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WJ MOTORHOMES REVISITS ITS HISTORY
AND LAUNCHES THE WJ AUTOVILLA

WJ Motorhomes, the biggest motorhome manufacturer in South Africa, and part of Jurgens Ci, has revisited its original inspiration and launched a stunning new    WJ Autovilla at the Pretoria Show.

WJ Motorhomes was the brainchild of Wildrich Groenewald, a Vereeniging architect, who in 1976 believed people wanted more than the only motorhome then being made in South Africa - the Jurgens Autovilla.

Wildrich and his wife Erika took a year to design and build their own motorhome, and reaction to its 1977 launch persuaded the Groenewalds to set up WJ Motorhomes.

Now WJ Motorhomes has relaunched the Autovilla, the 2009 version being based on the multi-award-winning VW Transporter T5 single cab. Although it dates back to 2003, the T5 continues to make headlines. In Australia, for example, it recently won Delivery Magazine’s award ‘People Mover of the Year 2009.

In Europe, in 2008, the T5 was given a 4-star crash-safety rating from the European New Car Assessment Programme, the Fleet Van Awards 2008 for Best Medium Van, and the Automotive TOTAL Excellium MPG Marathon 2008 - Best in Class. And in Germany, the T5 won various awards every year from 2005 through 2008 inclusive.

WJ Motorhomes’ huge wealth of experience in the design and manufacture of motorhomes has ensured that there are few comparisons between the new WJ Autovilla and the Jurgens original... apart from the name.

It features four berths (a rear double bed/4-seat dinette plus front Luton double bed), a well-equipped galley, bathroom, lots of storage space, and much more.

That galley has fridge/freezer, 2-burner gas stove, 19-litre silver microwave, stainless-steel sink with hot and cold water, cutlery drawer, storage cupboards, Formica counter, and cupboards for crockery and glasses.

Storage includes overhead lockers, cupboards, wardrobe, dinette bunk storage, and an outside hatch that’s also accessible from the inside.

The WJ Autovilla has an 80-litre water tank with 12-volt pump and level indicator, and there is a Hansen gas/electric water heater. Electrics are sophisticated, with deep-cycle battery with charger, fluorescent lighting, 22-volt landline in and extension, and external 220-volt multiplug. The electrics even include a 220-volt air conditioner.

As with all WJ Motorhomes’ vehicles, finishes are superb. They include wood-grain Renolits with anodised aluminium extrusions, hardwearing woven fabrics, and wood-grain vinyl floor.

Engine options are VW’s 4-cylinder 1,9 TDI producing 77 kW at 250 Nm of torque and the very able 5-cylinder 2,5 TDI pushing out 128 kW at 400 Nm of torque.

WJ Motorhomes’ vehicles have always been world-class, desirable and spacious. The new WJ Autovilla is no exception and is sure to become a firm favourite - fast!