Mercedes-Benz at the Düsseldorf Caravan Salon: The new Marco Polo and Marco Polo ACTIVITY

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In the run-up to the Düsseldorf Caravan Salon, Mercedes-Benz today presented two new stars that stand for freedom and independence: the all-new Marco Polo and Marco Polo ACTIVITY camper vans and recreational vehicles. Both vehicles introduce new ideas in their segment. Featuring modern design, the ultimate in functionality and excellent sleeping comfort, they are equally ideal for long trips or daily and urban use. The new Mercedes-Benz camper vans and recreational vehicles can be seen in Hall 16 (Stand D18) at the Caravan Salon until 7 September 2014. "Meeting a host of customer requirements, these two highly attractive vehicles from the new Marco Polo model series enrich the segment for compact camper vans and recreational vehicles," said Klaus Maier, Head of Sales and Marketing at Mercedes-Benz Vans. "From discerning individuals to young families and sports or outdoor activity enthusiasts - our two new Marco Polo models provide the optimal solution for every requirement. Combining leisure and daily use to perfection, they offer attractive design, exemplary safety and efficiency."

The perfect combination of leisure and daily use

The compact exterior dimensions, with a length of 5.14 metres and a width of 1.93 metres (excluding mirrors), combine with the electromechanical power steering to ensure great manoeuvrability and impressive agility. With a height of 1.98 metres they are able to enter all standard garages, multi-storey car parks, underground garages and car washes. At the same time, the Marco Polo and the Marco Polo ACTIVITY offer a standard of dynamic performance, comfort and economy on a par with a Mercedes-Benz passenger car. In this way, they allow the utmost flexibility and spontaneity in daily and leisure use. Numerous driver assistance systems ensure exemplary safety. Crosswind Assist and ATTENTION ASSIST are on board as standard.

The Marco Polo - the new style in independence

Featuring a fully equipped kitchen and a wardrobe with a swing-out, illuminated mirror, the Marco Polo also comes with a sliding seating/sleeping couch, rotating front seats, a folding/sliding table and a roof bed. This compact camper van combines maximum functionality with supreme comfort and style, setting new standards in its segment in the process. The interior resembles a modern lounge for discerning individualists who wish to use their camper van both for leisure purposes and on an everyday basis. For an exceptional quality feel its modern design features stylish light and dark contrasts, high-grade materials, a standard floor covering that looks like yacht decking, and atmospheric LED interior lighting including optional ambient lighting.

The kitchen module has a remarkably innovative stowage system. It consists of a large, self-closing drawer with extending worktop, two smaller, self-closing drawers which can also be opened when the bed is folded out, and a large stowage compartment with a sliding door. The covers for the kitchenette are made of smoked safety glass. This means that light continues to flood in through the window even when the covers are folded upwards. The kitchenette is fully equipped with two gas burners, a sink and a compressor refrigerator with a capacity of 40 litres. The fresh water tank has a capacity of 38 litres, the waste water tank 40 litres. Both tanks are therefore considerably larger than in the predecessor model.

A seating/sleeping couch in the rear provides excellent sleeping comfort for two people. The backrest is divided into two, and can be individually electrically adjusted on each side. Under the pop-up roof there is another comfortable double bed with a cold foam mattress and spring elements with high point elasticity. Made of glass-fibre-reinforced plastic and with a concertina of opaque, waterproof woven fabric, the pop-up roof has been further improved compared to the predecessor. Thanks to an innovative scissor-action system, it has been possible to increase the pop-up height in the rear area considerably and therefore provide particularly generous legroom. The way in which the woven fabric draws in has been improved to ensure that it collapses accurately in concertina-like fashion when the roof is lowered again. The pop-up roof is optionally available with an electric motor.

Other highlights include the standard-fitted electric vent window in the rear, tinted windows, a camping table with two chairs for outside as well as an optional rear window that opens separately and, for the first time in this segment, a detachable awning.

The Marco Polo is powered by the 2.1-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel engine in three output variants (100 kW/136 hp, 120 kW/163 hp and 140 kW/190 hp) that also ensures dynamic and efficient driving pleasure in the V-Class. For optimum traction on any surface, the top-of-the-line Marco Polo 250 BlueTEC engine is available with 4MATIC permanent all-wheel drive. The new Marco Polo starts from 54,835 euros (price in Germany incl. 19% VAT). Mercedes-Benz is thus maintaining the attractive price positioning for which the previous model was known.

The Marco Polo ACTIVITY - the all-rounder all set for any adventure

The compact Marco Polo ACTIVITY recreational vehicle boasts exceptional versatility. With a highly variable interior, comfortable berths for up to five people, five engine variants from 65 kW to 140 kW (88 hp to 190 hp) and three drive types (front, rear and all-wheel drive), it can be customised to individual requirements. This makes it the ideal vehicle for young families as well as those enjoying sports and recreational activities – for 365 days of the year.

The Marco Polo ACTIVITY is equipped as standard with a three-seater bench with one-piece backrest and bed extension. The bench can slide forward on rails. In this way, the capacity of the luggage compartment can be more than doubled in an instant to accommodate surfboards, paragliding equipment or even a bicycle inside the vehicle. Anyone who requires even more room, e.g. for carrying newly purchased shelf units, can also use the surface of the bed and the floor underneath the bed as load space. Under the bed are two drawers that can be removed, allowing items to be loaded through the resulting space.

In just a few movements, the bench seat can be converted into a comfortable bed for three people. An additional sleeping facility for two people is offered by the roof bed under the pop-up roof on board the new Marco Polo. Featuring a cold foam mattress and spring elements with high point elasticity, this bed offers a standard of lying comfort that is exceptional in the segment. Other standard equipment items are the folding table, multiple bottle holders and cup holders, two electric vent windows, curtains in the rear and pre-installation for a radio. The starting price for adventures with the Marco Polo ACTIVITY is 38,960 euros (price in Germany incl. 19% VAT).