Mercedes makes four-wheel drive available for A-class motorhomes — Kabe is the first

What is the Kabe Imperial Ri830 TRAQ 4x4?

The Kabe Imperial Ri830 TRAQ 4×4 is the first prototype of an integrated motorhome featuring the all-wheel drive system that Mercedes-Benz has previously only released for campervans and semi-integrated motorhomes. Kabe is presenting the motorhome at the Caravan Salon in Düsseldorf.

It makes perfect sense that Kabe has the scoop. The Swedish manufacturer has been building motorhomes designed for winter camping for decades, and the Imperial series represents their absolute top tier.

The prototype on display features a free-standing queen bed at the rear, an L-shaped kitchen with a spacious worktop, and a seating area with an L-shaped bench that comfortably accommodates more than two people around the table. Under the bed is a generous rear garage — which Kabe says is suitable for winter sports gear, for example, immediately revealing the target audience for this model.

Kabe has indicated that an additional off-road package may be released later. No details are available yet.

How does Mercedes' Torque-on-Demand system work?

The name says it all: torque on demand. Unlike selectable systems, the driver doesn’t need to operate anything — no button, no lever. The system distributes the drive power fully automatically between the front and rear axles within milliseconds, depending on the driving situation.

The distribution is managed via an electronically controlled multi-plate clutch in the transfer case. The system can distribute the power up to a maximum ratio of 50:50 across both axles.

It’s important to understand what it is not: there is no low-range transfer case and there are no differential locks. This does not turn an integrated motorhome into an all-terrain vehicle. Anyone truly wanting to venture deep into the mountains is better off with a specialised expedition vehicle — also because a standard motorhome body cannot withstand that kind of stress.

Who is an integrated motorhome with all-wheel drive designed for?

For motorhome owners who travel year-round. Think of winter sports enthusiasts in the Alps or Scandinavia, long-term travellers, and those overwintering in the south.

Every motorhome owner knows the scenario this system was made for: a wet campsite pitch where your wheels are spinning uselessly, or snowy roads on the way to a winter campsite. In those situations, Torque-on-Demand is a traction aid, not an adventure package.

How much does the Kabe Imperial TRAQ 830 weigh and which driving licence do you need?

The Kabe Imperial TRAQ 830 has a maximum authorised mass of 5,500 kg. This means this integrated motorhome falls outside the scope of a standard category B driving licence (up to 3,500 kg) and requires a category C1 driving licence. C1 covers up to 7,500 kg, so a full category C licence is not required.

Weights of the Kabe Imperial TRAQ 830 (also applicable to the Crown TRAQ 830)

The train weight of 7,000 kg is the combined total of the motorhome and trailer. Since the payload of the motorhome itself is 830 kg, you can adjust your loading: whatever you don’t load into the motorhome can be carried in the trailer. This allows you to make optimal use of the combination’s capacity.

Please note the driving licence requirements for the combination. With a C1 licence, you can tow a trailer up to 750 kg. If you want to tow a heavier load — which is exactly what this motorhome is designed for, such as a horsebox or a small passenger car — you will need a C1E licence. This is a separate driving licence category on top of C1, requiring its own test.

Weights of the Kabe Novum TRAQ 750 LGB (semi-integrated)

All weights as specified by Kabe.

What does all-wheel drive mean for the weight?

Technology has weight. The complete package — Torque-on-Demand, the 9-speed automatic transmission, a modified chassis, and the transfer case — adds about 180 kilograms on the weighbridge compared to a Sprinter without all-wheel drive.

In a fully integrated motorhome, which is already on the heavier side, this will impact your payload. Kabe has not yet released the weight specifications for the prototype.

What does this mean for the rest of the market?

This is where it gets interesting. With this release, Mercedes is opening a door, and the Sprinter is the preferred base vehicle for almost all premium manufacturers. Furthermore, demand for all-wheel drive has been growing for years.

The name that immediately comes to mind is Hymer. No other manufacturer sells as many 4×4 motorhomes in Europe, and Hymer has a long history of building on the Mercedes base. On paper, it is only a matter of time before Hymer follows suit.

However, technically, it is not as simple as it seems. Hymer’s integrated models are built on their proprietary SLC chassis, and this chassis cannot easily be combined with the drivetrain required for Torque-on-Demand. If Hymer follows, it won’t just be a matter of ordering a different base vehicle, but of developing a completely new body construction.

On top of that is the timing: the Sprinter is due for an update around 2028. A manufacturer developing a completely new construction for the current chassis now would be investing in technology with a limited shelf life. There is a strong chance that the major brands will skip this generation and only jump on board with the next Sprinter.

Kabe, however, is able to showcase it now — and that is exactly why a smaller premium manufacturer is the first to stand here, rather than the market leader.

When will the Kabe Imperial 4x4 be available and how much will it cost?

That is not yet known. Kabe has not mentioned a delivery date or a price. At the Caravan Salon, this is a prototype, not a model available to order.

See for yourself

The Kabe Imperial Ri830 TRAQ 4×4 will be on display at the end of August at the Caravan Salon in Düsseldorf in Hall 6 at stand D01-01 / D01-03.