2015 Caravan Salon: the Mercedes-Benz vans are built for success

Düsseldorf, Germany
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At the Caravan Salon in Düsseldorf, Mercedes-Benz will be presenting its new Marco Polo models, together with variants such as the new “Tecamp” from Terra Camper and the new “MultiCamper” built by Neureuther. Five other bodybuilders will also be displaying camper vans based on the V-Class and the Vito.

Just one year after the market launch, the Marco Polo and Marco Polo ACTIVITY are making gigantic steps on the path to glory. Their success is confirmed by the ever rising demand, but also by the awards they keep winning. Recently, the Marco Polo knocked down two readers’ choice trophies awarded by two specialist magazines. The readers of Promobil Auto designated the Marco Polo “Compact Camper of the Year 2015”. In the readers’ poll conducted by AUTO BILD REISEMOBIL, the camper also took first place and is to receive the award “The Gold AUTO BILD Camper Van 2015” on 31 August.

It is also going great for the V-Class and the Vito, both making their way into the leading positions of the market as attractive base vehicles for customised camper vans.

“We are proud of our Marco Polo models. The demand far exceeds our expectations”, stated Klaus Maier, Head of Sales and Marketing at Mercedes-Benz Vans.

Marco Polo

With the newly developed pop-up roof, the V-Class and the Vito from Mercedes-Benz provide highly attractive platforms for compact camper vans featuring conversion solutions. Manufacturers have taken advantage of everything both vehicles have to offer. Thanks to the extremely compact design, the Vito 4×4 and the V-Class 4MATIC with a pop-up roof have the same overall height of 1.98 m as the models with rear-wheel drive, making them fully suitable for daily use, being able to fit most underground or multi-storey parkings and washes.

Kings of comfort and design in their segment, the V-Class and Vito set further standards where safety is concerned. Both vehicles are fitted with Crosswind Assist and ATTENTION ASSIST as standard. Other innovative assistance systems such as Active Parking Assist, COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST, Lane Keeping Assist, Blind Spot Assist and the LED Intelligent Light System are included in the options list.

With a lounge style cabin and a roof bed, they can accommodate up to four people (five for the ACTIVITY version) and feature an extra comfort highlight: for the first time in a camper van, it is possible to operate the infotainment system from any seat using a smartphone – even from the roof bed or from a camping chair placed outside the door of the Marco Polo.

 The V-Class and the Vito offer bodybuilders and conversion experts new means of turning their products into truly distinctive merchandise. Ever more camper van manufacturers are broadening their portfolios using the MB vehicles as a base. Terra Camper has already presented the first Tecamp based on the Vito 4×4 with SCA pop-up roof back at the beginning of the year. The new 140 kW (190 hp) expedition vehicle combines the comfort and the compact dimensions of a passenger car with the long-distance capabilities of an expedition machinery.

Neureuther has now also based its MultiCamper multifunction recreational vehicle on the 140 kW (190 hp) Mercedes-Benz Vito 4×4 for the first time.

And long-term partner of Mercedes-Benz, Hymer, is also presenting the design study of its first compact camper van based on the Mercedes-Benz V-Class at the Caravan Salon in Dusseldorf. The highlight inside the Hymer design study is a modular furniture concept, which guarantees maximum flexibility for personal usage.

Hymer has also been using the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter for its top models since 1955.

Sprinter

Camper and mobile home manufacturer Hymer is one of the official “VanPartners by Mercedes-Benz”. The exclusive status is awarded to selected bodybuilders with whom Mercedes-Benz cooperates particularly closely. Their body and conversion solutions are produced in compliance with the Mercedes-Benz standards. Mercedes-Benz works with 200 certified bodybuilders worldwide.