23/02/2023
We are pleased to let you know that this coming year will see more ‘award winning’ Rapido’s and Itineo’s arriving from overseas as the pressures on base vehicle parts worldwide eases.
We have a good number of our beautiful Rapido’s and Itineo’s arriving over the coming year, some of these are pre-sold, but some are available for purchase. We have kept our pricing as low as possible in these unprecedented times, and have ordered parts well ahead of time to avoid unnecessary price increases or delays in supplying our units to our customers.
Here is an article from MMM Motorhome Awards 2023:
WINNER – Best Fixed Double Bed Motorhome
Rapido 696F Ultimate Line
Why the Rapido 696F Ultimate Line?
Some motorhomes just feel ‘right' when you walk in, and so it is with this Rapido. The layout can be found in other ranges from numerous other brands but the design, spec and pricing hit the nail firmly on the head in this 696F.
It comes only in new Ultimate Line trim, which gives it a dash of unique styling and extra spec to differentiate it from lesser Rapidos. The French firm says that the “fittings have been meticulously selected to ensure they add to the traveller's comfort in both summer and winter.” In practice, that means Truma Combi 6 EH gas/electric heating and a heated waste water tank.
Externally, you can recognise an Ultimate Line model by a new design for the graphics, while the cab can be ordered in Lanzarote Grey instead of white. Inside, the faux leather ‘TEP' upholstery with a quilted central band is also unique to these versions. It comes in two colours, each coordinated to the furniture style selected – either Nacarat or the new Luceo.
Inside the 696F
The specification is enhanced, too, with 16in alloy wheels, dimmable indirect lighting, scatter cushions, a redesigned washroom and a built-in vacuum cleaner.
Turning to the specifics of the model, the 696F is a seven-and-a-half-metre low-profile with an island bed and on-trend side settee lounge. It looks smart, with its framed habitation windows, and has a habitation door that's linked to the central locking for convenience.
As you'd expect, there's also a rear garage but here its usefulness is greatly enhanced by a bed that rises and falls electrically – increasing headroom from 860mm to 1.07m. As the bed goes up it seals the garage from the bedroom with neat roller shutters at each side.
Inside, there's a comfortable lounge, with pluses such as the overcab sunroof, cab reading lights and front seats that fully rotate so you can put your feet up on the sofas. The table folds in half, too. Above, the optional drop-down bed is electric and measures 1.89m by 1.26m.
It's the details that make this motorhome a winner
The L-shaped kitchen comes with a three-burner hob, as well as an oven placed below counter level. A slot-in worktop extension adds preparation space, electric central locking secures the various drawers and a 149-litre AES fridge/freezer completes the galley.
The main sleeping quarters are in the stern, where the Bultex mattress measures 1.91m by a generous 1.58m. Even with the twin sliding doors to the bedroom closed, there's still good space to manoeuvre yourself around the end of the bed, while the bedside tables are XXL-sized, thanks to the suspended wardrobes. There's even more room in this bedroom when you slide the bed back into its chaise longue position – now it's sooo comfy!
Finally, the ablutions zone includes opposing shower and toilet areas. The shower has magnetic doors, a duckboard and a clothes drying rail. Then, in the toilet area, a super-generous wall mirror hides plenty of storage, complete with elasticated straps to hold everything in place. It's the details that make this motorhome a winner.
WINNER: Best Fixed Single Bed Motorhome
ITINEO CJ660 made by RAPIDO
Itineo Famili CJ660
All in all, this is a great all-rounder – an A-class for people that thought they couldn’t afford one and compact model that makes brilliant use of its internal space.
