While waiting to be able to try it on the road or to see it on the campsites, it is possible to discover it in the Bivoak workshop in Ploeren in Morbihan. However, it is advisable to let us know when you are coming. You will find the contact details of Bivoak on the website www.bivoak.fr.

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