As Volkswagen has already demonstrated with the Transporter-based California, official manufacturer camper van conversions can be both well-executed and popular with customers. Doubtless Mercedes-Benz is hoping that those epithets will soon be applied to its just-announced Marco Polo.
Using the new V-Class as a starting point, the Marco Polo has been developed in collaboration with Westfalia. It certainly seems to have been strongly influenced by the rival California.
For instance, the Marco Polo’s living area is based around a sliding rear bench seat that transforms into a double bed. However, unlike the Volkswagen, the system fitted to the Mercedes has split folding and automatically-inflating side bolsters to enhance passenger comfort.
Another similarity is the side-mounted kitchen unit that incorporates a two-burner gas hob and a 40-litre compressor fridge. There’s also a sink which is connected to internal 38-litre freshwater and 40-litre wastewater tanks, plus a fold-out table. For alfresco dining, a couple of portable chairs and another table are provided.
Two further smaller berths can be found ‘upstairs’. While the elevating roof on the California is made from aluminium and features electro-hydraulic activation as standard, fibreglass has been used for the Marco Polo and power operation is a cost option.
Like the regular V-Class, power is provided by a 2.1 litre, four-cylinder, common-rail turbodiesel engine that’s offered in a choice of three outputs. In V 200 CDI guise it produces 134 bhp (100 kW / 136 PS), the V 220 CDI has 161 bhp (120 kW / 163 PS) and the range-topping V 250 BlueTEC boasts 187 bhp (140 kW / 190 PS).
The V-Class Marco Polo can be ordered in Germany from the end of this month, but UK availability has yet to be confirmed.
Related posts:
Seven-seat Citan Traveliner coming
2014 Sprinter Airstream Autobahn revealed
2014 Mercedes-Benz V-Class unveiled
Using the new V-Class as a starting point, the Marco Polo has been developed in collaboration with Westfalia. It certainly seems to have been strongly influenced by the rival California.
For instance, the Marco Polo’s living area is based around a sliding rear bench seat that transforms into a double bed. However, unlike the Volkswagen, the system fitted to the Mercedes has split folding and automatically-inflating side bolsters to enhance passenger comfort.
Another similarity is the side-mounted kitchen unit that incorporates a two-burner gas hob and a 40-litre compressor fridge. There’s also a sink which is connected to internal 38-litre freshwater and 40-litre wastewater tanks, plus a fold-out table. For alfresco dining, a couple of portable chairs and another table are provided.
Two further smaller berths can be found ‘upstairs’. While the elevating roof on the California is made from aluminium and features electro-hydraulic activation as standard, fibreglass has been used for the Marco Polo and power operation is a cost option.
Like the regular V-Class, power is provided by a 2.1 litre, four-cylinder, common-rail turbodiesel engine that’s offered in a choice of three outputs. In V 200 CDI guise it produces 134 bhp (100 kW / 136 PS), the V 220 CDI has 161 bhp (120 kW / 163 PS) and the range-topping V 250 BlueTEC boasts 187 bhp (140 kW / 190 PS).
The V-Class Marco Polo can be ordered in Germany from the end of this month, but UK availability has yet to be confirmed.
Related posts:
Seven-seat Citan Traveliner coming
2014 Sprinter Airstream Autobahn revealed
2014 Mercedes-Benz V-Class unveiled
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