[캠핑카] 70 million on-road caravan with luxury interior…Manta Ray Escape

‘New Age Caravan’, headquartered in Melbourne, Australia, joined hands with JB Caravan and introduced a caravan with a new structure. Instead of the existing Meranti wooden frame, it will be converted to a composite material structure with enhanced waterproofness and durability. The entry-level Touring model offers a full composite panel lineup. The upper trim and off-road models are expected to use a TIG-welded aluminum frame and aluminum composite panel with increased durability.

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New Age applies thick fiberglass panels to the roof and walls, and uses a honeycomb structure for the floor. In particular, the off-road model will be equipped with strong durability by adopting the aluminum frame first introduced by Bushtracker and Kedron in Queensland, Australia.

The main character is the 2025 19-foot Manta Ray Escape, which is New Age’s first model to use composite panels other than wood. This model is one of New Age’s most popular and economical on-road luxury models. Despite the introduction of thick panels of composite materials, the price of this vehicle is the same as the existing wood frame model.

The Manta Ray Escape, released in 2024, is attractive for its reasonable price of 79,990 Australian dollars (about 73.75 million won). The basic configuration includes a variety of interior updates, including a bedroom with a built-in wireless charging pad, soft-close hinges, European-style cabinets and door handles, and LED lighting.

To keep the price reasonable, the 2025 Manta Ray Escape chose BMPro SwayControl instead of the more advanced Bosch trailer safety control. The audio device was also changed to a more economical one. The battery is provided as standard with one AGM battery.

Nevertheless, the Manta Ray Escape has excellent basic features, including a rooftop air conditioner, a four-burner grill, a large refrigerator and freezer, two roof hatches, a large smart TV, a digital touch screen management system, a shower booth and toilet, and a washing machine.

The New Age Manta Ray caravan has a length of 5791mm and features an exterior with the latest Walkinshaw design, clean black and white colors, and strong graphics. The disappearance of the bright blue front and rear panels of the previous model is the key change and may give it a more sophisticated feel.

New Age has recently introduced a new quality control method for all caravans in the factory. Previously, water leaks were tested by spraying water from the outside, but now air leaks are tested by applying positive pressure inside. Additionally, all vehicles come with a 3-year manufacturer’s warranty and 1-year roadside assistance.

The Manta Ray Escape is an on-road model. The protection functions needed for off-road driving are limited. However, the bottom plastic side protection with enhanced durability and galvanized steel sheet for the poly water tank were applied. Because the ground clearance is relatively low, exposed poly pipes or a chassis box with a battery and water pump are installed at the bottom, which may be damaged on rough off-roads.

Camping and long-distance driving tests were not conducted, but after opening and closing the cabinet door and knocking on the wall, the overall design was solid. Also, it is positive that most of the internal electrical wiring, which was pointed out as a disadvantage of the composite structure, is hidden behind the furniture and finished neatly.

The Manta Ray Escape Caravan is equipped with a variety of external features that add convenience and practicality. It is equipped with a Dometic roll-out awning that covers the entire side of the vehicle, and comes standard with a drop-down picnic table, electrical and TV connection ports, sliding access stairs, and LED lighting on the wall on the awning side. It is also useful for tasks where an additional LED light is installed on the other side.

The Escape package includes a drawbar faucet, a plug for a portable solar panel, a rearview camera, an external speaker, two 9kg gas cylinders and a gas connector.

Each is equipped with a 110 liter purified water and sewage tank. The 12V power system includes a 110Ah AGM battery, 200W rooftop solar panel, and BMPro battery management system, enabling long-distance driving.

The queen-sized bed located in the front has a comfortable coil spring mattress and a cozy headboard. Additionally, there is free space around the bed, allowing freedom of movement. It includes a large storage space under the bed, an upper cabinet, a side wardrobe, drawers, a 12V/240V socket, and a wireless charging pad.

The cafe-style dinette consists of a sturdy triple-folding table and comfortable fabric seats. There is a small storage cabinet under the table and two drawers under the chair, so it can be used as an additional seat or foot rest. Additionally, there is a grocery storage cabinet at the bottom left when entering the vehicle.

The kitchen space has ample cooking space on both sides and a large stainless steel sink, and is fully equipped with a 4-burner gas burner, grill, range hood, microwave, 170 liter 3-way refrigerator, and freezer. Kitchen cabinets also come in a variety of options, including a large pantry-style cabinet and drawers for storing large pots.

Manta Ray Escape (Source = Caravan Camping Sales)

The bathroom has a somewhat small floor space, but is equipped with a sliding door, cassette toilet, sink, mirror cabinet, wall-mounted washing machine, and fiberglass shower booth. You can monitor battery and water tank status through the display. The BMPro Battery main unit is located in an overhead storage cabinet to increase space efficiency.

In addition to this, Manta Ray Escape boasts a modern interior. Wood-like flooring reminiscent of the coast, pine-toned countertops, matte white furniture, and black handles create a subtle contrast. Additionally, New Age’s signature subway tile splashback is applied to the kitchen, adding a modern and stylish atmosphere.

Manta Ray Escape (Source = Caravan Camping Sales)

Although various external features and internal convenience devices are applied, the price is reasonable. The twin axle configuration with a maximum weight of about 3 tons and low ground clearance is designed to be safely towed by many pickup trucks and large wagons. The Manta Ray Escape, which is made with a European-style composite panel structure and boasts differentiated performance in insulation and durability, is considered a caravan that can maintain a high resale value even after long-term use.

Editor Taewon Kim [email protected]