If you're hoping to get away from it all, it's hard to beat a trip in a luxury RV. But this land yacht is so big and so outrageous, it deserves its own entourage and accompanying zip code.
The Elemment Palazzo from Austria's Marchi Mobile is designed as a fine yacht that just happens to have wheels. Complete with a motorized bridge and even an upper deck, the rear two-thirds wouldn't be out of place at an exclusive marina. The remaining one third, however, looks like it belongs on a chilled plate in a seafood restaurant.
It starts with the bulbous, cyclopean windscreen. With a single wiper attached up top, it looks like its host to some flagellate parasite that's causing severe inflammation. All that glass sits atop a grille that's undoubtedly inspired by a flatfish, and the whole mess is perched above the hood of a supercar. An outdoor fireplace, fridge, and entertainment center distract from the Elemment's prodigious schnoz.
If the brain-bending exterior is too much, head inside where you'll find plenty of places to enjoy a stiff drink. At the push of a button, the couch turns into "stylish bar furniture," according to Marchi. If one floor of entertainment isn't enough for you, press a button to extend the "sky lounge," a rooftop respite that comes with its own fog machine just in case you miss Old Faithful.
The interior, says Marchi, is "just as extravagant as its owner," who must be Liberace's long-lost Russian oligarch cousin. It's also got "minimalistic and modern shapes fused with classy and antique design elements embedded in timeless ambiance." We don't have enough coin to know exactly what that combination entails, so it's a good thing they pointed out just how classy it is.
The master bedroom has its own bathroom with a rainfall shower, the fully-equipped kitchen is kitted out with "top of the line German products," and heated floors will keep your toes toasty even when temperatures drop. It's all packed into a 45-foot long chassis and propelled by a 510-hp diesel engine. Depending on configuration, prices can rise north of -- wait for it -- $3 million.
Amidst all that excess, one feature stands out: According to Marchi, remote video access "allows you to show your friends the exterior and interior," in addition to setting up lights and climate control. If there's anything this RV doesn't need, it's help getting noticed.
Images: Marchi Mobile
