Classic styling with smoked oak inserts to the gloss upper locker doors combined with ‘Moonlight’ rich dark brown and cream soft furnishings give a ‘boutique hotel’ feel to the new Swift Bessacarr 496. A wide panoramic sunroof creates a light-filled, warm interior, and the full-width curtains are perfect for privacy, day or night. For bedtime, all fixed beds, including the drop-down ones, are fitted with the exclusive Duvalay Duvalite mattress. You can also control the on-board ambience with the energy-efficient LEDs and dimmable spotlights.
It includes a well-equipped kitchen with Omnivent, vanity mirror lighting, wardrobe lighting, and map pockets/wall pads. The standard features are continued outside with a reversing camera, gloss white cab mirror covers, and a roll-out awning.
CHASSIS-CAB
The Bessacarr 496 is powered by the new Fiat Euro 6 2.3-litre, 130bhp turbo diesel engine and six-speed manual automatic gearbox. It also has cab air-conditioning and cruise control.
With LED daytime running lights and black bezel on the headlights and black front grill, together with a black skid plate, this is a head turner on the open road. The dashboard features a fully integrated factory-fit DAB Radio/MP3 player with Bluetooth, switch-off timing adjustable up to three hours, plus wing mirror antenna for better reception. The cab battery can be isolated to prevent discharge while in storage. There are airbags for both, driver and passenger. Extras include concertina windscreen blind and side window blinds, white cab wing mirror covers, and removable cab carpet.
Uprated front suspension offers higher ride height and comfortable handling. Both captain’s chairs with twin armrests and integrated headrest can be adjusted for position and rake. Both have fully upholstered covers and base surrounds. With ABS brakes and EBD plus an immobiliser with rolling code and variable power steering, driving is made easy.
Security comes via the key fob operated remote central locking of cab doors and entrance door. Windows are electronically operated and tinted. The electronically adjusted and heated wing mirrors are also fitted with direction indicators.
Headlamps can be height adjusted as can the steering wheel position. The cab has additional comforts such as a central cup holder with a slot for full-width tablet and a wall pocket for a smart phone with USB port for charging, 12V socket and USB sockets and a dash-mounted tablet holder.
CONSTRUCTION
The vehicles have enhanced SMART Plus construction strong, moisture proof ‘PURe’ Polyurethane timberless framed body shell with HD polystyrene insulation core. It features new balanced panel 31mm sandwich side walls with GRP outer and inner skin and ‘sandwich’ floor construction with GRP outer skin, ply upper and high rigidity Styrofoam core. The 31mm ‘sandwich’ construction, hail-resistant exterior GRP roof is fully bonded for extra strength and flatness with full height, closed mould GRP rear panel.
The streamlined low profile look has a GRP pod with a panoramic opening sky view window and front marker lights plus Seitz C8 flush fitting windows.The 496 model has a manually operated two-position bed—high-level for storage in roof line and mid-level to allow sleeping underneath.
EXTERIOR FEATURES
The Bessacarr 496 has exclusive LED rear light clusters and external white gloss corner cappings with new dynamic graphics coordinated with the white cab and white extruded skirts linking to the GRP rear panel and gloss white bumper exude class. The 16” wheels have full trims. The AL-KO low line AMC long wheelbase chassis of the 496 sports a low energy LED exterior light and high-level brake light. A Seitz high-specification entrance door with secure two-point locking, window, integral flyscreen, door retainer and bin, is entered via a single key common to all habitation doors.
The step well has a light for easy access. There is a service door for underseat/bed storage. Provision is made for two gas bottles. Low-level ventilation is positioned to reduce road noise. It also has a heavy duty rear chassis members ready for an optional towbar, with a spare wheel on an under slung carrier.
Other features include a reversing camera, recessed full-length roll out awning, bike rack fixing rails fitted to the rear, and a bike locking point on the rear cross member.
