Automotive

Mercedes-Benz travels toward a fashionable, flexible horizon with new camper van

Mercedes-Benz travels toward a fashionable, flexible horizon with new camper van
At camp with the Mercedes Marco Polo Horizon
At camp with the Mercedes Marco Polo Horizon
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The Marco Polo family gets a new member
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The Marco Polo family gets a new member
The Mercedes Me Connect suite lets drivers connect with the Marco Polo Horizon via mobile device or computer
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The Mercedes Me Connect suite lets drivers connect with the Marco Polo Horizon via mobile device or computer
The Horizon comes with two swivel seats up front and a variety of options for second and third row seating
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The Horizon comes with two swivel seats up front and a variety of options for second and third row seating
The full-width bed offers space for up to three, and the roof bed sleeps two
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The full-width bed offers space for up to three, and the roof bed sleeps two
A folding table is available as an option
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A folding table is available as an option
The Horizon is based on the Mercedes V-Class
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The Horizon is based on the Mercedes V-Class
Campers can darken the cabin with curtains
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Campers can darken the cabin with curtains
Mercedes reveals the new Marco Polo Horizon camper van
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Mercedes reveals the new Marco Polo Horizon camper van
Mercedes reveals the new Marco Polo Horizon camper van
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Mercedes reveals the new Marco Polo Horizon camper van
The Horizon adds versatility with several different seating configurations and removable seats
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The Horizon adds versatility with several different seating configurations and removable seats
Two under-bench drawers provide storage organization
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Two under-bench drawers provide storage organization
The Marco Polo Horizon can be equipped with several engine options and available all-wheel drive
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The Marco Polo Horizon can be equipped with several engine options and available all-wheel drive
The pop-up roof opens up more headroom inside and houses a roof bed
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The pop-up roof opens up more headroom inside and houses a roof bed
The Mercedes Marco Polo Horizon makes its debut at the CMT Stuttgart show, underway now
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The Mercedes Marco Polo Horizon makes its debut at the CMT Stuttgart show, underway now
Mercedes invites Marco Polo Horizon owners to "attend a business meeting in the morning" and "pick up the kids and their classmates from school in the afternoon" before heading off for a weekend of climbing adventure
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Mercedes invites Marco Polo Horizon owners to "attend a business meeting in the morning" and "pick up the kids and their classmates from school in the afternoon"  before heading off for a weekend of climbing adventure 
The Marco Polo Horizon is designed for a mix of camping adventures and everyday driving duties
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The Marco Polo Horizon is designed for a mix of camping adventures and everyday driving duties
At camp with the Mercedes Marco Polo Horizon
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At camp with the Mercedes Marco Polo Horizon
At camp with the Mercedes Marco Polo Horizon
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At camp with the Mercedes Marco Polo Horizon
Whatever type of adventure or relaxation you have in mind, the Marco Polo Horizon will help you get there and spend a day or few
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Whatever type of adventure or relaxation you have in mind, the Marco Polo Horizon will help you get there and spend a day or few
Mercedes Marco Polo Horizon
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Mercedes Marco Polo Horizon
Unlike larger, more fully equipped camper vans, the Marco Polo Horizon is designed to double as a more everyday driver
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Unlike larger, more fully equipped camper vans, the Marco Polo Horizon is designed to double as a more everyday driver
Back in the city with the Marco Polo Horizon
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Back in the city with the Marco Polo Horizon
Mercedes Marco Polo Horizon
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Mercedes Marco Polo Horizon
Mercedes Marco Polo Horizon
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Mercedes Marco Polo Horizon
