Automotive

$1.8-million Vario Perfect ultra-luxury motorhome is 2 Mercedes in 1

$1.8-million Vario Perfect ultra-luxury motorhome is 2 Mercedes in 1
The new-generation Vario Perfect 1200 Platinum debuts at this year's Caravan Salon
The new-generation Vario Perfect 1200 Platinum debuts at this year's Caravan Salon
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The expansive Variomobil Perfect 1200 Platinum actually has a hallway to get to the bathroom and bedroom
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The expansive Variomobil Perfect 1200 Platinum actually has a hallway to get to the bathroom and bedroom
Vario Perfect 1200 Platinum dry bathroom
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Vario Perfect 1200 Platinum dry bathroom
Forget towing: the rear garage of Variomobil and other top-end European luxury motorhomes is always an intriguing feature
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Forget towing: the rear garage of Variomobil and other top-end European luxury motorhomes is always an intriguing feature
The new-generation Vario Perfect 1200 Platinum debuts at this year's Caravan Salon
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The new-generation Vario Perfect 1200 Platinum debuts at this year's Caravan Salon
In addition to its grand tourer-sized garage, the Variomobil Perfect 1200 Platinum also includes three slide-outs for a spacious interior
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In addition to its grand tourer-sized garage, the Variomobil Perfect 1200 Platinum also includes three slide-outs for a spacious interior
The 39-ft Perfect 1200 packed up and ready to drive
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The 39-ft Perfect 1200 packed up and ready to drive
The dual bedroom slide-outs create a spacious master suite with both bed and sofa
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The dual bedroom slide-outs create a spacious master suite with both bed and sofa
The driver-side slide-out pulls the sofa and kitchen away from the center, creating a very spacious, comfortable living area
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The driver-side slide-out pulls the sofa and kitchen away from the center, creating a very spacious, comfortable living area
The premium kitchen area of this Perfect 1200 show model includes an induction cooktop, designer faucet and slide-out coffeemaker
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The premium kitchen area of this Perfect 1200 show model includes an induction cooktop, designer faucet and slide-out coffeemaker
One possible downside of the Perfect 1200 floor plan: It appears that four people need to split up between two dining areas for meals (though the interior is so spacious they could probably pull up a folding table and chair set to create a four-person dining area)
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One possible downside of the Perfect 1200 floor plan: It appears that four people need to split up between two dining areas for meals (though the interior is so spacious they could probably pull up a folding table and chair set to create a four-person dining area)
The Variomobil Perfect 1200 Platinum debut model offers two Mercedes in one: the Actros base and the AMG GT in the garage
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The Variomobil Perfect 1200 Platinum debut model offers two Mercedes in one: the Actros base and the AMG GT in the garage
The only downside of such a spacious interior is that children are almost guaranteed to turn it into a running track and playground
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The only downside of such a spacious interior is that children are almost guaranteed to turn it into a running track and playground
The Vario Perfect 1200 Platinum on show at the 2020 Düsseldorf Caravan Salon
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The Vario Perfect 1200 Platinum on show at the 2020 Düsseldorf Caravan Salon
We suspect visitor numbers are way down amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, but Variomobil is still able to attract a crowd
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We suspect visitor numbers are way down amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, but Variomobil is still able to attract a crowd
View gallery - 14 images

For last year's Düsseldorf Caravan Salon, Variomobil introduced the fourth generation of its "Perfect" line of ultra-luxury motorhomes, revealing the Mercedes Actros-based Perfect 1000. How do you follow up such an impressive exhibition appearance? By climbing even higher up the ladder and revealing the larger, more exclusive flagship model, the Perfect 1200 Platinum. A little piece of exclusive real estate built onto a triple-axle Mercedes chassis, the new 1200 features a massive living space broadened by three electro-hydraulic slide-outs and enhanced with nightclub-grade audio and intelligent lighting, all the appliances of home, and an XXL garage large enough to bring along a high-powered grand tourer ... say, a Mercedes-AMG GT.

A close relative of the Signature 1200 we covered in 2017, the Perfect 1200 Platinum is one of the awe-inspiring creations from one of the world's awe-inspiring crafters of opulent motorhomes. It measures 39 full feet (12 m) in length, carrying a gross vehicle weight rating of 26 tonnes. We can't even imagine captaining this beastly wheeled yacht through the tiny, tight-cornered roadways of European cities and villages, but we'd certainly be willing to hop in the passenger seat and come along for the ride.

The 39-ft Perfect 1200 packed up and ready to drive
The 39-ft Perfect 1200 packed up and ready to drive

The fourth-generation Perfect series features an updated self-supporting fiberglass sandwich bodywork construction and structure-enhancing, UV-filtering panoramic windshield design. We prefer the bare, three-pointed star-badged automotive-grade grille of the Signature series, but the new Platinum still manages to make a very good first impression with its understated neutral color scheme, long countersunk window line and angled facial features.

The real exterior highlight on this particular Perfect 1200 show model, though, is the XXL garage, Variomobil's largest garage option. Here, it's displayed mere seconds away from devouring a two-door Mercedes-AMG GT. The garage is also designed with the Porsche 911 in mind and can of course accommodate smaller-class cars like the Mini Cooper. It also includes an optional e-bike slide loader and charging station.

