Reimo Toscana

A PEOPLE CARRIER PAR EXCELLENCE

Words and photos by John Page

This is a machine to surpass the legions of black urban tanks that wend their ponderous way through the suburban jungle every day. It is a versatile, economical camping transport and picnic vehicle all rolled into one. Italian by name, German by design and constructed at CMC of Hythe, Kent. Concept Multi-Car Ltd has been a UK agent for Reimo since 1989. It is a successful partnership between Europe’s most original design team and a small British company dedicated to service and reliability. In essence Reimo are famous throughout Europe as the company that creates original design ideas for Camper and Motorhome vehicles that are not only superbly engineered but also conform to European standards of safety. In fact Toscana is a small marvel of a Camper just 4.78m long yet equipped to give a super ride for a family of four together with the sleeping tackle, the wherewithal to prepare food and a place to eat it. For just three days in seriously cold but bright mid-winter weather Toscana was our wheels to poke around a bit in a corner of Kent where the evidence of historical events is all around. In use only for leisure activities now The Military Canal runs still from Winchelsea to Hythe built to supply the troop garrisons that would defend the area against the Napoleonic Army just across the Channel. More exciting, smuggling was a way of life although it is no longer a major industry around Romney Marsh; now fishing, sheep farming and the creation of nuclear energy are omni-present. Some of our photos were taken in the marvellous nature reserve virtually in the shadow of the looming nuclear building.

Construction

Toscana starts life as a Vauxhall Vivaro light van built alongside the almost identical Nissan Prima Star and Renault Trafic in the Vauxhall plant at Luton. Historically interesting as the CF Bedford van popular as a leisure vehicle chassis in the Seventies was also built here. 30 years ago it was a revelation with its rack and pinion steering and coil spring ifs. Compared to the Vivaro though it now rates as archaic. Why? Because technology brings us a low noise level, ride quality and performance undreamt of then. I should know I had a CF based Camper as a company car way back then.

It sounds brutal but the first step towards creating an elevating roof Camper is to cut a large hole in the roof and one on either side for the windows. The roof mechanism and roof moulding, windows and rear seat with guides are from Reimo, whereas the raw materials for the furniture are sourced in the UK. Smev of Italy makes the sink, hob and grill/warmer having a near monopoly for the cooking appliances in Europe. Super efficient and made in the UK is a dense insulating foam material used for the wall cavities and the roof moulding complemented by extra dense and therefore ultra firm foam insulation between the wooden floor and steel vehicle carcase. The insulation is also instrumental in helping to reduce the noise and vibration levels of the entire Camper. Using the available space to its best advantage is crucial to camper design, the area where the CMC/Reimo approach really shines. The key is the design engineering behind the rear seat that slides and locks to a position anywhere from just behind the cab to rearward close to the tailgate. From car to cargo carrier in seconds. Placing the seat in a midway position creates two large stowage spaces behind the seat backrest. Adjusting the seat position is a non-hassle procedure where two catches are held up to free the seat base before sliding and locking it into an alternative location.

ON THE ROAD

December, when the sun is so low in the sky that driving towards it can be quite dodgy. So the extra deep sun visors of the Vivaro and the upright position of the seat were several times better than the sort of view you get from any of today’s low slung cars. Ergonomics? Very good indeed for this total cab surround that has a place for everything and everything placed for immediate recognition and minimal fumbling. Our shot of the driver’s view gives a fair idea of the clear view for the display panels, the dashboard cowl and gearstick position. Cab seats? They have them bang to rights as well – seat squabs are comfortably wide, the shape is great and any adjustment for height, reach or backrest angle works smoothly! Ten minutes behind the wheel and you will feel you’ve known it for ages. Air con’ is all part of the package for £30,446 that also includes the radio, 115bhp CDTi motor and six-speed gearbox. On cold wet mornings the air con’ cleared the windscreen of moisture in double quick time. Achieving a smooth ride quality for what is basically a commercial vehicle is not easy but the combination of semi-independent coil springs with trailing links at the rear, anti-roll bars at both ends and Vauxhall’s version of MacPherson front springing does a great job. Noise levels at cruising speeds were certainly lower than average for this size of Camper, assisted no doubt by the dense insulation especially in the floor and the good aerodynamics of the body shape with Reimo’s close fitting elevating roof moulding that results in an overall height only 4cm higher than the standard van height.

TAKING IT EASY

Our first sight of a Toscana was at the NEC show in November last so I’ve included a shot taken there to show how pretty it can look without our clobber. We were gob-smacked then by the body design and paintwork as well as the way the interior was in harmony with it – a complete job in fact. Outdoors now, first find a picnic spot then unfasten the straps that secure the roof and give it a push upwards leaving the gas struts to extend it fully. Push the roof bed base up also on its struts to give plenty of headroom above the lounging/dining space. In warm weather we would have opened the zipped flaps in the canvas side panels. Swiveling the seats was amazing – with a gettable release lever and a quick twist round that didn’t require either of the cab doors to be opened. Sliding the rear seat well back clears the deck to create plenty of space to take things easy without falling over each other and enjoy the countryside through the opened sliding door in clement weather. With two on board everyone gets the choice of a recliner seat or double bench seat and no one would be left out in a family of four. However, experienced camper users, especially those away in Europe for a week or two, would inevitably add an awning to virtually double the living space. Four new type, low energy strip lights are well placed to cover the forward seating area and the rear of the living space at night time. The CMC table arrangements worked well, retrieving the table top from its slot behind the backrest and its angled leg from a clip behind the driver’s chair. It all slots together and swivels wherever it’s needed when the food is prepared or being scoffed. Check the photo with its plates of streaming soup and you will probably notice that it is unusual – big enough at a pinch for four to eat from in contrast to the more typical miniature table so often supplied. Brilliant and it didn’t wobble or tilt.

