$3 million home on wheels

DUBAI: No need to buy a pricey villa on The Palm. Just snap up a “palace on wheels” and, for an eye-popping price of about Dh11 million, this latest craze in luxurious motorhomes can be yours.

No, these are not prototypes but vehicles ready to be produced – but only in limited lots. Some copies of the premium German-made Marchi “palazzo” mobile homes may roll on UAE’s roads before long.

When pressed for specifics, Juliane Rönisch, chief brand manager of the Austro-German company, said: “We don’t publicise anything about our customers unless they give us permission. But we are in advance discussions with a number of them in the UAE.”

The 40-foot motorhome usually takes about nine months to build. Only eight units have been sold around the world, mostly in Russia and Europe, she said.

The inside fit-out is totally custom-made, though standard features include an extendable living area, a kitchen – with freezer, fridge, dishwasher, oven, sink, cook top, coffee machine and ice-maker.

Each ‘palazzo’ home is equipped with a business aviation gangway and an automatic lounge. Each VIP shuttle weighs about 20 tonnes and is based on a design that is sort of a cross between yachting, aviation and motor sports.

“The external design is pretty much a given. But in addition to the three standard colours – silver, gold and white – the company can do any external colours upon request.”

The chief designer, Mario Marchi, is also the owner of Marchi Mobile GmbH headquartered in Vienna, but the vehicles are produced in Germany.

Each Marchi can be fitted with its own brand of engines, though customers can also request engines from Volvo, Mercedes Benz or any other brand.

“Every vehicle is exclusive, there’s only one copy, unless you want order two units with exactly the same configuration,” she said.

The cheapest unit costs about €750,000, and can be used as a commercial mobile shop or a sort of pop-up store.