Automotive

$1-million Unimog RV gentrifies unwelcoming lands in ultramodern style

$1-million Unimog RV gentrifies unwelcoming lands in ultramodern style
SOD pushes out a distinctive pop-up all-terrain motorhome
SOD pushes out a distinctive pop-up all-terrain motorhome
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SOD combines a crew-cab Unimog with a custom-built alcove motorhome pod
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SOD combines a crew-cab Unimog with a custom-built alcove motorhome pod
SOD pushes out a distinctive pop-up all-terrain motorhome
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SOD pushes out a distinctive pop-up all-terrain motorhome
The hard-sided lifting roof creates a roomy master bedroom with panoramic windows
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The hard-sided lifting roof creates a roomy master bedroom with panoramic windows
SOD keeps it neat and functional
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SOD keeps it neat and functional
The lowering rear bed creates a super-king sleeping area with 79 x 79-in dimensions
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The lowering rear bed creates a super-king sleeping area with 79 x 79-in dimensions
An ambiance-enhancing chandelier extends or packs away with the movement of the bed
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An ambiance-enhancing chandelier extends or packs away with the movement of the bed
SOD shows its Rise 4x4 kitchen equipped with a residential-style double-door fridge, a four-burner induction cooktop and an oven
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SOD shows its Rise 4x4 kitchen equipped with a residential-style double-door fridge, a four-burner induction cooktop and an oven
Neutral colors, marble-look stoneware surfaces and glossy graphite furnishings create a cool, modern space that doesn't look anything like the old-fashioned motorhomes of yesteryear
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Neutral colors, marble-look stoneware surfaces and glossy graphite furnishings create a cool, modern space that doesn't look anything like the old-fashioned motorhomes of yesteryear
At roughly $1.02 million by December 2021 exchange rates, the Rise 4x4 is anything but cheap, but it does offer a compelling mix of off-road grit and comfortable hard-walled living
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At roughly $1.02 million by December 2021 exchange rates, the Rise 4x4 is anything but cheap, but it does offer a compelling mix of off-road grit and comfortable hard-walled living
SOD keeps it bright with windows all around and indirect lighting
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SOD keeps it bright with windows all around and indirect lighting
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Already highly experienced at upfitting the Volkswagen Grand California camper van into various grades of aggressive off-road mayhem machine, Germany's Stone Offroad Design (SOD) super-sizes its all-terrain camper game with the new Rise 4x4. The unique adventure motorhome tasks a Mercedes-Benz Unimog with carrying a sleek, pop-up four-person mini-apartment to make home out of the most hostile terrain on or off the map. The result is one of the world's most convincing combinations of land-conquering off-road capability and comfortable modern living.

Bolting a luxurious motorhome box atop a rugged 4x4 chassis certainly is far from a new formula, but it's one that's been steadily evolving to encompass more high-end motorsport- and aerospace-grade materials, homier interior spaces, and ruggeder base vehicles fully adorned with aftermarket off-road upgrades. The TruckHouse BCT, Darc Mono and EarthRoamer XV-HD serve as a few of the better, no-expense-spared examples we've seen over the past half-decade.

By opting for the square-jawed Unimog 5032, SOD eliminates the need for much, if any, aftermarket upgrading. The base truck brings not only the expected off-road hardware, such as a proper 4x4 system with locking front and rear differentials, but also standard performance-boosting add-ons like clearance-lifting portal axles, tire pressure management, an eight-speed transmission with off-road gear set, and a raised air intake system that allows for fording through depths of nearly 4 feet (1.2 m). Whether it's muscling raw tree trunks out of the lightless recesses of the forest or plumbing those recesses for the most scenic patch of ground to make camp, the Unimog is up to the task like few to no other stock trucks on the market.

SOD combines a crew-cab Unimog with a custom-built alcove motorhome pod
SOD combines a crew-cab Unimog with a custom-built alcove motorhome pod

SOD tacks on a grill guard atop the embedded-winch bumper and offers Rise 4x4 buyers both 230-hp four-cylinder and 394-hp six-cylinder diesel engine options.

With Mercedes putting in nearly all the work on the overland-anywhere capability front, SOD dedicates its time to creating a large, luxurious custom alcove motorhome module that can be used on or off the truck. Its clean, sleek body is lightly dressed in accessories that include an alcove-front stone guard and LED light bar, a rear spare tire carrier that also hauls a motorcycle or small ATV, and an aluminum cargo box.

At roughly $1.02 million by December 2021 exchange rates, the Rise 4x4 is anything but cheap, but it does offer a compelling mix of off-road grit and comfortable hard-walled living
At roughly $1.02 million by December 2021 exchange rates, the Rise 4x4 is anything but cheap, but it does offer a compelling mix of off-road grit and comfortable hard-walled living

Inside, the Rise 4x4 looks every bit as impressive as outside, albeit in a much more delicate, fashionable way. The camper appears to derive its name in part from the small pop-up roof extension that creates added headroom and wraparound views in the alcove bedroom with fixed double bed. Just next to the steps up to that bed, behind a door that looks pulled straight out of a house, the bathroom compartment comes with a rather artsy pyramid shaped toilet, floating vanity sink and rainfall shower.

The other half of the "rise" function of SOD's Unimog RV is found over top the rear dining lounge. The second bed lifts away and stores over the U-shaped sofa and round table, leaving a nesting-ring chandelier dangling artfully over the lounge. At night, that double bed lowers down just over tabletop level, the chandelier collapsing quietly and neatly.

