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.
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 250 kg 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.
