When a new car brand enters the market, it usually does so with a small and affordable model. Bulgarian company Hip Campers is doing exactly the opposite. They are introducing the Hip 4Family: a fully integrated luxury camper based on a Mercedes Sprinter. With a unique layout without fixed beds and a starting price of €150,000, they are targeting affluent families who refuse to compromise on their vacations.
The market for luxury motorhomes is traditionally dominated by large German and French players. Yet it is a very young start-up from Bulgaria that is currently attracting attention. Hip Campers, founded in 2022 by a group of outdoor enthusiasts, decided that current family motorhomes often fall short.
Fixed beds take up too much usable living space during the day, making the interior feel cramped when it rains. Their solution, the 7.2-meter-long Hip 4Family, completely overturns the conventional layout.
Two seating areas and invisible beds
The most striking feature of the interior is the lack of fixed sleeping places. Where you would normally find a fixed double bed or two single beds in the rear, the 4Family has two spacious seating areas.
At the front is a compact seating area including swivel front seats, while at the rear is a large, U-shaped round seating area with windows all around. The manufacturer claims that this provides the perfect separation: the children can play or draw at the front, while the parents can work, cook, or have a drink in peace at the rear.
When evening falls, the camper transforms into a dormitory at the touch of a button. Above both seating areas, two full-size double fold-down beds measuring 140 by 200 centimeters descend silently from the ceiling. A smart and space-saving solution that makes this type of double living room possible.
Mercedes-Benz as the technical backbone
The Bulgarians have opted for German reliability as the basis for this mobile home. The camper is built on the chassis of a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, powered by a 2.0-liter diesel engine with 150 hp.
Customers can also opt for a more powerful version with 170 hp and a nine-speed automatic transmission. To keep the weight within limits and improve handling, a lowered and lightweight chassis from the well-known manufacturer AL-KO has been used.
Nevertheless, the vehicle weighs a considerable 3,300 kg when empty, with a maximum permissible weight of 4,200 kg. This means that drivers in the Netherlands need a C1 truck driver’s license to drive it.
Luxury comes at a price in the polder
The equipment is designed for long-term, independent camping without fixed facilities. The motorhome has almost 2,800 liters of storage space in the double, heated floor and the enormous garages at the rear. A standard 30-liter gas tank under the floor supplies the heating and cooking stove, while a lithium battery and a solar panel on the roof provide power.
This desire for luxury and space is directly reflected in the price tag. The international base price of the Hip 4Family, simply called Pure, starts at €149,999. Those who want the more powerful engine, extra technology such as smart control via an app, and a larger battery will quickly find themselves approaching the €200,000 mark with the most luxurious Supreme version.
Image source: Google AI Studio