The new Horizon is available for order now
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The new Horizon is available for order now
The Marco Polo family gets a new member
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The Marco Polo family gets a new member
The Mercedes Me Connect suite lets drivers connect with the Marco Polo Horizon via mobile device or computer
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The Mercedes Me Connect suite lets drivers connect with the Marco Polo Horizon via mobile device or computer
The Horizon comes with two swivel seats up front and a variety of options for second and third row seating
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The Horizon comes with two swivel seats up front and a variety of options for second and third row seating
The full-width bed offers space for up to three, and the roof bed sleeps two
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The full-width bed offers space for up to three, and the roof bed sleeps two
A folding table is available as an option
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A folding table is available as an option
The Horizon is based on the Mercedes V-Class
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The Horizon is based on the Mercedes V-Class
Campers can darken the cabin with curtains
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Campers can darken the cabin with curtains
Mercedes reveals the new Marco Polo Horizon camper van
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Mercedes reveals the new Marco Polo Horizon camper van
Mercedes reveals the new Marco Polo Horizon camper van
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Mercedes reveals the new Marco Polo Horizon camper van
The Horizon adds versatility with several different seating configurations and removable seats
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The Horizon adds versatility with several different seating configurations and removable seats
Two under-bench drawers provide storage organization
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Two under-bench drawers provide storage organization
The Marco Polo Horizon can be equipped with several engine options and available all-wheel drive
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The Marco Polo Horizon can be equipped with several engine options and available all-wheel drive
The pop-up roof opens up more headroom inside and houses a roof bed
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The pop-up roof opens up more headroom inside and houses a roof bed
The Mercedes Marco Polo Horizon makes its debut at the CMT Stuttgart show, underway now
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The Mercedes Marco Polo Horizon makes its debut at the CMT Stuttgart show, underway now
Mercedes invites Marco Polo Horizon owners to "attend a business meeting in the morning" and "pick up the kids and their classmates from school in the afternoon" before heading off for a weekend of climbing adventure
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Mercedes invites Marco Polo Horizon owners to "attend a business meeting in the morning" and "pick up the kids and their classmates from school in the afternoon"  before heading off for a weekend of climbing adventure 
The Marco Polo Horizon is designed for a mix of camping adventures and everyday driving duties
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The Marco Polo Horizon is designed for a mix of camping adventures and everyday driving duties
At camp with the Mercedes Marco Polo Horizon
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At camp with the Mercedes Marco Polo Horizon
At camp with the Mercedes Marco Polo Horizon
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At camp with the Mercedes Marco Polo Horizon
Whatever type of adventure or relaxation you have in mind, the Marco Polo Horizon will help you get there and spend a day or few
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Whatever type of adventure or relaxation you have in mind, the Marco Polo Horizon will help you get there and spend a day or few
Mercedes Marco Polo Horizon
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Mercedes Marco Polo Horizon
Unlike larger, more fully equipped camper vans, the Marco Polo Horizon is designed to double as a more everyday driver
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Unlike larger, more fully equipped camper vans, the Marco Polo Horizon is designed to double as a more everyday driver
Back in the city with the Marco Polo Horizon
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Back in the city with the Marco Polo Horizon
Mercedes Marco Polo Horizon
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Mercedes Marco Polo Horizon
Mercedes Marco Polo Horizon
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Mercedes Marco Polo Horizon
The new Horizon is available for order now
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The new Horizon is available for order now
View gallery - 50 images

