CRA Motoring & Travel Explored – USA
BY MICHAEL BUTLER
And a 4×4 drivetrain means you can go off the beaten track.
Mercedes-Benz is no stranger to the world of off-roading, in fact, it has produced some of the most capable 4×4 vehicles in the history of the automobile, including legends such as the fantastic G-Class and the unstoppable Unimog. Mercedes-Benz is also a manufacturer of commercial vans such as the Sprinter, a comfortable yet humble van built for bussing large amounts of people around and delivering cargo, but the Sprinter has proven that it can be more than just a minivan. Hardcore versions have shown that the Sprinter can be converted into a capable 4×4 adventure machine, and now more evidence has appeared in Germany, where Mercedes-Benz specialist Hartmann-tuning and sister company Vansports have converted a V-Class minivan – known as the Mercedes-Benz Metris in the US – into the perfect weekend off-road camper.
Hartmann is no stranger to Mercedes passenger vehicles, and the Metris, or V-Class as it is in Europe, is decidedly passenger-oriented, with luxurious versions sporting AMG kits and the latest tech. Hartmann is now converting these minivans into the perfect camping partner. Called the ‘GeoTrek Edition’, these V-Class vehicles feature the brand new Hartmann VP Gravity body kit that includes off-road-ready black bumpers, fender flares, running boards, and a mean front grille. The kit also includes an LED light bar at the front, and the GeoTrek Edition rides on eight-inch wheels wrapped in 235/55 tires, which gives it an additional 1.2 inches of ground clearance. For extra off-road protection, the underbody is covered with reinforced metal plates.
The interior has also been fully kitted with a foldable rear bench that turns into a double bed, a small kitchen area, added storage bins, a 12-volt power supply, fresh water storage, and wastewater storage. The V-Class pictured is the extra-long V250d series which is powered by a 2.1-liter turbo diesel engine producing 187 horsepower and 325 lb-ft of torque. “Providing various ingenious technological features and fine-tuned details, this van pledges a new level of autarky, as well as a truly daring and unique look with the wrapping in a green color with topographic contours resembling its natural habitat: the offroad,” the company said in a recent Instagram post. Hartmann Tuning claims that only ten of these awesome campers will be built. Unfortunately, North America won’t be seeing one anytime soon. Fortunately, we have something similar in the form of the Mercedes-Benz Metris Weekender.
Article Credit To Car Buzz.