The lowering rear bed creates a super-king sleeping area with 79 x 79-in dimensions
The lowering rear bed creates a super-king sleeping area with 79 x 79-in dimensions

The central kitchen spans the aisle and includes an appliance set pulled directly from a luxury home order catalog. The four-burner induction cooktop sits between an extractor hood and oven. Across the way, the full-height double-door fridge/freezer provides plenty of space to keep the meat red and veggies green and crisp. The sink features a tall, arched faucet.

The Rise 4x4 comes specced to 2021 technological standards, bringing a global-ready internet package, multimedia system with app control and full sound system. Power comes stored in a 400-Ah/24-V lithium-ion battery pack wired up to 840 watts of solar panels. Temperature control is provided via air/water heating, underfloor heating and A/C.

SOD keeps it bright with windows all around and indirect lighting
SOD keeps it bright with windows all around and indirect lighting

Other Unimog-based expedition motorhomes have nicely appointed interiors, but assuming the Rise 4x4 renderings prove true to life, we think SOD is pushing its design a step further. Its interior mirrors the type of carefully appointed, homey ambiances that have risen to the upper echelons of Europe's road-going motorhome and caravan design. The company puts heavy emphasis on neutral colors and natural-style materials to give its interior a standout look that hardly feels like an RV at all.

The Rise 4x4's floors, counters and step treads are trimmed in a marble-look stoneware, while furniture, cabinets and tabletops flash the gloss of "Conform Graphite" surfaces. Copper-steel fixtures and copper accents appear throughout. The books, plants, centerpieces and general freestanding decor around the interior certainly look nice in the renderings, but we doubt any serious overlander will try to recreate those images before rumbling down rock-strewn trail. Even without them, though, the hard-mounted appliances, furniture, surfaces and trim combine to create a very upscale, ultramodern residential atmosphere.

The Rise 4x4 debuts as a sibling to SOD's Rise 4x2, and the company plans to begin production in 2022. It currently lists the 400-hp six-cylinder model at a cool €899,900 (approx. US$1 million). It does not have a listing for the four-cylinder version, but we'll go out on a limb and say that whatever price drop is attached won't be enough to get it remotely flirting with mass-market territory.

Source: Stone Offroad Designs

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14 comments
14 comments
WB
the center of gravity is so high a bit of wind and this thing does summersaults... and who on earth will ever need this. Also what is water carying capacity , brown water etc...
guzmanchinky
Of course this is amazing, but doesn't anyone realize that a Unimog is wayyy too big to actually go down forest roads and access the really beautiful and remote spots. For open deserts it's perfect though.
LiamKoot
These renderings look good. I am not sure about how many private customers this would attract, might work well as a for-hire adventure explorer in the outback or Mongolia or any remote but open landscape vast enough to appreciate this in. I wonder how all those fancy fittings and appliances will hold up after being beaten around when travelling in the intended terrain. I really do not understand why you would want so much luxury when you are trying to get out and experience nature. For that price you could easily afford a really nice property somewhere with incredible views that gives you that luxury. Just my thoughts though.
michael39
That fancy interior won't last more than a few days off road. Obviously designed by someone who has never really been "offroad". More "frivolous stuff" for filthy rich people to buy and boast about. Plus no mention of solar panels, windmills and it is not an EV. Ridiculous, as other have pointed out.
BlueOak
Rendered fantasies? For an RV? Why not make it 6-wheel drive? Or better yet, use an 4-axle 4 front wheel steer chassis for redundancy and nicer amenities? How about hydrogen or even better, nuclear-electric drive. Silliness. Come back when at least a prototype is actually built. This dream is not yet baked enough to earn a spot on New Atlas. Perhaps at Popular Mechanics.
Username
White, black and grey are somehow described as "natural colors". I don't understand the giant gap between the overhang and the cab. I also fully agree with the first 3 posters.
FB36
Ultimate Motorhome/RV conditions/properties/features (IMHO):
1: Electric AWD All-Terrain (mini)bus (w/ hub motors)!
2: A (replaceable/swappable) battery unit (w/ max possible power/capacity/duration) provides power to the vehicle & everything inside!
3: Covered w/ solar panels (on roof & 4 sides) which continuously auto-recharge the battery unit!
4: Flex-fuel/(bio)diesel gas turbine (or Wankel engine) electric generator which continuously auto-recharge the battery unit (as long as kept turned-on)!
5: Fully self-contained micro-home w/ shower & toilet & kitchen & bed & table(s) & chair(s)!
6: The vehicle & everything inside are made of max durable materials: stainless steel, aluminum, carbon-fiber, plastic etc!
7: A water generator (which generates water from moisture of outside air) continuously auto-refills the water tank of the vehicle!
8: Satellite-based internet service!
JeffK
Very poor interior setup for our kind of RVing. An oval table in the middle of the floor, wrap around seating and that silly hanging chandelier. The drop down bed is a decent idea in concept, but having it abut two walls with windows at the level of the bed when in sleeping position is a deal killer. I don't expect an RV to keep out a Grizzly, but I do want to have enough warning to arm myself; this rig's setup gives a bruin a choice of meals like a million dollar vending machine! The quad on the back would be for the narrow forest roads. WRT need, how many of the items we buy are really necessary to life?
Nelson Hyde Chick
A toy for wealthy people to explore a quickly dying wildness.
ljaques
What's the company name? Cold Stoned Drunk Offroad D-zine?
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