INTERIOR
New ‘Moonlight’ soft furnishing scheme with two scatter cushions plus an upholstered map/wall pocket ‘Aralie Sen’ woodgrain with contemporary colouring and luxury high gloss upper locker doors with smoked oak inlays create the ambient apartment style. There are chrome effect handles, push-button locks on overhead locker doors and travel lock for TV brackets.The Swift Group specialises in ‘spaceframe’ locker construction and offers the exclusive Duvalay Duvalite fixed bed mattress with lightweight memory fibre technology. This is hypoallergenic with excellent pressure relief, dust mite resistance and 100% recyclable.
Thoughtful extras include wardrobe lighting, lounge seat and bed tops with gas spring hinge supports, pleated cassette blinds with flyscreens on all windows and a concertina action door flyscreens. Carpets are sectioned for flexible removal. Other areas on the floor are covered in French Oak effect, high impact and scratch-resistant floor lino. The bed mattresses and lounge bench seat cushions are supported by beech slats for extra comfort. The seat backrests feature ventilation boards and all tables have dedicated storage locations. Light floods in through Midi-Heki skylight with flynet and adjustable blind and the Mini-Heki clear roof light, with pleated fly screen and blind.
KITCHEN
Appliances include a Dometic 8-Series automatic energy selection fridge and new exclusive Dometic CU600 oven, designed for motorhome use with improved performance and noise reduction, separate grill and dual fuel hob with 800W electric hotplate, electronic ignition, and flame failure protection. The built-in microwave oven has digital controls. Fresh air is assured with the Omnivent, three-speed, two-way roof fan.
Other features include a granite-look GRP kitchen sink, removable drainer, and food grade nylon chopping board, which nestles together for easy storage in dedicated location. It also has a Vector chrome effect mixer tap and an acrylic splashback with LED lighting.
BATHROOM
The bathroom has a 32mm thick entrance door with domestic style mortice lock and handle. Inside, the separately lined shower cubicle with folding doors creates a dry area. The Ecocamel Orbit shower head with on/off button for a powerful shower uses less water. The Thetford C402 bench seat toilet has an electric flush and an 18-litre wheeled tank. Mini LED down lights and bathroom mirror lighting set the scene and is pair with a multi-directional roof light with pleated flyscreen and blind.
HEATING and PLUMBING
The 496 sports Grade 3 classification (EN 1646-1) for heating and thermal insulation is suitable for sub-zero ambient temperatures. This is supported with the new Alde dual fuel radiator central heating and water heating with daily programming, LCD control panel with 1kW, 2kW or 3kW settings, and Truma Combi-Boiler.
The 90-litre under-floor, insulated fresh water tank comes with a level sensor. The pressurised fresh water system has a self-priming pump. Meanwhile, the 68-litre waste water tank also has a level sensor. A handy 12V exterior power point can be used for pump filling of the water tank. The winter pack is fitted as standard with fresh and waste water tank heaters, underfloor waste pipe insulation, and fridge vent covers.
ELECTRICAL
The 496 features the new Swift Command Intelligent power supply unit with LCD control panel. Functions include battery selection, battery state meter, lighting and water pump circuit controls, internal and external temperature, internal humidity levels, 230V load limiter (settable between 5 amps and 16 amps), solar panel charging levels, heating controls and Bluetooth connection.
Mains 230V is supplied via an easy-access consumer unit to sockets, fridge, microwave oven, heater, water heater and battery charger/transformer. A 25 amp charger/transformer takes care of leisure batteries. While a 100 amp-hour (Dir 2006/66/EC) leisure battery is stored in an underfloor compartment. Space is provided for a second battery. There are four 230V chrome sockets and the whole comes with an enhanced ultra-low energy lighting system that comprises dimmable LED spotlights, over-locker LED ambient lighting, low-level night lights that are operable when travelling, and adjustable LED cab reading lights.
The Bessacarr 496 is supplied by Iconic Motorhomes and comes with a 24” TV with MaxView Auto dish, 2 x 9kg LPG gas bottles and second leisure battery.
A comprehensive warranty is supplied with all new motorhomes purchased from Iconic Motorhomes. With the Bessacarr 496, this comprises a five-year Fiat warranty, a three-year leisure warranty, and a 10-year body shell warranty.
