Automotive

La Strada turns all-new Mercedes Sprinter into on/off-road adventure camper van

La Strada turns all-new Mercedes Sprinter into on/off-road adventure camper van
La Strada releases the Regent S built on the third-generation Sprinter that debuted earlier in 2018
La Strada releases the Regent S built on the third-generation Sprinter that debuted earlier in 2018
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La Strada releases the Regent S built on the third-generation Sprinter that debuted earlier in 2018
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La Strada releases the Regent S built on the third-generation Sprinter that debuted earlier in 2018
The Regent S is currently available as a rear-wheel drive but will soon be available in 4x4
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The Regent S is currently available as a rear-wheel drive but will soon be available in 4x4
The La Strada Regent S comes standard with a 161-hp 2.2-liter CDI engine, with a 188-hp 3.0-liter CDI available optionally
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The La Strada Regent S comes standard with a 161-hp 2.2-liter CDI engine, with a 188-hp 3.0-liter CDI available optionally
Thanks to its rear bed/cargo area and soon-to-be-available AWD, the Regent S is a natural adventure van
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Thanks to its rear bed/cargo area and soon-to-be-available AWD, the Regent S is a natural adventure van
The Regent S measures 19 feet (5.9-m) in length
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The Regent S measures 19 feet (5.9-m) in length
On the road in the La Strada Regent S camper van
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On the road in the La Strada Regent S camper van
Regent S floor plan
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Regent S floor plan
The transverse rear bed offers some under-bed storage
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The transverse rear bed offers some under-bed storage
Flip the bed out of the way and you can store boards, bikes or other large gear and cargo
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Flip the bed out of the way and you can store boards, bikes or other large gear and cargo
With its matching under-panel, the flip-up bed blends neatly into the greater decor
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With its matching under-panel, the flip-up bed blends neatly into the greater decor 
The Regent S includes an adjustable two-seat dining bench
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The Regent S includes an adjustable two-seat dining bench
La Strada has designed its cockpit/dining area for extra headroom
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La Strada has designed its cockpit/dining area for extra headroom 
The kitchen includes a standing height fridge/freezer, three-burner stove and sink
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The kitchen includes a standing height fridge/freezer, three-burner stove and sink
Wet bath in the La Strada Regent S camper van
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Wet bath in the La Strada Regent S camper van
La Strada has built in a variety of drawers, cabinets and storage areas
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La Strada has built in a variety of drawers, cabinets and storage areas
The Regent S is a cozy two-sleeper
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The Regent S is a cozy two-sleeper
La Strada shows the Regent S at the 2018 Caravan Salon
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La Strada shows the Regent S at the 2018 Caravan Salon
The new Sprinter has a tauter set of headlights and a slightly less pointy grille surround shape
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The new Sprinter has a tauter set of headlights and a slightly less pointy grille surround shape
La Strada Regent S at the 2018 Caravan Salon
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La Strada Regent S at the 2018 Caravan Salon
Swivel driver cab seats
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Swivel driver cab seats
Available MBUX infotainment with voice activation is one of the car-like features on the all-new Sprinter
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Available MBUX infotainment with voice activation is one of the car-like features on the all-new Sprinter
Regent S dining area
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Regent S dining area
Bedside storage pockets
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Bedside storage pockets
A look in the Regent S wet bath
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A look in the Regent S wet bath
The show model had a little wet bath carpet that hid the shower basin/drain
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The show model had a little wet bath carpet that hid the shower basin/drain 
Wet-bath carpet on the Regent S show model
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Wet-bath carpet on the Regent S show model
The extension panels make the transverse bed possible inside the Regent S
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The extension panels make the transverse bed possible inside the Regent S
La Strada Regent S kitchen
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La Strada Regent S kitchen
View gallery - 28 images

Hymer isn't the only manufacturer that has gotten off to a quick start in turning the new Mercedes-Benz Sprinter into a gear-hauling adventure camper. Germany's La Strada has built its flagship Regent S into the third-gen Sprinter platform. The new camper van rolls as a smart, sleek two-sleeper with a bathroom and convertible rear bedroom for carrying bikes, surfboards and other large sports gear. It'll soon come in all-wheel drive, making for a fully capable adventure rig and base camp.

The more we look at camper vans, the more we realize how the subtle, little alterations can really make a big difference. The Düsseldorf Caravan Salon was absolutely packed with reasonably priced camper vans with similar layouts and features, but many individual models managed to stand out thanks to these types of subtle but substantive differences.

The 19.4-foot (5.9-m) Regent S was one of them, offering its own interpretation of the very popular foldaway rear bed, seen on the Hymer Grand Canyon S, Volkswagen Grand California and plenty other Euro-market camper vans. Such side-folding bed designs are useful in clearing out space for carrying bikes and other tall cargo in back. La Strada's Regent S design is a little more neatly integrated than average.

Flip the bed out of the way and you can store boards, bikes or other large gear and cargo
Flip the bed out of the way and you can store boards, bikes or other large gear and cargo

The folding section of the 78 x 57-in (198 x 144-cm) bed has an under panel that matches the interior furniture and trim, so when it folds against the side, it fits in like the final piece of the aesthetic puzzle. Instead of a white mattress sticking out like a sore thumb, you end up with a seamless rear wall. It's a minor improvement, but when you're trying to feel at home inside the cold metal of a van, minor improvements can help.