Sleeping

Bed making in small Campers can be a bind – the last thing you want after a day’s hiking or biking. For Toscana the process is delightfully simple – just pull the seat squab up from the back through 180o to lie flat, and then pull the release to allow the backrest to fold forward into the gap. The inclusion of the rear cushion already in situ completes a firmly comfortable bed 6’5” long by 4’0” wide. Robustly engineered it also conforms to EU standards when forming part of the seat capacity for travel. To bring the roof bed into action just pull the base down onto its side supports and unroll the sleeping bags. Lined well-tailored curtains press studded neatly into place around the cab and all side windows. Ventilation at warmer times than our winter odyssey is from sliding windows downstairs and zipped panels in the canvas sides to the elevating roof. Optional programmable diesel fuel heating is a recommended option at £1,175 for all year camping. Downstairs sleeping with feet forward is most comfortable with two lights directly overhead.

KITCHEN

Neat and compleat with all the necessary kit to cook with, wash the crocks and keep the perishables cool. Within a compact area the practical size sink, hob and grill/warmer by SMEV of Italy perform well and if you’re moderately tidy the various drawers and lockers will be just about adequate. Spark ignition for the hob is better than fumbling with matches and as usual with SMEV the hob base is easy to wipe clean. Workspace is at a premium but moving the table alongside at the prep’ stage is helpful. To the right of the unit 12 and 240 volt sockets are wall mounted close to the monitor and control panel. Black glass tops for the appliances may be all the rage but personally I’ll be glad when the fad has passed and we get back to more practical laminate tops again, and in any colour rather than black. Waeco produce the highly efficient 50-litre compressor fridge/freezer operating from the 12-volt system, good for two or three days without running the engine – reaching operating temperature from cold a lot sooner than the absorption fridges fitted to most Motorhomes. Chefs who think better sitting down will be in their element because it is convenient arrange the seat and the table to do just that. In parky weather our meals were primitive soup based snacks but there is no reason why something more imaginative couldn’t be created from this ingenious galley.

STOWAGE

Overall the provision to stow sufficient food for a few days, clothes and sleeping gear is moderately capacious by Camper standards. Minimalising on the wardrobe makes life easier and for only three days we had all the room we wanted for bed tackle, walking and photographic gear. Lockers to the rear and in the cab are also useful for the items it is wiser to keep hidden. The tailgate will take a bike rack and with suitable rails that can be supplied by CMC canoes or surf boards could be stowed on the roof.

Summary

At £30,445 Toscana is a snip – with delightful, calming road manners, exceptional driver and passenger comfort, plus the added factors of versatility, as a picnic vehicle, occasional cargo carrier, urban and holiday transport. It feels right it looks right and the Vauxhall three year or 100,000 mile warranty on the basic vehicle is mighty reassuring. The rapport between exterior and interior is special and the list of standard feature is impressive. Alloy wheels and the Eberspacher diesel heater will add £1,586.25 as the final touch for appearance and the comfort factor.

TECHNICAL DATA

Vehicle specification: CMC Reimo Toscana, two+two-elevating roof Camper

Price of vehicle tested: £30,445.93

Vehicle kindly loaned for testing by: Concept Multi-Car Ltd, Unit 4A/B, Pennypot Industrial Estate, Hythe Kent, CT21 6PE. Tel: 01303 261062

CONVERSION

Overall length: 4.78m

Overall width: 1.90m

Overall height: 1.99m

MPTLM: 2770kg

PAYLOAD: 700kg

Construction: Steel bodied with GRP elevating roof. Dense foam insulation to walls, roof and floor.

Fresh water capacity: 49-litres

Waste water: optional tank

Gas storage capacity: two x 907 Camping Gaz cylinders

Auxiliary battery: 105Ah

Refrigerator: 50-litre Waeco compressor fridge/freezer

Water heating: choice of optional water and space heaters

Lighting: four LED fittings

Upholstery: Vauxhall automotive grey

Other equipment fitted: metallic paintwork, 6-speed transmission, air conditioning, security alarm system, on-road charges, leather steering wheel

BASE VEHICLE

Type: Vauxhall SWB Vivaro

Power unit: 2.0-litre CDTi 16-valve motor

Maximum power: 115bhp @ 3500rpm

Maximum torque: 290 Nm @ 1600rpm

Transmission: six-speed manual to front wheels

Steering: power assisted rack and pinion

Braking system: servo assisted system to disc brakes with ABS

PERFORMANCE

Fuel consumption: 36mpg approx

Maximum speed: 80mph + approx

Comfortable cruising speed: 65-70mph