RV News: KZ’s New Toy Hauler, a Super C From Newmar, and More News From Elkhart

It has been a very busy week in the RV industry, to say the least. With most of the top recreational vehicle manufacturers and brands on hand at the annual Open House event taking place in Elkhart, Indiana, there has been a steady stream of news and announcements to cover. With that in mind, we’re going to jump right in, as there is a lot to catch up on.

Photo Credit: THOR/Harbinger

• THOR Unveils Hybrid Class A with 500-Mile Range: Perhaps the most intriguing story of the week was revealed on Monday, when THOR announced that its long-gestating partnership with EV manufacturer Harbinger was starting to pay dividends. In Elkhart this week, the two companies showed off the “THOR Test Vehicle,” a prototype Class A model built on a hybrid gas and electric chassis. The rig reportedly has a range of up to 500 miles and has lower emissions compared to a traditional motor coach. The new chassis will reportedly start arriving on production models in 2025. Pricing will be announced at a later date. Read our full report here.
• KZ RV Launches New Sportster X Toy Hauler: One of the many new RVs unveiled in Elkhart this week was the all-new Sportster X fifth-wheel toy hauler from KZ. Completely redesigned from the ground up, this rig replaces KZ’s previous Sportster line. Depending on the floorplan, this model comes with an 11′ – 15′ garage for securely transporting ATVs, motorcycles, and side-by-sides. In keeping with modern toy haulers, the rear ramp converts into a patio, with other features including power awnings with LED lights, pass through storage with three access points, and an indoor/outdoor JBL sound system. Find out more here.

Photo Credit: Newmar

• Newmar has a New Super C: Luxury motor coach manufacturer Newmar also had a few new toys to show off in Elkhart. Among them was a brand new Super C model dubbed the Grand Star. This vehicle ranges in size from 34′ – 39′ and is built on an S2RV chassis with 360 horsepower, 800 pound-feet of torque, and a towing capacity of 12,000 pounds. Other notable features include an 8,000W generator, an 18-cubic-foot residential refrigerator, and an outdoor entertainment center. Watch the Newmar website for the full reveal, including pricing and availability.
• THOR Reveals Super C Models Of Its Own: Speaking of Super Cs, THOR had a couple of its own models to share with Open House attendees as well. The RV manufacturer had the latest editions of its Omni and Magnitude line on hand, with some solid updates coming for 2025. The all-new Omni TRAIL S29 floorplan comes with an electric queen-size Murphy bed, a leatherette sofa, and a dream dinette. Meanwhile, the Magnitude GRAND L35 ships with a standard queen bed, theater seating, and the option for up to 500W of solar power.

Photo Credit: THOR

• THOR Brings Affordable Class C Models to Elkhart, Too: THOR is dominating the headlines this week, with yet another story of new RVs. In addition to its groundbreaking prototype hybrid and Super C models, the company also revealed a couple of standard Class C rigs in the form of its ESpec line of vehicles. What’s “ESpec,” you ask? Good question. It actually stands for “Essential Specifications,” which in THOR parlance translates to “budget friendly.” In Elkhart, the motor coach manufacturer showed three specific models—the Four Winds ESpec 19Z, the Chateau ESpec Essential 21Z, and the Quantum ESpec Essential LZ22.  In each case, these motorhomes take an “everything you need, nothing you don’t” approach, delivering outstanding value for buyers.
• Aliner Shows Off 2025 Models: A-frame pop-up trailer manufacturer Aliner was on hand in Elkhart to show off its line of 2025 models. Those include the Evolution 12, 15, 15 Twin Bed and the all-new Evolution LG models. New additions to the line include a 12V mini-fridge, a flush-mounted glass-top stove, additional solar ports on all Evolution 15 models, and the option to upgrade to a second 185W solar panel. The Evolution LG will have those same options, while also offering a larger, more spacious floorplan, a bigger galley kitchen, and more countertop space. Watch the Aliner website where more information on this interesting towable should be coming soon.

Truma Combi Eco

• Truma Brings Gasoline Powered Combi Offering to North America: Not all of the news comes from major RV brands this week. Truma also made headlines by announcing that it is bringing its Combi G water heater/furnace to the North American market. What makes this one different from the other Combi products currently available? For starters, it delivers the same level of efficiency and performance but uses gasoline as a fuel source rather than diesel. The system also comes with a built-in high-altitude kit, allowing it to automatically adjust its settings when you’re high in the Rockies or some other mountain range. Look for the new Truma Combi G to arrive soon.
• Prevost Celebrates a Century of Making Luxury RVs: Congratulations to our friends at Prevost, who this week celebrated 100 years of designing luxury recreational vehicles. The company was founded in 1924 by Eugene Prevost, who originally built wooden coach bodies on the chassis of flatbed trucks. In the decades that followed, the Prevost brand faced numerous challenges, adapting to changing trends and technologies. Today, it is known for making some of the most upscale motorhomes to ever hit the road, offering unmatched quality and design. Happy 100th birthday, and here’s to many more. Find out more about Prevost, its history, and its legacy with its fantastic “100 Years, 100 Stories” webpage.

Image Courtesy of Black_Kira/Getty

• Solid-State Battery Prototypes Improve Energy Storage by 25%: In tech news that could eventually impact the RV space, Engadget reports that new prototype solid-state batteries are showing tremendous potential. This type of power cell uses solid electrolytes as compared to liquid electrolytes found in the most common batteries in use today. The benefits that this brings to the table include reduced weight, improved safety, faster recharging, and more. For example, the latest models referenced in the Engadget article have 25% more storage capacity compared to their lithium-based counterparts at a lower cost. That means future RVs equipped with solid-state house batteries could camp off-grid for longer. Read the Engadget story to get the full scoop.
• RVTV is Now on DirecTV Streaming Service: RVTV has been around for a few years now, but in a demonstration of the continued growth in interest in RV travel and camping, the network is now available on DirecTV’s streaming service. This partnership will provide RVTV with its broadest reach ever, potentially connecting with millions more people. This is a big win for the service while bringing more content to DTV users. Read more at RV Pro.

Whew! That’s it for this week. Swing back by next Friday for another round-up of the latest news from the RV and camping industry.

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