News & Events

Group's products big winners in latest awards

Experience and innovation in motorhome manufacture have brought a string of awards for companies in the Trigano Group.

The judging panel at Practical Motorhome, one of the major UK titles, have heaped praised on the brand new Trigano T620 by making it both their best budget buy motorhome and overall motorhome of the year for 2010.

But the accolades don't stop there.

The judges named the Chausson Welcome Suit as the best compact motorhome, as well as naming Chausson the runner-up in the award for innovation. The Auto-Trail Apache 725 gained the award for best family motorhome - and to keep it in the family, the Tribute 720 was named runner-up in the same category.

Not content with having the judging panel casting a congratulatory eye over its range, the team at Trigano Group has also gained a gold award for its Auto-Trail and Excel brands in the customer satisfaction awards, where Chausson gained a silver award.

Auto-Trail was the best scoring volume manufacturer among buyers of new motorhomes, gaining a gold award, while Chausson achieved silver. But the shine doesn't rub off the group's products because the owners also gave the brand a gold award for used motorhomes, along with sister marques Eura Mobil, Chausson, and CI.

The new Tribute models are based on the very latest innovation for motorhome chassis, the Ford Transit, and the combination won high praise from the judges - "awesome" is the word they used.

Skillful construction techniques, but still using the same high-end interiors as the Auto-Trail range, means the £33,495 Tribute T620 has a payload of 730 kgs, enabling families to take all of the gear they want when they travel.

"What's not to like about the new Transit Tribute?" asked the judges. "It's great to see a British company taking the lead and making motor-caravanning more readily available to the masses in the difficult financial times."

David Thomas, joint managing director of Auto-Trail, said the key to success was using proven, reliable components, with all appliances tested and run on the production line to ensure quality even though all dealers carry out a pre-delivery inspection.

Top quality after sales service allowed customers and dealers ready access to spares and accessories and a new feature is a factory workshop to ensure high grade repairs to group products.

"The Transit is 45 years old this year and Auto-Trail Group has a long presence in the UK motorhome industry," added David. "It shows that our experienced and innovation pay dividends for us and our customers. We have the right products at the right time for the current challenging market conditions.

"We may have gained many laurels in the Practical Motorhome awards but we won't be resting on them. Continually striving for better and more reliable products keeps us in front and, happily, our customers agree!"

"This is definitely my home", said Phillip Schofield, host of This Morning, on ITV as he took to the wheel of the latest Auto-Trail Cherokee. Wisely, the team from Freeborn Motorhomes who had delivered the vehicle to the studios for Auto-Trail had taken the key out of the ignition when parking the £54,000 Cherokee with its leather interior, fixed double bed, kitchen, and luxury bathroom on the lawn outside ITV's London stuidios. A disappointed Phillip turned to co-presenter Holly Willoughby and said he would "definitely" have driven away, given the chance.

The popular ITV team had been presenting a feature on camping and getting away with the family but none of the tents and gadgets they saw before entering the motorhome could persuade them that a life under canvas was an easier option.

Holly and Phillip readily agreed that with the motorhome the world was at their doorstep. It could literally be driven anywhere they wanted to go at the drop of a hat.

"I got a call from the 'This Morning' producers asking for one of our models and I knew that Freeborn Motorhomes had just the right vehicle at their Surrey dealership," said Scott Stephens, sales and marketing manager at Auto-Trail. "They responded straight away delivering the Cherokee into central London in time for the early studio call."

When I was asked by Auto-Trail to provide a vehicle at the studio it was a chance too good to miss," said Freeborn Motorhomes director James Saint.

"Our website address was shown on a caption during the programme and the hits started straight after the feature had finished.

To see the feature on This Morning (the best bit with the Auto-Trail starts just after nine minutes but is worth waiting for), click http://www.itv.com/lifestyle/thismorning/homeandgarden/garden/campingtenttest

Happy Snapping,

With the sun coming out, it's time to get out and about. For a chance to win a digital camera simply enter a photograph of you enjoying some time away in your Excel or Auto-Trail motorhome.

All entry photographs have to include your vehicle in the shot and it can be anything from you sitting in the sun enjoying a glass of Sangria to fantastic shots in front of The Alps.

Please send your entries to, sales@auto-trail.co.uk and include full postal contact address, contact telephone number and model shown in the picture. All entries must be submitted before the closing date of the 21st August and the chosen winner will be announced and contacted by August 30th 2010. Any entries after the closing date will not be entered.

Please find below the alterations to the September 2010 Model Review Newsletter alterations, Although every possible check was carried out prior to printing the information listed below has been printed incorrectly we apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and all Auto-Trail stockists have been advised of these alterations prior to distribution of the news 2010 newsletter.

• The information listed on the single axle model Frontiers states that Scout and Delaware comes as standard with a 160 bhp manual engine, this is incorrect. All Frontier models except the twin axle models come as standard with a 130 bhp manual engine and have been priced accordingly on the rear page.

We apolagise for any inconvience caused

Auto-Trail are proud to announce Travelworld RV of Telford as the latest addition to their existing dealer network.

Travelworld RV have long been one of the UK’s largest stockists of American RVs, and have chosen to compliment these vehicles with the addition of Auto-Trail, Excel and Tribute Motorhome franchises at their modern indoor sales facility. This moves the company in a whole new direction and enables them to give their existing and new customer base a wider choice of luxury motorhomes.

Sales Director for Travelworld RV,  Ross Edwards, commented: 
“we are all very excited about the prospect of becoming an Auto-Trail dealer and have admired the product for many years. We have been successful in trading their used units which we have taken as part exchanges. Widening our range of motorhomes gives us the best possible chance to service all of our customers and in the current economic climate makes us proud to be buying and selling British-built product.”                                                      

vehicles for all brands are currently on display on site and Travelworld RV can be contacted on 0845 230 5033 / andy@usrv.co.uk . Full contact details can be found on www.auto-trail.co.uk through the find the dealer link.

Auto-Trail Direct is an all new Website which will allow you to order and pay for parts online - fantastic we hear you say!

Go direct to Auto-Trail Direct!

Keep your eyes open for further information over the forthcoming months.
 

This facility has been set up to care for, and service the range of Auto-trail, Excel, Tribute, Ci and Roller Team motorhomes.

Situated here in Grimsby, in our state of the art premises. The work on your cherished Motorhome will be carried out to the highest specification, by qualified Auto-Trail repair technicians.

Insurance and repair work will also be undertaken and enquires have already started to come in.

The After care centre is now open and bookings can be arranged by contacting us on 01472 571000 and asking for the After Care Centre. Book your place now to avoid disappointment.