July 13, 2006 It’s a mighty big claim but Featherlite Luxury Coaches has announced its newest motorcoach, the Vantare Platinum Plus, with the claim that it’s the most expensive luxury coach ever built. The Platinum Plus has a triple slide configuration and its spacious interior is defined by the finest grade of finish materials in the world. Designed by renowned interior designer and luxury coach owner Karen B. Horton, the fine detail of every item that has gone into the US$2.5 million Platinum Plus really has to be seen to be believed.
The interior of the Prevost shell was crafted by designer, ASID, herself a luxury coach owner, and the designer of the Beaufort Inn in Beaufort, S.C.
The entry steps are rare Inca marble bull nosed by Featherlite resident stone artist Patrick Paffour. The risers are hand-made glass tile with embedded copper. The ceiling and AV cabinet in the helm are covered with pearlized Italian leather while the veneer on the dash and steering wheel are sapele Pommele from Africa. The helm is equipped with an Avic N-2 global positioning system with real-time traffic and weather alerts.
The salon features a custom Italian sofa with double electric recliners. It is upholstered in Correggio fabric. The Platinum Plus salon has a special liquor cabinet covered with sapele veneer and stocked with signed crystal glasses by Michael Weems and decanter from Neiman Marcus. A custom desk boasts suede lined drawers and a laptop computer with multifunction printer. The salon, galley and hall ceiling are covered in custom copper sculpture by Chip Manz. Ceiling lighting shines through Swarovski crystal.
In the Vantare Platinum Plus galley, the chef has a highly efficient and stunningly beautiful work space. The farm house style sink is one-of-a-kind and hand painted by Marzi Studios in Oregon. It is surrounded by custom copper countertops. The cabinets are Sapele veneer with Lite Core doors accented with a special inlay.
The Platinum Plus also features a Miele built-in coffee center and stainless steel dishwasher, full high cabinet with copper-fused glass, pull-out pantry, utility cabinet with vacuum, Sub-Zero refrigerator freezer and an onyx dining table. The galley and dining area comes fully stocked with utensils with an international feel.
The Haviland Limoges place settings are hand-painted by Michael Weems. Flatware is handmade from South Africa. Wine glasses are blown, signed crystal. Pots and pans, serving pieces, linens, and placemats--everything is included.
The stateroom features a king bed with a plasma TV that lifts out of the footboard. The headboard has mirrored posts with Schonbek crystal and antique bronze leaf sconces. The walls in the stateroom are European strie and all bath hardware is from France, finished in copper and crystal. The shower walls are onyx. A signed glass sink and matching countertop by Seattle artist Roberto Scira accents the bath area.
The Platinum Plus also has a private lavatory with one of a kind glass sink and countertop of fused glass by Seattle artist Mark Ditzler. The coach also sports fully lined cabinets with pull-out shelves, cedar-lined closets, Malbar washer and dryer, toe kick lights in the hall for night lighting, a stock of 90 oz. spa towels and spa robes for the gentleman and lady.
The aft closet has a special feature--a built-in treadmill with a 13-inch disappearing LCD television behind the mirror.