The UK’s largest caravan manufacturer promises some exciting revelations at October’s show at the NEC Birmingham, but until then there is some big news across its caravan portfolio as we enter the 2017 touring season.

Dinged aluminium sidewalls should be a thing of the past, because for 2017 the Sprite, Swift Challenger and Sterling Eccles ranges have all followed their more illustrious cousins by moving over to an all-GRP bodyshell, with the only timber now used being the inner skin of the floor. 

Another addition across the board is Swift’s Command system, which was launched last year on the flagship Swift Elegance/Conqueror and Sterling Continental/Elite. The control panel itself allows you to monitor various caravan systems, while a smartphone and tablet app means you can also control functions such as lighting and heating remotely, and for 2017 it also gives the option of a Thatcham Level 6 Tracker.

The Sprite Freedom joins the rest of the Sprite range in moving over to the more contemporary ‘Aralie Sen’ woodgrain and all-LED lighting, while curtains add a touch of colour to the interior. The main Sprite range gains two new layouts: the Major 4 FB has been replaced by the new Major 4 EB, with a central washroom and a rear in-line island bed; and there’s the new Quattro DD twin-axle, with six berths in a traditional twin-lounge layout.

The Swift Challenger and its Sterling Eccles twin has had a makeover, with a new carbon fibre-effect front gas locker lid, chrome grabhandles and LED marker lights joining those GRP sidewalls and the Command system. The 570 and 640 have left the ranges, and in their place come the new 560 and twin-axle 635, both with centre washrooms, and the end-washroom, transverse-island-bed 645. Also new to the Challenger and Eccles is the optional Lux pack – an illuminated kitchen splashback, alarm, gas barbecue point, external 230V socket and external lockers – while Alde heating is to continue as an alternative to the standard Truma system.

The Swift Conqueror and Sterling Elite were all-new last season and continue largely unchanged, albeit with refreshed graphics and soft furnishings, a new Dometic oven replacing the traditional Thetford and longer fixed beds for the 560 and 650. There are no new layouts, but the 530 has been discontinued. It’s a similar story for the flagship Swift Elegance and Sterling Continental, which gains just one new layout – the 650 – and loses the 630, but also boasts revisions to the 480 and 565 to accommodate a slimline refrigerator. Standard equipment has been boosted by the addition of a rear-view camera.

The 2017-season Swift Group caravans at a glance

      
Sprite

  • Sprite Alpine 2 – 2-berth, front parallel seating, side kitchen, end washroom, single-axle
  • Sprite Alpine 4 – 4-berth, front parallel seating, side kitchen, rear fixed bed and washroom, single-axle
  • Sprite Major 4 SB – 4-berth, front parallel seating, transverse island fixed bed, side kitchen, end washroom, single-axle
  • NEW! Sprite Major 4 EB – 4-berth, front parallel seating, mid transverse washroom, rear island bed, single-axle 
  • Sprite Major 6 – 6-berth, front parallel seating, side dinette and kitchen, end twin bunk, washroom with separate shower, single-axle
  • Sprite Major 6 TD – 6-berth, front parallel seating, side kitchen, washroom with separate shower, rear dinette with bunk above, rear fixed twin bunks, single-axle
  • Sprite Quattro FB – 6-berth, front parallel seating, side kitchen, side dinette, rear fixed bed, twin-axle
  • Sprite Quattro EW – 6-berth, front L-shaped seating, side kitchen, side dinette, rear fixed bed, full width end washroom, twin-axle
  • NEW! Sprite Quattro DD – 6-berth, front parallel seating, rear parallel seating with bunks over, mid washroom and kitchen, twin-axle
       

Sprite Freedom

  • Sprite Freedom 6 – 6-berth, front parallel seating, side dinette and kitchen, end twin bunk, washroom with separate shower, single-axle
  • Sprite Freedom 6 TD – 6-berth, front parallel seating, side kitchen, washroom with separate shower, rear dinette with bunk above, rear fixed twin bunks, single-axle
  • Sprite Freedom FB – 6-berth, front parallel seating, side kitchen, side dinette, rear fixed bed, twin-axle
        

Sterling Eccles

  • Sterling Eccles 480 – 2-berth, front parallel seating, end washroom, single-axle
  • Sterling Eccles 510 – 4-berth, front parallel seating, open plan fixed bed layout, single-axle
  • Sterling Eccles 530 – 4-berth, front parallel seating, side dinette, end washroom, single-axle
  • NEW! Sterling Eccles 560 – 4-berth, front parallel seating, mid transverse washroom, rear island bed, single-axle
  • Sterling Eccles 565 – 4-berth, front parallel seating, two fixed rear single beds, end washroom, centre kitchen, single-axle
  • Sterling Eccles 580 – 4-berth, front parallel seating, centre kitchen, transverse island bed, end washroom, single-axle
  • Sterling Eccles 590 – 6-berth, front parallel seating, rear double bunk, and rear dinette with bunk, single-axle
  • NEW! Sterling Eccles 635 – 4-berth, front parallel seating, mid transverse washroom, rear transverse island bed, twin-axle
  • NEW! Sterling Eccles 645 – 4-berth, front parallel seating, centre kitchen, transverse island double bed, end washroom, twin-axle
        

