Hobby unveils rear lounge VW Crafter

January’s CMT Show in Stuttgart saw the debut of the second model in Hobby’s Maxia Van range, based on the Volkswagen Crafter panel van. The new 680 DT model is said to encapsulate the cosy Scandinavianstyle ‘hygge’ design that Hobby has developed in recent years. Its spacious interior features light walnut wood and the grey V-Flex felt-effect lining. The layout compromises long rear face-to-face sofas, a kitchen adjacent to the sliding door and wardrobe and washroom opposite.

Both front seats swivel and the table can be used here for dining, or alternatively it can be sited in the rear lounge. Cleverly, the table stores away in the floor.

The new Maxia Van has a 3,500kg gross weight and a payload of over 300kg, which should be adequate for a two-berth model. Inside, it boasts ambient lighting, powerful Truma Combi 6 D diesel-powered heating, a double floor and highly efficient Cellofoam insulation made of up to 60% recycled fibres, so it is said to remain cosy even at night and in winter.

The habitation area also includes a 90-litre compressor fridge and a cooker/sink combination with a two-burner hob. Thanks to the extra-high roof, the ’van also boasts a generous interior headroom of two metres.

Meanwhile, the VW base vehicle features a wide range of assistance systems, an eight-speed automatic transmission and a 177hp engine.

However, Hobby describes the multifunctional rear part of the 680 DT as the heart and soul of the new vehicle. This can be a mobile workspace with face-to-face seating during the day, a cosy U-shaped dining area in the evening, and either single beds or a double bed measuring 2m in length for the night. A three-layer upholstery/slatted frame system with an additional mattress topper makes the bed extra comfortable. The seats also have a relax position with inclined backrests, while the toppers can be transformed into cosy cushions by placing them inside a cover.

The first examples of the Maxia 680 DT will be available from continental dealers in the spring, with prices starting at €89,750.