Automotive

Mclaren gives its Sprinter camper van sporty flair and spacious living

Mclaren gives its Sprinter camper van sporty flair and spacious living
Mclaren converts the new Sprinter into the Shadow camper van
Mclaren converts the new Sprinter into the Shadow camper van
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Small but well-equipped, the main kitchen block includes a hybrid induction/gas stove and an oven/grill
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Small but well-equipped, the main kitchen block includes a hybrid induction/gas stove and an oven/grill
Mclaren Shadow floor plan
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Mclaren Shadow floor plan
The U-shaped sofa provides plenty of sitting room and converts into a double bed at night
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The U-shaped sofa provides plenty of sitting room and converts into a double bed at night
The kitchen straddles the aisle with a 150-L fridge and worktop/drawer unit located across from the main cooktop block
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The kitchen straddles the aisle with a 150-L fridge and worktop/drawer unit located across from the main cooktop block
The swivel cab seats are heated for added comfort
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The swivel cab seats are heated for added comfort
The compact wet bath is located between the fridge and sofa
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The compact wet bath is located between the fridge and sofa
Instead of keeping the interior and load doors connected, as on many other camper vans, Mclaren seals off the interior, leaving a small cargo space in back
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Instead of keeping the interior and load doors connected, as on many other camper vans, Mclaren seals off the interior, leaving a small cargo space in back
Mclaren converts the new Sprinter into the Shadow camper van
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Mclaren converts the new Sprinter into the Shadow camper van
This particular model is priced at £85,000
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This particular model is priced at £85,000
Mclaren gives this Shadow some sporty paint
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Mclaren gives this Shadow some sporty paint
Mclaren Shadow camper van
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Mclaren Shadow camper van
The new Sprinter brings the optional 10.3-in infotainment system
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The new Sprinter brings the optional 10.3-in infotainment system
Inside the Mclaren Shadow camper van
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Inside the Mclaren Shadow camper van
Mclaren packs plenty of drawer space
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Mclaren packs plenty of drawer space
A TV over top the wraparound sofa
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A TV over top the wraparound sofa
A look inside the sliding door of the Mclaren Shadow
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A look inside the sliding door of the Mclaren Shadow
Mclaren has also started building Sporthomes atop the new gen-3 Sprinter
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Mclaren has also started building Sporthomes atop the new gen-3 Sprinter
Mclaren's Sporthomes pack large garages below raised beds, offering space for bikes or other gear
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Mclaren's Sporthomes pack large garages below raised beds, offering space for bikes or other gear
Mclaren offers several Sporthome layouts; this bench seat configuration features in the pictured gray Sprinter Sporthome van
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Mclaren offers several Sporthome layouts; this bench seat configuration features in the pictured gray Sprinter Sporthome van
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Still not that McLaren. We're talking again about the British camper van converter that works exclusively with big vans like the VW Crafter and Mercedes Sprinter. A few months before going full-on Savage with the Crafter, it was performing some of its first conversions on the generation-3 Sprinter. Its updated Shadow two-sleeper van capitalizes on the latest Mercedes tech, adding a cozy, sealed-off interior with space to sleep, cook, freshen and relax. And for those that yearn for a little more speed and adventure, it also offers bike-hauling Sprinter Sporthomes.

Mclaren launched third-gen Sprinter camper vans last fall, joining other converters across continental Europe, the UK and the US, which have been gradually adding new Sprinter camper vans to their lineups since the van's February 2018 debut. And with some sporty graphics and spacious layouts, Mclaren has put its own individual stamp on the new Sprinter camper van market.

The "Shadow" model pictured is listed for sale on Mclaren's website and finds its basis on the long-wheelbase 2019 Sprinter 316, bringing along with it the 10.3-in nav-infotainment system with voice control, 7G Tronic transmission, 360-degree camera system and LED headlights. The heated front seats are on swivels so they can face the road ahead or swing around to face the camper area.

The U-shaped sofa provides plenty of sitting room and converts into a double bed at night
The U-shaped sofa provides plenty of sitting room and converts into a double bed at night

One thing that makes Mclaren's Shadow conversion different from the average Sprinter camper van is that the motorhome interior is sealed off from the rear double doors, creating a dedicated living space. Mclaren puts some quilted padding on the rear wall and slides a roomy U-shaped couch in back, along with a flat-panel TV. That sofa converts into a double bed at night.

The center of the van is filled out by both a wet bath compartment on the driver-side and an aisle-straddling kitchen. The main kitchen block has a versatile induction/gas hybrid cooktop, sink and oven/grill. Worktop on this compact block is limited to the sink lid, but a dedicated counter across the aisle next to the 150-L fridge/freezer adds additional space for meal prep work.

Small but well-equipped, the main kitchen block includes a hybrid induction/gas stove and an oven/grill
Small but well-equipped, the main kitchen block includes a hybrid induction/gas stove and an oven/grill

A total of nine drawers combine with eight overhead lockers throughout to offer plenty of interior storage. While the Shadow lacks the large garage of Mclaren's sporthomes, it does have a smaller rear storage area inside the rear doors, below the walled-off habitation module.

Mclaren wires the Shadow up with plenty of power, hooking a 250Ah leisure battery to a 100W Zamp solar panel with charger. Fresh water is stored in an insulated 100-L tank and drains to an 80-L waste water tank.

The kitchen straddles the aisle with a 150-L fridge and worktop/drawer unit located across from the main cooktop block
The kitchen straddles the aisle with a 150-L fridge and worktop/drawer unit located across from the main cooktop block

While Shadow pricing will vary based on options and customizations, the model described above lists at £85,000 (approx. US$107,575).

Those who want to pack bikes and other sports gear, should check out Sprinter-based Sporthomes like the one pictured below. Each Sporthome has a roomy garage for all the adventure goodies, and prices start at £58,000 ($73,400) for the full van, according to Mclaren's website.

Mclaren's Sporthomes pack large garages below raised beds, offering space for bikes or other gear
Mclaren's Sporthomes pack large garages below raised beds, offering space for bikes or other gear

Source: Mclaren Sports Homes

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