Mercedes-Benz is jumping into the camper business by using its Metris cargo van as a base.
The company introduced The Weekender, a Mercedes-Benz pop up camper, at the Chicago Auto Show on Thursday.
“We have known for a long time that this market need was unmet as evidenced by the high demand for aging existing camper vans still on the road,” said Robert Veit, managing director, Mercedes-Benz USA Vans.
The campers, which can be ordered through Mercedes dealers this spring, are built by a partnership between the automaker, Driverge Vehicle Innovations and Peace Vans, a large classic camper van repair and restoration shop based in Seattle, Wash.
STANDARD FEATURES
The pop-top works with a spring mechanism. It has a 2-inch memory foam mattress, three windows, and added USB ports for lights and charging.
The multipurpose rear bench seat opens up into a bed for two. Additionally, when folded into the seat configuration, the seat moves along a rail position into four locations, allowing additional room for varying cargo needs. Also inside are swiveling front seats that rotate 180 degrees to turn the cabin into a lounge.
VW WESTFALIA
Rival German automaker Volkswagen popularized the use of small vans as pop-top campers in the U.S. with its Westfalia model in the 1960s and 70s. More recent models from the 1990s sell for as much as $30,000.
Mercedes hasn’t released price information but expects the camper van to retail for around $70,000. 2020 model year Metris passenger vans sell for about $36,000 but can easily climb above $40,000 with options.
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