Toyota has collaborated with Yorkshire firm Wellhouse Leisure to create the new Lerina camper. Like two other manufacturer-endorsed conversions – namely the Volkswagen California and Mercedes-Benz V-Class Marco Polo – it features a traditional side-kitchen layout.
The Lerina is based on a medium-length Proace Comfort that measures 4.96 metres (16’ 3”) from bumper to bumper. Power is supplied by a 2.0 litre turbocharged diesel engine, which produces either 118 bhp (88 kW / 120 PS) with a six-speed manual gearbox or 177 bhp (132 kW / 180 PS) with an automatic transmission. Standard cab equipment includes cruise control, satellite navigation, Bluetooth, a DAB radio and air conditioning.
In the habitation area, there’s a rail-mounted bench that can usefully slide fore and aft. During the day the unit provides a pair of belted travel seats, then at night it folds flat to become a double bed. Two additional removable seats are on the options list if the vehicle is also going to function as a people carrier.
Standing headroom when parked comes courtesy of an SCA elevating roof. Incidentally, in its lowered position the Lerina’s overall height is 1.98 metres (6’ 6”), so car park access shouldn’t be an issue. A second double bed is available for ‘upstairs’, but unfortunately this costs extra.
The rest of the specification holds few surprises. Swivelling front seats, a gas hob, a sink and a fridge are all present, plus a 2.2 kW heater is fitted to warm the interior. An electric hook-up keeps the dedicated leisure battery charged, although off-grid camping is possible too thanks to a 100 W solar panel.
Production will begin soon and the intention is to offer the Lerina across Europe. In the UK, twelve Toyota dealers (as well as selected Wellhouse Leisure vendors) have been signed up already to accept customer orders.
Prices start at £42,000. By comparison, the equivalent California Ocean and Marco Polo models currently retail at £53,227 and £54,740 respectively.
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