Westfalia, the brand that helped shape the pop-up camper van category, says its new Columbus Liner can deliver the space and luxury of a high-end Class A motorhome inside a fairly standard Fiat Ducato van. The result is a four-berth van that includes features usually reserved for much more expensive custom builds. It’s an ambitious promise, and the prototype suggests it has gone to creative lengths to fit everything in.
Three Levels of Living Space
Rather than using the largest available van — something over 7 meters — Westfalia started with the 636-cm (250-in) Ducato. To make “liner-level” luxury work in that footprint, the designers split the interior into three separate levels. The first level is the most familiar: a main floor with a front lounge that incorporates swiveling cab seats, a two-seat rear bench with seatbelts, and a removable table topped with a dual-leaf design for extra dining space. At night, the whole dining area converts into a 180 x 90-cm (70 x 35-in) bed suitable for a child or two. It rates the van as a four-berth camper when equipped with the optional convertible bed, though that front bed is a bit small.
The first level also includes a wet bathroom behind the dinette and a kitchen block on the passenger side — standard stuff for a European van. Level #2 is where things deviate from the norm. A fixed rear bed is common for a van of this size, but the company lifted it higher than usual, creating a true second level accessed by three steps. This high-set semi-private sleeping area sits above a spacious garage.
The Sky Lounge: A Private Rooftop Terrace
Westfalia’s real innovation comes with the third level. The company has long been known for its pop-up roofs, but the Columbus Liner uses a more compact version called the “Sky Roof.” It’s not meant to house a bed. Instead, it opens up space above the 205 x 186-cm (81 x 73-in) master king bed, giving sleepers room to sit up comfortably. It also improves ventilation.
From the outside, what looks like a half-length roof rack in front of the pop-up is actually a full deck floor designed for lounging. The company calls it the “Sky Lounge,” and it functions like a private terrace accessible only from the master bedroom through the fabric front door of the pop-up roof. An optional Sky Bar espresso machine fits on a shelf in the bedroom, allowing you to brew an espresso and step out onto the deck without going downstairs. The European van market has seen a surge in demand for luxury conversions that avoid the size (and driving complexity) of a full Class A.
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The company’s three-level layout is a clever response.
But it inevitably shrinks the main living area and requires climbing steps to reach the bed and deck — a tradeoff that may not suit everyone. Still, for buyers who prioritize a distinct bedroom and an outdoor viewing spot, the concept offers something most vans don’t.
Off-Grid Amenities and Practical Details
Despite its glamorous spec, the Columbus Liner is also built for off-road and off-grid travel.
It comes with a full off-grid suite.
Buyers can equip it with up to 540 Ah of lithium battery power, a 3,000-W inverter, and a 165-W solar panel.
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A diesel water heater is standard, fed from a 95-L fresh water tank, and a floor heating system keeps the interior warm. The bathroom uses a space-optimized layout with a slide-away Clesana waterless dry-wrap toilet and fold-away sink to create more shower room. The kitchen offers an available dual-burner induction cooktop and a 90-L compressor fridge with a two-way door that opens from both inside and outside.
An optional Thule VeloSlide system makes loading easier.
Westfalia has previewed a pre-production prototype ahead of the official world premiere at the Düsseldorf Caravan Salon. Pricing will start at €83,900 (roughly US$96k) on a Fiat Ducato with a 139-hp 2.2-liter Multijet3 engine and six-speed manual transmission.
The company plans to release full option pricing at the show.
This will include the cost of the Sky Lounge — a feature that looks almost mandatory given how much it expands the van’s livability. For now, the Columbus Liner offers an unusual mix of compact dimensions and motorhome-like luxury, though its split-level design will test whether buyers are willing to trade ground-floor space for a private bedroom and rooftop deck.
