Bürstner Aviano i640G

Flies like a bird

Words and photos by John Page

Notable for excitement and colour with the shape of their Motorhomes, Burstner believe that such details are important – to attract in the first place and to establish a clear identity as a leisure vehicle. And if you look at the shape you won’t mistake it for a coach or a tank. There is more to it than that though because apart from being a head-turner the superb lines are instrumental in reducing noise and drag to make the journey great and the fuel consumption as niggardly as possible. Camper UK of Lincoln made the Aivano available to us for a full live-in test with all systems go, after first taking the trouble to explain in detail the essence of what i 640 G was all about and equally important how everything operated.Within a modest hull of 6.79m length the interior is unexpectedly spacious to accommodate a bedroom with twin single divans, galley and washroom ’midships and lounge/diner for four to sup comfortably. Loading up the garage was handy for all of our outdoor gear and baggage etc while noticing that the door to it and the locks were immaculately fitted and the interior complete with anchorage points for whatever two-wheeled contrivances you take along. Also of note, the good accessibility of the drainage taps for the heater/boiler. Such attention to detail is interesting especially if it typifies the complete approach.
Construction

From the ground up it is a long wheelbase Fiat Motorhome chassis cowl with wide track rear wheels on which Burstner locate the streamlined GRP and aluminium body. There is now a complete integrated structure which is where the ‘i’ of the type comes in. The numerals 640 are a loose description of the interior length and finally ‘G’ of course denotes garage. It’s worth studying the front shape of the vehicle for the beautifully sloped shape of the bonnet and windscreen and overall exceptional visibility mobile or stationary. Flat panels of the body are of aluminium; shaped ones are all of GRP. So what is the secret of the spacious interior?  Firstly the wide Fiat chassis allows a wider than standard body; the A-Class shape adds a lot more cubic space than is possible building on a chassis cab and what is virtually an open plan layout exploits the advantage of the previous points.A Sycamore wood grain effect of the furniture was interesting, as were roof lockers with hidden catches that closed or stayed securely and never rattled. All the exterior access doors were also notable for the good quality locks from a single key. If you notice the shot of the control panel you will be looking at one of the very best for information with the utmost simplicity. Instant readings for ambient and internal temperature, states of both water tanks and both batteries, the time and on/off for the plumbing. No manual needed. Imaginative and attractive lighting had LED fittings for the lounge and both bedrooms and tungsten fittings for the galley and the washroom.First class Blaupunkt radio reception was via speakers on the underside of the drop down beds and the lounge roof lockers. Floor coverings of a planked effect vinyl with removable carpets are the finishing touch.
ON THE ROAD

Driving and testing Motorhomes now for better than three decades it becomes almost second nature to get acclimatised in a new vehicle quickly and fortunately there’s no doubt that the Motorhome of 2009 is a world away from perhaps the Commer Highwayman of yesteryear. However we haven’t reached perfection yet and standards still vary, regarding visibility to front and back, position of the handbrake, efficacy of the sun visors, simplicity of radio controls and warmth in severe weather, to name just a few items. In this regard Fiat and Burstner have done a great job on all of those points plus first class armrests, so within a few minutes I was settled nicely to sally forth. It got better, piloting a Motorhome that felt exceptionally stable, and a whole lot quieter than I expected. Great rear view mirrors with no blind spots due to the flat sides as well as an unbelievable 180o + field of view with the help of the deep side windows. For the slanting pillars to the windscreen I’ve no proof of this but logic suggests they would be less likely to cause blind spots than the alternative more common vertical type. Firmly supportive, specialist cab seats were the icing on the cake. Under the bonnet 130bhp of Fiat turbo diesel technology powering through six speeds has to be more than enough to cruise effortlessly at anywhere up to the legal limit and considerably more when it doesn’t apply. Worthy of note is that Fiat quote their 320Nm of torque spread from 2000 to 3000rpm for this 130 Multijet motor which is an impressive range to delight all those who are intent on seeing the countryside rather than blasting through it.There were virtually no extraneous noises off externally or internally all of which keeps the stress levels low; a tribute to the aerodynamics and sturdy build quality for the conversion proper. There’s more though – the modest rear overhang, intelligent weight distribution and the anti roll bars front and back.  So if you’re not a happy bunny at the wheel of Aviano i 640 G, try getting out of bed the other side.Cab air con, a decent Blaupunkt radio, cruise control and the passenger airbag are further essentials to make the going great. Rear passengers will certainly appreciate engine sourced heating in the winter and lastly a 13.5m turning circle will prove its worth on the country lane that shouldn’t be there.
THAT CERTAIN STYLE

