2001 The Flyer takes a peep at the Fleetwood models for 2002

The 2002 Fleetwood caravans unveiled to dealers and the trade press in late August represents what the company believes to be just the start of the most exciting period of development in its history.

There are 12 models in the three ranges, including one completely new range offering two-berth and family layouts, three new layouts, and a new look to the exterior and interior of every van.

You have to go back to earlier this year when Fleetwood launched its exclusive Island range to commemorate the company’s 35th anniversary.  Production was limited to four models based around the Colchester specification but with added extras including gas barbecue point, external locker box and mains power socket, a warm air outlet for the awning, wrap around armrests, domestic style locker hinges, and a revised end bathroom layout.

Based on a build of 100 units, 90 per cent of the Islands were sold by the end of June and all of them had been taken up by the beginning of August.

The Java model, a four-berth end bathroom was described by Caravan Magazine as “the best Fleetwood we have seen for years.”

Much of what was seen in the Island models has been incorporated in the Colchester range, and to a lesser extent the Heritage range, for 2002.

NEW SONATA RANGE

The Countryside is no longer being produced.  The brand has been re-badged as SONATA and is offered in four layouts representing lightweight design aligned to a high specification.

The range as follows:

Serenade: a 4m two-berth with twin singles/large double facility and an end kitchen.

Harmony: a 4.5m family five-berth with a double bed facility at the forward end and an “L” shaped seating arrangement at the rear.  The latter converts to a double bed with a single Pullman bunk over; centre kitchen, centre toilet.

Rhapsody: the traditional 5m four-berth with an end washroom.  Twin singles with a double facility at the front.  Centre dinette with a Pullman bunk over.  Large kitchen area with ample work surfaces.

Melody: the archetypal 5m five-berth family tourer.  Twin bed/double bed facility at the forward end; seating/double bed with Pullman bunk over at the rear.  Centre kitchen.  Centre washroom.

Sonata features include

• Large Remis tilt and slide sunroof
• 77-litre Electrolux fridge with full width freezer
• Additional Truma warm air heating vent to interior (three in total)
• Domestic style roof locker stays
• Exterior graphics linked to Sonata theme name and logo

THE COLCHESTER RANGE

The Colchester models include all the features and innovations of the Island range with a few additions as well.  The 380-2 has been dropped and replaced by the 420-2, a 4.5m end kitchen, two-berth layout.  The main features of this layout are the kitchen, the larger wardrobe and the use of storage areas.

The Colchester 450-2EB, 500-4EB, 500-5L, 500-4ES and 560-4 are all being retained for 2002, but there has been continued development of the folding down bed area at the rear of the Colchester 500-4ES.

‘Z-bed’ feature

Fleetwood launched the drop-down bed for 2001, a layout providing the benefits of an immediate large double bed facility without restricting the living area.  For 2002, the Colchester 500-4ES introduces the Fleetwood folding “Z-bed” with additional folding support that provides an “L” shape seating area of the same height and depth as the front seating cushions and increased ease of storage.

Colchester features include:

• Electrolux Power fridge
• Oyster sink/drainer with glass cover and concealed foldaway chrome taps
• Barbecue point
• Heating vent to the exterior
• External access storage area with integral 230v socket
• Spare wheel and tyre as standard
• 14” steel wheels

THE HERITAGE RANGE

There are just two Heritage layouts for 2002, the 500-EB and 600-ES layouts.  The Electrolux Blizzard Air Conditioning Unit will not be standard this year although every Heritage will be produced with the framing and 230v wiring to enable a retro fit.  The Karisma range cooker is replaced with the Spinflo Caprice 20.20 oven enabling the kitchen area to include a large fridge freezer/microwave stack.

Heritage features include

• Electrolux large fridge freezer stack under slot-in microwave
• Luxurious soft furnishing theme linked to graphite worktop and surfaces in the saloon area
• Radio/CD player
• Alloy wheels (14” low profile tyres)
• Spare wheel and tyre (steel) as standard
• Dimmer switch facility to the main lights

Fleetwood also announced that over the next two years, development will continue with an increasingly greater emphasis being placed on the body shell, new layouts and an entirely new range to sit above the Colchester.

The company said it was committed to the use of innovative design methods and techniques to ensure that its products continually sit alongside and above the competition at every stage.

Fleetwood Commercial Director, Richard Allen, believes the Colchester 420-2 is the best two-berth the company has produced.  He said “Our 2002 range collectively represents the greatest step forward by Fleetwood for the last 12 years.  We have widened the appeal of the model range and carried on with the steady improvement on quality started over a year ago.”