Swift Challenger

  • Swift Challenger 480 – 2-berth, front parallel seating, end washroom, single-axle
  • Swift Challenger 510 – 4-berth, front parallel seating, open plan fixed bed layout, single-axle
  • Swift Challenger 530 – 4-berth, front parallel seating, side dinette, end washroom, single-axle
  • NEW! Swift Challenger 560 – 4-berth, front parallel seating, mid transverse washroom, rear island bed, single-axle
  • Swift Challenger 565 – 4-berth, front parallel seating, two fixed rear single beds, end washroom, centre kitchen, single-axle
  • Swift Challenger 580 – 4-berth, front parallel seating, centre kitchen, transverse island bed, end washroom, single-axle
  • Swift Challenger 590 – 6-berth, front parallel seating, rear double bunk, and rear dinette with bunk, single-axle
  • NEW! Swift Challenger 635 – 4-berth, front parallel seating, mid transverse washroom, rear transverse island bed, twin-axle
  • NEW! Swift Challenger 645 – 4-berth, front parallel seating, centre kitchen, transverse island double bed, end washroom, twin-axle
       

Sterling Elite

  • Sterling Elite 480 – 2-berth, front parallel seating, end washroom, single-axle
  • Sterling Elite 560 – 4-berth, front parallel seating, mid transverse washroom, rear island bed, single-axle
  • Sterling Elite 565 – 4-berth, front parallel seating, fixed rear single beds, end washroom, centre kitchen, single-axle
  • Sterling Elite 570 – 4-berth, front parallel seating, fixed bed, end washroom, single-axle
  • Sterling Elite 580 – 4-berth, front parallel seating, centre kitchen, transverse island bed, end washroom, single-axle
  • Sterling Elite 630 – 6-berth, front L-shaped seating, side dinette and kitchen, fixed bed, end washroom, twin-axle
  • Sterling Elite 645 – 4-berth, front parallel seating, centre kitchen, transverse island bed, end washroom, twin-axle
  • Sterling Elite 650 – 4-berth, front parallel seating, mid transverse washroom, rear island bed, twin-axle
       

Swift Conqueror

  • Swift Conqueror 480 – 2-berth, front parallel seating, end washroom, single-axle
  • Swift Conqueror 560 – 4-berth, front parallel seating, mid transverse washroom, rear island bed, single-axle
  • Swift Conqueror 565 – 4-berth, front parallel seating, fixed rear single beds, end washroom, centre kitchen, single-axle
  • Swift Conqueror 570 – 4-berth, front parallel seating, fixed bed, end washroom, single-axle
  • Swift Conqueror 580 – 4-berth, front parallel seating, centre kitchen, transverse island bed, end washroom, single-axle
  • Swift Conqueror 630 – 6-berth, front L-shaped seating, side dinette and kitchen, fixed bed, end washroom, twin-axle
  • Swift Conqueror 645 – 4-berth, front parallel seating, centre kitchen, transverse island bed, end washroom, twin-axle
  • Swift Conqueror 650 – 4-berth, front parallel seating, mid transverse washroom, rear island bed, twin-axle

Sterling Continental

  • IMPROVED! Sterling Continental 480 – 2-berth, front parallel seating, full width end washroom, single-axle
  • Sterling Continental 530 – 4-berth, front parallel seating, side dinette, full width end washroom, single-axle
  • IMPROVED! Sterling Continental 565 – 4-berth, front parallel seating, fixed single beds, full width end washroom, single-axle
  • Sterling Continental 570 – 4-berth, front parallel seating, fixed bed, full width end washroom, single-axle
  • Sterling Continental 580 – 4-berth, front parallel seating, full width end washroom, transverse island double bed, single-axle
  • Sterling Continental 645 – 4-berth, front parallel seating, full width end washroom, transverse island double bed, twin-axle
  • NEW! Sterling Continental 650 – 4-berth, front parallel seating, mid transverse washroom, rear island bed, twin-axle
       

Swift Elegance

  • IMPROVED! Swift Elegance 480 – 2-berth, front parallel seating, full width end washroom, single-axle
  • Swift Elegance 530 – 4-berth, front parallel seating, side dinette, full width end washroom, single-axle
  • IMPROVED! Swift Elegance 565 – 4-berth, front parallel seating, fixed single beds, full width end washroom, single-axle
  • Swift Elegance 570 – 4-berth, front parallel seating, fixed bed, full width end washroom, single-axle
  • Swift Elegance 580 – 4-berth, front parallel seating, full width end washroom, transverse island double bed, single-axle
  • Swift Elegance 645 – 4-berth, front parallel seating, full width end washroom, transverse island double bed, twin-axle
  • NEW! Swift Elegance 650 – 4-berth, front parallel seating, mid transverse washroom, rear island bed, twin-axle