One of the many advantages of A-Class living is the minimum effort needed to change from transportation mode to laid back living mode. Turn on the gas to make the essential cuppas, plug into the electrical circuit and rotate the crew seats. There may be a little hassle from your neighbours demanding to know which planet this fantastic machine came from but you’ll get used to it. Maybe my snaps will give some idea of what the interior feels like but they simply can’t compare to enjoying the real thing and enjoying the countryside through that curve of panoramic windscreen.  Upholstery fabric is in faux leather, warmer than leather to the touch and tough as old boots for the driving and the passenger seats. In three autumn shades it goes well with the Sycamore style furniture. Tables for this type of lounge plan come in a variety of shapes, sizes and practicality. This one, generously wide, is absolutely firm in use with a superb sturdy extension that swings into place with the release of one spring knob. The best so far bar none. We had no intention of using the heating with the temperature at 28oC when oddly enough a torrential downpour one evening dramatically lowered the temperature. So, switching on the heater as an experiment it raised the interior by 4oC in less than 20-minutes.
Sleeping

Five vertically pleated blinds for the windscreen and side windows slid into place without hassle to complete front end privacy although I confess to being slightly worried about the fact that as the pair for the windscreen slid horizontally into place, would there be even the slightest possibility of them coming loose from the their anchorage on the move?Although not intentional, circumstances (the wrong sleeping gear) dictated we tried three different possible sleeping options. First the drop down bed from above the cab, with a safety strap to release before tilting cab seat backrests forward and lowering the bed into position with very little effort. A cotton bed surround was snug; the LED spotlights were fine and the wooden ladder clipped safely in place. Climbing up or coming down it’s a good idea to decide first whether to be facing forward or backwards.The rear singles are the Crème de la Crème if you like the concept and the access steps are ideal if you’re a bit shaky. If on the other hand you prefer to arrange the cushions for a double it’s a simple matter to slot the extra mattress between the singles and sleep crosswise. Again spacious and comfortable but needing a little athleticism to spring up onto the bed and lower yourself down again. The last option was our preferred choice.
KITCHEN

Good planning from the designer has achieved a great deal within a relatively compact space. True, a wider expanse of worktop might have been useful but washing vegetables in the sink first with the hob top down before putting the sink top into place is how my crew managed. The fridge, oven and implement drawers under the worktop were handy as were the shelves on the wall behind the sink. Non-perishable foodstuffs and various tins and packets occupied the roof lockers, alongside the crockery. Cooking pans and some of the bulkier food cartons were within arms reach in a storage compartment to the right of the sink. Very trendy was a fridge sporting a polished mirror front and blue lighting inside – and ventilation was possible from the window at back of the hob and a quality screened roof ventilator strategically placed for removing the inevitable cooking vapours.

WASHROOM

Using the basic equipment seen in our washroom snap was fine, and the wash basin swings easily to one side when needed. To create the shower cubicle the wall panel behind the basin swings forward and extends to enclose the toilet and form what becomes a creditable shower space. It’s all very clever and yet practical with concealed shelf units behind the rear walls. We liked the planking effect of the walls, the very generous stowing places, and good mirrors. Also appreciated was the generous size of the wash basin and the theatrical lighting set up.

STOWAGE

Fabulous, starting with the garage and the way it was arranged for easy access to service the heater. Inside the cab area to the right of the drivers seat there were several useful places to stash maps, documents and so forth and beneath the dashboard there were more of the same. In the bedroom a wardrobe and shelf space under the bed bases are easy of access. Folded clothes have space in roof lockers above the dining area and above the single bed heads. Siting the gas locker at about chest height will make the changing of gas cylinders easier than it would be at a lower level. Lastly a small but important point – was the flexible waste pipe supplied to connect to the sensibly placed waste tank outlet.

Summary

Close acquaintance with i 640 G has been a real pleasure, from the moment of turning the ignition key, to the time several days later, when we reluctantly handed it back to the enthusiastic team at Hykeham. It’s not surprising that they are keen on the brand because as the i 640 G proved Burstner know their onions as Motorhome makers. Building an A-Class vehicle is more complex than any other type of Motorhome simply because the original chassis cowl has no superstructure to latch onto. The framework therefore and the way it is bonded to the chassis is of crucial importance. Driving the machine, from the word go, the rigidity of the integral shell is something you feel through the seat of your pants, and by the lack of or the presence of noises that shouldn’t be there. This was one quiet driving machine that felt right. Add to that a commanding view for the Captain and you have the wherewithal to keep the driver relaxed and in full control. There is a similar feeling of calm created inside from the way things work and the friendly feel of your surroundings. Lockers, locks, lights, ventilators and everything else all work smoothly as the designers intended. There is also of course the shape of the machine, like a boat or an aircraft dedicated to smoothing the passage through the elements and looking great as a result. Enough already this is a splendid example of the A-Class idea.From a basic price of £61,680 the addition of; the paint job, the alloys, cab air con. heater to the living area for travel, cruise control, the cab door and the Chassis and Winter Packs, take it to £64,995. There’s competition in this class from France, Germany and Italy, against which the i 640 G has all its guns firing.