The compact camper van business has been treating Mercedes-Benz well. It introduced the Marco Polo and Marco Polo Activity vans at the 2014 Düsseldorf Caravan Salon, and now it's adding a third member to the Marco Polo family at another prominent German camper show, CMT Stuttgart. The all-new Marco Polo Horizon slots between its older siblings, adding a simple, flexible V-Class-based camper van alternative. It's game for everything from family camping excursions to everyday commutes and errands.

Mercedes says the new Horizon combines attributes of both the standard Marco Polo and the Marco Polo Activity to appeal to new target groups. Essentially, it's an Activity-like camper van that offers the superior equipment and options of a V-Class base (the Activity is based on the Vito Tourer commercial van).

Some things you'll find on the Horizon's standard equipment list that you won't find on the Activity's include a multifunctional steering wheel with trip computer, Mercedes Me Connect standard services, body-color bumpers and components and interior front carpet. Similarly, the Horizon offers a more robust options list, including Distronic Plus assistance, parking package with 360-degree camera, and COMAND Online infotainment. Packages like the AMG Line and Interior Design are also available for the Horizon but not the Activity.

What the Horizon shares with the Activity is a simple floor plan that provides for plenty of flexibility. It leaves space-hogging amenities like kitchenettes and wardrobes to the Marco Polo and other full-fledged camper vans, offering sleeping space for up to five and seating space for up to eight. The more crowded Marco Polo, by comparison, sleeps and seats only four, making it more a single-purpose camper van, less a flexible everyday people-hauler.

The Horizon comes with two swivel seats up front and a variety of options for second and third row seating
The Horizon comes with two swivel seats up front and a variety of options for second and third row seating

Horizon buyers can choose from several different seating configurations for between five and eight passengers. The standard configuration consists of two front swivel seats and a three-seat rear bench. Buyers can also opt to complement the two front swivel seats with four independently mounted rear seats, for a total of six, or a combination of two second-row seats and a three-seat third-row bench, for a total of seven. The Marco Polo Horizon press release suggests that seven is the maximum number of passengers, but Mercedes' international website says it's also possible to equip the camper with two three-seat benches for a total of eight seats.

With all those available configurations, buyers will have their say in exactly how many people are able to climb aboard. The rear seats are also mounted to rails so they can slide and remove to adjust the amount of cargo and passenger space as needed. The open, flexible layout allows the Horizon to work for everything from everyday commuting and people hauling, to full-family camping holidays, to gear-heavy adventures.

Campers can darken the cabin with curtains
Campers can darken the cabin with curtains

At camp, the Horizon's roof pops up, opening up headroom and a 6.7 x 3.7-foot (2.05 x 1.13-m) bed for two. The rear seats fold down into the second bed, which, depending upon seating configuration, offers up to 6.3 x 4.4-foot (1.93 m x 1.35-m) of sleeping space for up to three people. Two under-bench drawers provide some organized storage, and curtains darken the interior for a better night's (and morning's) sleep. Options include air heating, a rail-mounted folding table module and hot water auxiliary heating.

The Marco Polo Horizon can be ordered with the range of V-Class diesel engines, offering outputs from 134 to 188 hp. Those engines will come linked to Mercedes' 7G-tronic Plus seven-speed automatic transmission. Rear-wheel drive is standard, and 4Matic all-wheel drive is available as an option. Beginning in March, Mercedes will offer an all-new tilting/sliding glass sunroof option.

Unlike larger, more fully equipped camper vans, the Marco Polo Horizon is designed to double as a more everyday driver
Unlike larger, more fully equipped camper vans, the Marco Polo Horizon is designed to double as a more everyday driver

The Marco Polo Horizon can be ordered now, starting at €52,051 euros (approx. US$55,700). Mercedes plans to expand Marco Polo distribution in 2017, offering a right-hand-drive Marco Polo in the UK and a right-hand Marco Polo Activity in Australia.

Source: Daimler

View gallery - 50 images
5 comments
5 comments
EcoLogical
I like the camper version of these vans, but diesel engines only? Not for me, I'm not willing to make my family and neighbors sick with toxic diesel emissions. Now if Mercedes offered an all-electric version of these vans I'd buy one tomorrow.
HerrDrPantagruel
This slots in where the US model VW Eurovan MV pop-top used to sit. I happen to have a 2001 version of that. We just slide in a box kitchen setup in the back for camping, removing it for daily driving. This makes it pretty much a normal mid size minivan with 7 seats that fits in our standard height garage and standard parking spaces. Fantastic.
Love it, sure wish someone would bring one back to the states. We have the passenger vans available as the Metris but still no sign of pop-top version at all . . .
Fairly Reasoner
More van than camper, most certainly.
All electric suggestion? Planning to camp in your back yard?
DaveGillette
When does Mercedes plan on offering a Marco Polo Horizon or similar camper in the USA?