Newmar is taking its expertise from being the top-selling Type A diesel manufacturer in 2024 to a new segment in the 2026 model year.
The manufacturer provided dealers a first look at its Freedom Aire prototype, a 23-foot compact Type C/B-plus motorhome.
The motorhome is built on the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4500 chassis. Freedom Aire is the shortest motorhome in Newmar’s lineup by 5 feet.
Newmar President Casey Tubman said one in five Newmar customers has approached the manufacturer about downsizing. He said the consumers are aging and do not want to drive a 45-foot motorhome. Some have asked to stay in Newmar’s sister brands and remain in Newmar’s Kountry Klub.
He said, “We said, ‘Let’s just bring a new product for them.’”
The Freedom Aire will compete with Coachmen RV’s Prism, Entegra Coach’s Qwest, Fleetwood RV’s Insight and Tiffin’s Wayfarer. The Prism, Qwest, Insight and Wayfarer are built on Mercedes’ 3500 chassis. Grand Design RV’s Lineage Series M motorhome, like the Freedom Aire, is built on a Mercedes 4500 chassis.
“We have spent the last couple years connecting with Newmar owners as well as new and long-time RVers and the messages are clear,” Tubman said. “Consumers are hungry for smaller footprints that enable more freedom and maneuverability, without having to compromise on the craftsmanship, quality and service they have come to expect from Newmar. The new Freedom Aire Compact C responds to this demand.”
The highlight feature inside the Freedom Aire is a first-to-the-industry king-sized Murphy bed that converts to a two-seat dinette. The Murphy bed is next to theater seating in an off-door slide out. Interior wood cabinets will be made by Newmar, unlike some competitors’ Technoform cabinets.
The Freedom Aire includes a cabover bunk and two standard 120-watt solar panels. Newmar included an external solar panel option, the first the manufacturer has offered, to increase solar capacity to up to three times its usual amount.
The motorhome has six exterior options. The Freedom Aire features an integrated awning, a standard exterior TV and baggage doors matching Newmar’s London Aire motorhome.
Director of Sales Matt Ellinger said the Freedom Aire contained “diesel DNA.”
“Diesel is in Newmar’s DNA,” he said. “We wanted to make sure we built a luxury coach that paid homage to every single thing we have done and what we are incredibly good at.”
The motorhome will feature hydronic heating and a 960-amp-hour Lithionics battery package that replaces a generator.
“The whole mentality of us building this Freedom Aire,” Ellinger said, “was to make sure we capture what we do. We know who we are and we are going to have diesel DNA in this coach….We wanted to give you Newmar in this new size.”
