At the Caravan Salon in Düsseldorf, Germany, Mercedes-Benz will debut a new camper van based on the latest-gen V-Class. Called the Marco Polo after the famous Italian merchant traveler, the camper van is a rival for the Volkswagen California.
Developed in cooperation with camper van specialist and Mercedes-Benz partner Westfalia, the Marco Polo is fitted with a series of practical features – from the stowage facilities and seating/sleeping arrangements to the camping equipment for outdoors.
The interior features high-quality materials, a warm color scheme and a modern furniture design, with all these giving the impression of “unexpectedly generous space,” according to Mercedes-Benz. The carmaker adds that the Marco Polo is equally suitable for long journeys and day-to-day and urban motoring thanks to its “powerful and efficient engines, comfortable suspension, compact exterior dimensions and good maneuverability”.
For cooking, the kitchenette is equipped with two gasburners, a sink and a compressor refrigerator with a capacity of 40 liters and a cooling output of up to minus 20 degrees Celsius. The fresh water tank has a capacity of 38 liters, the waste water tank 40 liters.
For sleeping, the two-seater bench in the rear can be repositioned on rails, while the backrest, which is divided into two, can be individually electrically adjusted on each side. At the touch of a button, it can be converted into a single bed within seconds, or into a double bed measuring 2.03 m by 1.13 m. Under the pop-up roof there is another bed measuring 2.05 m by 1.13 m.
“Two camping chairs and a table for use outside offer additional independence. When they are not in use, they are stowed in a bag within the luggage compartment under the bed extension,” says Mercedes’ press release.
The V-Class-based Marco Polo camper van is available with three four-cylinder turbo diesel engines in three output variants (134hp, 161hp and 188hp). Orders can be placed in Germany starting July 29.
By Dan Mihalascu
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