Mercedes-Benz Marco Polo EDITION models at Caravan Salon

Mercedes-Benz Vans is using the Caravan Salon in Düsseldorf to show how far its camper van business now reaches, from the compact Citan to the Sprinter. Two special-edition models, the Marco Polo EDITION and the Marco Polo ACTIVITY EDITION, bundle extra equipment as standard, priced from 59,500 euros and 44,625 euros respectively in Germany. Alongside them sit third-party conversions on Sprinter and Vito, plus a Citan with a folding roof tent. Mercedes me connect also arrives on the Marco Polo for the first time.

Mercedes-Benz Vans has built a solid position in the camper van market with the Marco Polo and the Marco Polo ACTIVITY, and the company is using stand D18 in hall 16 at the Caravan Salon in Düsseldorf to set out the full breadth of that business. The display covers factory models, factory accessories and conversions built by outside specialists on Mercedes-Benz base vehicles.

“We are consistently pushing ahead with our activities in the camper van market,” says Klaus Maier, Head of Sales and Marketing at Mercedes-Benz Vans. “With the new Marco Polo and Marco Polo ACTIVITY edition models we are offering our customers practical and comfortable extras at an attractive price. We are also proud of the strong interest shown by body manufacturers in our base vehicles, so once again this year there are new camper van solutions to be seen on our Mercedes-Benz stand.”

Two edition models with equipment bundled in

The Marco Polo EDITION is set apart from the standard model by an exterior sports package, 17-inch alloy wheels and metallic paint. It comes with the 7G-TRONIC PLUS automatic transmission and the Intelligent Light System, an adaptive headlamp set-up with five light functions that adjusts to weather, light and driving conditions. Infotainment is handled by Audio 20 CD, with navigation via Garmin MAP PILOT, which gains Live Traffic as standard from September 2016. A parking package, an auxiliary hot-air heater with timer and temperature control, and TEMPMATIC air conditioning round out the package; a radio remote control for the auxiliary heater is optional.

The Marco Polo ACTIVITY EDITION leans on the model’s reputation as a flexible base for sport and outdoor use — Mercedes-Benz is showing it in Düsseldorf with a trailer and a motocross bike. It gets body-coloured add-on parts and bumpers, metallic paint, 17-inch alloy wheels and tinted rear glazing, along with the Audio 15 system with a 14.7-centimetre TFT display and iPod interface, upgradeable to full navigation with the Becker MAP PILOT. Heated front seats, an auxiliary hot-air heater with timer and TEMPMATIC air conditioning are also included.

The Marco Polo EDITION starts at 59,500 euros and the Marco Polo ACTIVITY EDITION at 44,625 euros, both German prices including 19 per cent VAT. From early 2017 the company will also offer factory accessories for both models, including insulating mats for the front windows, an insect screen and a sleeping topper for the lower bed.

An AMG Line camper and connected services

The Marco Polo AMG Line brings a sportier look to the compact camper segment, with an AMG front apron, diamond-pattern grille, 19-inch AMG alloy wheels in a seven-twin-spoke design, a diffuser-look rear apron and a chrome loading sill protector. Inside there are silver-chrome vents, brushed aluminium sports pedals and carbon-look trim. A sports suspension lowered by 15 millimetres is fitted, with AGILITY CONTROL suspension and frequency-dependent variable damping available as an alternative.

Mercedes me connect is being introduced on the Marco Polo for the first time, covering close to 20 Mercedes me markets. The free basic services include the Mercedes-Benz emergency call system, accident, maintenance and breakdown management and remote diagnostics. Live Traffic Information and remote online services are optional, allowing owners to check fuel level or range, lock and unlock the doors, and switch on the optional auxiliary hot-water heater from a distance.

Conversions on Sprinter, Vito and Citan

The HYMERCAR Grand Canyon S, based on the Sprinter panel van, is shown on the Mercedes-Benz stand with a transverse bed measuring 195 by 140 centimetres (77 by 55 inches), a galley kitchen and a full bathroom. Mercedes-Benz notes that the Sprinter is the only van offered with Crosswind Assist as a base vehicle, a system it argues matters more for camper vans because their tall flat sides catch the wind. Lane Keeping Assist, Blind Spot Assist, Highbeam Assist and COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST are available as options. A new 5.5-tonne gross weight variant lifts maximum payload by close to half a tonne, to 3.15 tonnes for the panel van and up to 3.46 tonnes for the chassis cab.

In the compact class, the Vansportscamper from Terracamper and Hartmann Tuning uses the Vito Tourer, with a matt black sleeping roof, matt black alloy wheels and Hartmann body parts. The Vito itself is offered with rear- or all-wheel drive in 100 kW (136 hp), 120 kW (163 hp) and 140 kW (190 hp) outputs, and with front-wheel drive at 65 kW (88 hp) and 84 kW (115 hp), with a six-speed manual or the 7G-TRONIC PLUS automatic. Crosswind Assist and ATTENTION ASSIST are standard. Converters can also specify the SCA pop-top roof developed with C.F. Maier: the front-opening SCA 152 for the long body with an overall length of 5.14 metres (16.9 feet), or the rear-opening SCA 153.

The smallest van in the range gets a simple answer. The TopDog folding roof tent from 3DOG camping turns the Citan into sleeping quarters for up to two people, with a cover, inner tent and integrated floor, and the company says it takes only a few minutes to pitch. Packed down on the roof it stands just 25 to 30 centimetres (10 to 12 inches) tall.

What it means

The camper van market rewards manufacturers who can supply a base vehicle at every size, and this is the first time Mercedes-Benz Vans has presented conversion solutions spanning its whole portfolio at the show, from Citan to Sprinter. The edition models attack the same ground from the other side, packaging equipment buyers would otherwise option individually.

Facts: Mercedes-Benz Marco Polo editions

Marco Polo EDITION: from 59,500 euros (Germany, incl. 19 per cent VAT)
Marco Polo ACTIVITY EDITION: from 44,625 euros (Germany, incl. 19 per cent VAT)
EDITION highlights: exterior sports package, 17-inch alloys, metallic paint, 7G-TRONIC PLUS, Intelligent Light System, Audio 20 CD, Garmin MAP PILOT, parking package, auxiliary heater, TEMPMATIC
ACTIVITY EDITION highlights: body-coloured add-ons and bumpers, 17-inch alloys, tinted rear glazing, Audio 15 with 14.7 cm display, Becker MAP PILOT, heated front seats, auxiliary heater, TEMPMATIC
Marco Polo AMG Line: AMG body styling, 19-inch AMG alloys, suspension lowered 15 mm, optional AGILITY CONTROL
Factory camping accessories: from early 2017

Both edition models can be ordered now in Germany, and the factory accessories for the Marco Polo and Marco Polo ACTIVITY follow from the start of 2017.