Mercedes has revealed a pair of camper concepts based on the new X-Class pickup truck at the CMT Show in Stuttgart.
Showcasing the X-Class’ ability to become the new base vehicle for camper purposes, Mercedes showcased one concept with a removable cabin created by Tischer as well as a concept that had a kitchen system created by VanEssa integrated into its bed.
Mercedes also showcased all three members of Marco Polo family of campers, including the Marco Polo travel van, the Marco Polo Activity and the Marco Polo Horizon.
“It is important to us that our vehicles appeal to camper van bodybuilders as well, of course, to end customers. The X-Class fits seamlessly into our established product range. We are proud to introduce first camper van solution approaches together with Tischer and VanEssa at the CMT, just two months after the vehicle’s launch”, said Volker Mornhinweg, Head of Mercedes-Benz Vans.
The removable cabin from Tischer offers a headroom of almost 2 meters, a comfortable sleeping system in an alcove that’s 150cm wide, a kitchen with a three-burner gas stove and seating for three which easily converts into a second bed. There’s also an integrated bathroom with a fold-away wash basin and swiveling toilet unit.
The second concept, developed by VanEssa, features a heavy-duty pull-out module which weighs around 250kg with a fully equipped kitchen. This includes a coolbox, cooking and washing-up facilities, as well as space for crockery and supplies. A second pull-out module offers more space while the load compartment is protected by a cover made out of teak wood, the same used in the yacht decks.
The camper van market is booming in Germany, with the German Caravanning Industry Association announcing 38,000 new vehicles registered between January and October 2017, almost 5,000 more than in the same period of the previous year.
Mercedes believes that there’s a strong interest in pickup camper vans as customers tend to take their homes on wheels into more remote regions. That makes a pickup camper van ideal, thanks to its off-road capabilities.
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