When Winnebago set out to reimagine its conventional Class C motorhome, the team rallied around a guiding principle pulled from a 1987 ad for the Minnie Winnie: “Everything in it deserves the name that’s on it.” That spirit became the North Star for the all-new Sunflyer, a modern Conventional Class C that reinvents and simplifies travel for the road ahead.
“We have a duty as caretakers of the Winnebago brand to develop a product that meets our consumers’ needs and deserves the name we put on it,” said Devin A. Kasper, senior product manager at Winnebago. “That was our guiding light.”
Formerly the name of a Winnebago Class A from nearly 50 years ago, Sunflyer draws on the brand’s rich legacy while also speaking to new, more accessible adventures.
“It felt bright and open and connected to nature but had that legacy,” explains Kasper. “It just made sense as soon as we saw it.”
The Sunflyer more than lives up to its name, with a completely redesigned base frame, an upgraded roof design reminiscent of what consumers might see in a Class A motorhome, mountain-inspired exterior graphics, and three interior colorways that feel bright and modern.
What’s beneath the surface also plays a role in setting the Sunflyer apart from other conventional Class C motorhomes. The Sunflyer is equipped with an automatic generator start and a Multiplex system that allows users to control the whole coach from a touchscreen – a first for the conventional Class C segment. Advanced safety considerations were built in from the start as well, from child-seat placements and cab-over bed safety nets, to blind spot warning sideview cameras and appliances mechanically attached to the aluminum sidewall.
Even the smallest additions matter: hidden door hinges, inset lighting, Pet Pal leash attachments and auxiliary solar panel plugs outside of the awning — all designed for ease of use and reflecting the attention to detail that users will certainly benefit from, even if they’re not obvious.
“The best design is what you don’t really notice,” says Kasper. “It just works, and I think we’ve nailed that.”
What’s even more remarkable is how it all came together. The Sunflyer was developed faster than any product in the brand’s history. The team reorganized to design multiple floor plans in parallel, shortening development by 29 weeks and bringing four floor plans to the Elkhart RV Dealer Open House last September. The project was a testament to Winnebago’s commitment to unparalleled collaboration in product development.
“The only way we were able to do that was by breaking down barriers between the product team, the engineering team and the manufacturing team to work nimbly as one,” says Doug Carder, chief engineer on the Sunflyer.
What began as a mission to create a new conventional Class C product became an opportunity to redefine the category itself.
The Sunflyer generated strong interest from dealers and the industry when it was first unveiled and has continued to delight and impress during its recent consumer debut at the Florida RV Super Show.
“We’ve really found a groove with the Sunflyer,” Kasper says. “There’s been a palpable excitement around it — not just from dealers and customers but from the teams behind the scenes who feel proud to be part of something meaningful.”
The Sunflyer is just the beginning. Winnebago’s design teams are hard at work and focused on giving outdoor enthusiasts more fresh, exciting products that carry on the brand’s pioneering legacy of innovation and excellence.
“Your goal is always to design the right thing, and then design that thing right,” says Kasper. “We made sure we achieved that with the Sunflyer. Just like the 1987 ad that inspired us, everything in it deserves the name that’s on it.”