Forget towing: the rear garage of Variomobil and other top-end European luxury motorhomes is always an intriguing feature
Forget towing: the rear garage of Variomobil and other top-end European luxury motorhomes is always an intriguing feature

When the eye isn't held captive by the canary yellow of high-performance Mercedes sports car rump, it tends to naturally wander around the Perfect 1200 exterior and land on the large slide-outs jutting out from both sidewalls. Three in all, the pneumatically sealed slide-outs create a proper master bedroom at the stern and a stretched living area wide enough to do gymnastics in, amidships. The 1200 comes standard with the long living room/kitchen expansion, but the master suite slides are optional upgrades.

The impact of the living area expansion is felt immediately upon entering the Perfect 1200. An aisle wide enough for two passengers to walk by each other without the slightest brush of fabric splits the sofa from the front dining nook and the kitchen from the rear dining nook. Living-room-grade power recliners serve as driver and front passenger seats, swiveling around to join the sofa and side recliner in creating a roomy six-person lounge. Hang an optional 43-in flat screen above the driver's cab and you have a comfy TV room.

The only downside of such a spacious interior is that children are almost guaranteed to turn it into a running track and playground
The only downside of such a spacious interior is that children are almost guaranteed to turn it into a running track and playground

Strolling farther back, Variomobil's optional "CubeArt" kitchen presents space enough for culinary creativity, offering a dual-burner induction cooktop, sink with modern designer faucet, and stacks of drawers with illuminated handles and push-to-open security. Just behind that main kitchen block (to the chef's left) is the standard 195-L Kissmann KT210 compressor fridge topped by an optional oven. Other available equipment added to this particular show model includes a dishwasher and slide-out coffeemaker.

Using the Perfect 1200 restroom during a meal appears much like the experience of being in a restaurant. Whether or not one has to ask a member of the catering staff to point them in the right direction, he or she proceeds rearward past the curvy, glowing-green glassware case, up a couple steps and down an actual hallway before turning right into the bathroom. The proper dry bath layout inside has an enclosed shower, toilet, sink and even a little legroom.

The expansive Variomobil Perfect 1200 Platinum actually has a hallway to get to the bathroom and bedroom
The expansive Variomobil Perfect 1200 Platinum actually has a hallway to get to the bathroom and bedroom

A few steps back from the bathroom lies the rear bedroom, its spread wings creating a spacious 108-sq-ft (10-sq-m) floor plan. Rather than just stepping or leaping up onto a bed that fills out the entirety of the space, Perfect 1200 residents walk into the room, having the option of a 65 x 79-in (165 x 200-cm) bed to their right or a slide-integrated sofa below the window to the left. Direct reading lights dangle from the storage cabinets lining the wall over the bed, while ambient light fixtures glow from the walls. The mirrored doors at the rear wall slide away for access to the wardrobe.

The dual bedroom slide-outs create a spacious master suite with both bed and sofa
The dual bedroom slide-outs create a spacious master suite with both bed and sofa

Perfect 1200 buyers who don't plan to hoard the entirety of the huge interior can sleep an additional two people up front, for a total of four berths. The optional drop-down 77 x 51-in (195 x 130-cm) bed stores over top the driver area.

A high spec of onboard equipment and utilities is necessary to keep such a large hunk of machinery humming, and standards include a dual 170-Ah gel battery system, 17,000-W diesel water boiler/cabin heater, 500-L fresh water tank and LCD command center. The microprocessor-controlled "Platinum" lighting system includes various illumination patterns and dimming capabilities complete with memory function.

Available add-ons and upgrades include Victron lithium batteries, solar charging, back-up generator options, air conditioning, an LED touch panel command center and a washer/dryer. Buyers can also browse through a full multimedia selection that includes the televisions, a Bose sound system, 4G connectivity with onboard Wi-Fi, and Apple TV.

The Perfect 1200 is based on the Mercedes-Benz Actros 2453 with a 422-hp 10.7-liter turbo-diesel six-cylinder standard, 523-hp 12.8-liter unit (Actros 2553) optional. The Actros features an air suspension and 12 wheels split between its three axles. The self-steering trailing axle improves maneuverability.

The LPG-free Perfect 1200 motorhome relies on the Actros' 390-L diesel tank and heated underbody 160-L auxiliary tank with emergency switching for driving and running the onboard diesel equipment.

The Vario Perfect 1200 Platinum on show at the 2020 Düsseldorf Caravan Salon
The Vario Perfect 1200 Platinum on show at the 2020 Düsseldorf Caravan Salon

The new Perfect 1200 Platinum starts at €881,020 (approx. US$1,042,450), and the model on display now at this year's Caravan Salon (and in photos) wears enough options and upgrades to push that price up over €1,450,000 ($1.7 million). Oh, and add another six figures for that other Mercedes hanging out the back. Land yacht design, land yacht price.

Source: Variomobil

View gallery - 14 images
7 comments
7 comments
paul314
So is the car in that "garage" secured in any way? (Also, I'd love to see the drive system that pulls it all the way in after the driver gets out.)
guzmanchinky
Yes, I was wondering how they strap/chain the car down? Very very cool RV, but more made for American RV parks than the tiny no-hookup European ones...
riczero-b
I add up the components and struggle to make 850K: so I guess there's some really fancy fittings.
Grunchy
I bought a 2nd hand dolly for $500 which can tow a full size car behind my RV, so I'm like, "-".
Username
Paul314- I'm guessing that the whole ramp slides in (and out) with the car on top rather than having the car winched in.
Msm
I'd love to see a motor home that has a separate driver compartment. So my family would be in the back and someone else would be paid to do all the driving. They would have an area in front where they could eat and sleep. And my wife and I would have the rest and also a way to sit above the driver and watch the road if we wanted to.
Frank Peele
12 wheels? Really?