Automotive

Bürstner makes Ford van a flexible mini-camper multitool

Bürstner makes Ford van a flexible mini-camper multitool
The Copa comes in several color options
The Copa comes in several color options
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The Burstner Copa kitchen block comes standard with a dual-burner stove and sink, and the 41-L compressor fridge box is optional and included with several packages
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The Burstner Copa kitchen block comes standard with a dual-burner stove and sink, and the 41-L compressor fridge box is optional and included with several packages
The floor rails allow Copa owners to adjust around passengers and cargo
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The floor rails allow Copa owners to adjust around passengers and cargo
Burstner Copa camper van kitchen
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Burstner Copa camper van kitchen
The compact Copa measures just under 5 meters long and just over 2 meters high
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The compact Copa measures just under 5 meters long and just over 2 meters high
The fridge box can be purchased on its own and also comes as part of the "holiday package" that includes the two-seat convertible bench/bed
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The fridge box can be purchased on its own and also comes as part of the "holiday package" that includes the two-seat convertible bench/bed
Two-seat bench and individual seats in a business van-like vis-a-vis layout
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Two-seat bench and individual seats in a business van-like vis-a-vis layout
Standard outdoor shower hookup
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Standard outdoor shower hookup
The pop-up roof and roof bed come standard
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The pop-up roof and roof bed come standard
Copa everyday MPV set-up with six front-facing seats
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Copa everyday MPV set-up with six front-facing seats
The Burstner Copa finds some serenity
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The Burstner Copa finds some serenity
Dining set-up with swivel front seats and rear bench
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Dining set-up with swivel front seats and rear bench
The Copa is based on a Ford Transit Custom with 128-hp 2.0-liter engine
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The Copa is based on a Ford Transit Custom with 128-hp 2.0-liter engine
At the wheel
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At the wheel
Burstner transforms the Ford Transit Custom into the Copa pop-up multipurpose mini-camper
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Burstner transforms the Ford Transit Custom into the Copa pop-up multipurpose mini-camper
Burstner takes its current camper van lineup a little smaller with the new Copa
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Burstner takes its current camper van lineup a little smaller with the new Copa
Burstner Copa detailing
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Burstner Copa detailing
As with similar vans from the competition, the Copa's floor rails open up its versatility
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As with similar vans from the competition, the Copa's floor rails open up its versatility
The Copa comes in several color options
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The Copa comes in several color options
Rear-seat dining area with front seats left facing forward
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Rear-seat dining area with front seats left facing forward
View gallery - 19 images

More and more camper brands have realized that many customers don't want a big, ugly RV rotting away in their driveways for 3/4 of the year. They'd much rather have a small multipurpose vehicle to use every day of the year, including as a camper. Not long after similar product debuts like the Crosscamp Lite and VanTourer Urban, German motorhome manufacturer Bürstner launches its own take on the multipurpose mini-camper van. Its Ford Transit Custom rolls onto the road as a six-seat business van, two-person adventure gear-hauler, four-person camper van and open cargo van. It's a highly compelling rig for those who want a compact van that's much more than a camper.

Bürstner already has a small range of larger Sevel van-based camper vans, and the Copa represents its expansion into the sub-5-m multipurpose camper van market. The Copa can be personalized right off the order sheet, offering buyers the option of one or two beds and up to six seats, making it easy to spec as anything from a couple's van life escape up to an everyday family workhorse-cum-holiday getaway.

The Burstner Copa finds some serenity
The Burstner Copa finds some serenity

The 497-cm (196-in) Copa starts off with a standard pop-up sleeper roof with 190 x 110-cm (75 x 43-in) bed. The standard equipment package also brings along a driver-side kitchen with dual-burner stove/sink combo. A 41-L compressor cool box can be optionally dropped between the kitchen and the full-height storage cabinets in back.

Those who want the van for two-person adventures can leave the rear cabin empty for carrying bikes and surfboards, riding up front and sleeping in the roof bed. To sleep four, buyers can add the holiday package, which loads in a two-seat convertible bench that folds into a 187 x 97-cm (74 x 38-in) double bed. Whether or not they opt for the convertible bench, buyers can also add one or two individual chairs, for up to six seats all together.

Two-seat bench and individual seats in a business van-like vis-a-vis layout
Two-seat bench and individual seats in a business van-like vis-a-vis layout

Using the floor rail system, the standalone seats can be set up facing forward or in vis-à-vis configuration with the rear bench. In the latter set-up, the dining table can be secured to the kitchen block and used between the four rear seats. The driver and front passenger seat also swivel around, offering four-person dining when the middle seats are not installed.

Unlike in the aforementioned VanTourer Urban or the Pössl Vanster, the Copa kitchen is hard-mounted and does not remove for outdoor use or to free up extra space inside the van. But the floor rails keep the seating configuration flexible enough to easily transform from six-person soccer-practice shuttling, to family-of-four camping, to cargo van-style tool and material hauling.

Copa everyday MPV set-up with six front-facing seats
Copa everyday MPV set-up with six front-facing seats

Other standard Copa camper equipment includes a 95-Ah leisure battery, 50-L fresh water tank, 35-L waste water tank, LED lighting, and outdoor shower hookup just inside the tailgate. A diesel auxiliary camping heater is available optionally. The base Ford Transit Custom comes powered by a 128-hp 2.0-liter EcoBlue engine and includes standard features like park pilot, hill start assist and active brake assist. A 182-hp engine is available as an optional upgrade.

Bürstner highlighted the Copa at CMT Digital in January and plans to roll the model out in Germany and France this spring for a base price of €39,990 (approx. US$48,275), including VAT. The four-sleeper, six-seater variant starts at €50,260 ($60,675) before other options. A wider European launch will follow in 2022. In the United States, meanwhile ... well, we'll just continue looking on in envy at the army of affordable, super-versatile camper-MPVs that keep rolling off production lines in Europe.

Source: Bürstner

View gallery - 19 images
1 comment
1 comment
jerryd
Never liked these top heavy pop top beds that hurt mileage.
Much better is a rear tent extension give standing headroom under the van rear door hinged up.
Or as I do, just design the existing room better.