Peugeot may have created the downright coolest camper van we've ever seen. This Boxer 4x4 Challenger is still officially a concept, but we'd put money on Peugeot putting something similar on the road pretty soon.
Dangel 4x4 system
The Challenger will be shown off at the Recreational Vehicle Show in Bourget, France, this weekend. While it's (obviously) based on a Boxer van, there are some seriously cool details about this one.
Coolest of all is the Dangel 4x4 system. Dangel, a French company famous for its four-wheel drive systems, is probably best-known for its lifted-up versions of the old Peugeot 505 estate, which are half family wagon, half monster truck, and all awesome. Just like the 505, the Boxer Challenger gets a lift kit, raising up the ground clearance by 30mm at the front and 50mm at the rear. The four-wheel drive system uses a viscous coupling and a transfer case, and you can select from four-wheel drive, two-wheel drive, and a diff-lock mode. Power comes from a 165hp BlueHDI diesel engine with a six-speed manual.
Long-term camping in mind
Inside, the long-wheelbase Boxer has been converted so that there is ten square metres of living space. That's split into four zones - a kitchen and dining area, a sleeping area, a bathroom, and the driving cab. Peugeot says that the Challenger has been designed: "To accommodate up to three people on a long-term basis."
The living space has been designed to be very eco-friendly. The floor is made entirely out of recycled plastic (which Peugeot says saves 75kg of CO2 from the manufacturing process), while the table, worktop, and sink are all made of 'Aragonite' - "A white natural mineral, which combines the hardness of natural stone with the beauty of ceramic."
The interior is a mixture of warm wood, and soft Alcantara upholstery, highlighted by mint-coloured accents. Stereo expert Alpine has created a new infotainment system with a nine-inch touchscreen. The system includes Waze traffic-warning navigation, and it's plumbed into front and rear HD parking cameras. Oh, and the navigation system also knows how high the vehicle is, so it can route you away from low bridges or other restrictions.
Hybrid mountain bike
And for getting around once you find somewhere to camp? Peugeot has that covered too. There's an eM02 FS Powertube ATV (that's a battery-assisted mountain bike to you and me) included in the van's inventory, and a Canadian walnut canoe stored on the roof rack (accessible by a side-mounted ladder).