Moving forward in the van, the kitchen block and wet bath are located across from each other just fore of the transverse rear bed. The kitchen packs in a triple-burner stove right next to the sink, giving it a little extra cooking power over the two-burners more common in compact campers. A 65-L compressor fridge/freezer sits at standing height to the right, offering easier access than an under-counter fridge. Five soft-close drawers and upper cabinets fill out the kitchen area.

La Strada Regent S kitchen
La Strada Regent S kitchen

The Regent S dining area includes a two-seat bench with adjustable seating, a removable tabletop and swivel driver cab seats. The fold-down storage compartment above the driver cab stows away to open up plenty of headroom and living space.

The Regent S comes standard with a Truma Combi 4 heat/hot water system, 100-L fresh water tank, 70-L waste water tank and 100-Ah gel battery. It benefits from standard and available Sprinter technologies like MBUX infotainment with voice control, Distronic adaptive cruise control, parking assistance and active lane keeping assist. Base price slides in at €66,900 (approx. US$77,450) with the 161-hp 2.2-liter CDI diesel engine. La Strada also offers the larger 188-hp 3.0-liter diesel engine (€3,975) and will add the AWD option (€13,365) as soon as Mercedes starts delivering Sprinter 4x4s.

Wet bath in the La Strada Regent S camper van
Wet bath in the La Strada Regent S camper van

The model on show in Düsseldorf packed a long list of add-ons, including a 7G-tronic auto transmission in place of the standard manual, parking package with 360-degree camera, 100-watt solar system, upgraded climate control, awning and larger 150-Ah battery, boosting the sticker price to €100,174 ($116,000).

Source: La Strada

Hymer isn't the only manufacturer that has gotten off to a quick start in turning the new Mercedes-Benz Sprinter into a gear-hauling adventure camper. Germany's La Strada has built its flagship Regent S into the third-gen Sprinter platform. The new camper van rolls as a smart, sleek two-sleeper with a bathroom and convertible rear bedroom for carrying bikes, surfboards and other large sports gear. It'll soon come in all-wheel drive, making for a fully capable adventure rig and base camp.

The more we look at camper vans, the more we realize how the subtle, little alterations can really make a big difference. The Düsseldorf Caravan Salon was absolutely packed with reasonably priced camper vans with similar layouts and features, but many individual models managed to stand out thanks to these types of subtle but substantive differences.

The 19.4-foot (5.9-m) Regent S was one of them, offering its own interpretation of the very popular foldaway rear bed, seen on the Hymer Grand Canyon S, Volkswagen Grand California and plenty other Euro-market camper vans. Such side-folding bed designs are useful in clearing out space for carrying bikes and other tall cargo in back. La Strada's Regent S design is a little more neatly integrated than average.

Flip the bed out of the way and you can store boards, bikes or other large gear and cargo
Flip the bed out of the way and you can store boards, bikes or other large gear and cargo

The folding section of the 78 x 57-in (198 x 144-cm) bed has an under panel that matches the interior furniture and trim, so when it folds against the side, it fits in like the final piece of the aesthetic puzzle. Instead of a white mattress sticking out like a sore thumb, you end up with a seamless rear wall. It's a minor improvement, but when you're trying to feel at home inside the cold metal of a van, minor improvements can help.

Moving forward in the van, the kitchen block and wet bath are located across from each other just fore of the transverse rear bed. The kitchen packs in a triple-burner stove right next to the sink, giving it a little extra cooking power over the two-burners more common in compact campers. A 65-L compressor fridge/freezer sits at standing height to the right, offering easier access than an under-counter fridge. Five soft-close drawers and upper cabinets fill out the kitchen area.

La Strada Regent S kitchen
La Strada Regent S kitchen

The Regent S dining area includes a two-seat bench with adjustable seating, a removable tabletop and swivel driver cab seats. The fold-down storage compartment above the driver cab stows away to open up plenty of headroom and living space.

The Regent S comes standard with a Truma Combi 4 heat/hot water system, 100-L fresh water tank, 70-L waste water tank and 100-Ah gel battery. It benefits from standard and available Sprinter technologies like MBUX infotainment with voice control, Distronic adaptive cruise control, parking assistance and active lane keeping assist. Base price slides in at €66,900 (approx. US$77,450) with the 161-hp 2.2-liter CDI diesel engine. La Strada also offers the larger 188-hp 3.0-liter diesel engine (€3,975) and will add the AWD option (€13,365) as soon as Mercedes starts delivering Sprinter 4x4s.

Wet bath in the La Strada Regent S camper van
Wet bath in the La Strada Regent S camper van

The model on show in Düsseldorf packed a long list of add-ons, including a 7G-tronic auto transmission in place of the standard manual, parking package with 360-degree camera, 100-watt solar system, upgraded climate control, awning and larger 150-Ah battery, boosting the sticker price to €100,174 ($116,000).

Source: La Strada

View gallery - 28 images
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