Mercedes reveals the Marco Polo camper van

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.

Mercedes-Benz V-Class Marco Polo (2014) Front Side

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.

Mercedes-Benz V-Class Marco Polo (2014) Interior 1Mercedes-Benz V-Class Marco Polo (2014) Interior 2

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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