Yacht-like timber camper breaks cover

Teardrop campers are all the rage down under, with a flood of new models hitting the local market in recent times.

The mini-caravan craze isn’t confined to Australia though, with various different options popping up around the world on a regular basis – some subsequently going on sale here.

Fresh off the international teardrop production line is a funky new model from French start-up Carapate, which recently launched a new trapezoid shape teardrop, inspired by a yacht.

Apart from the eye-catching angular shape with rounded edges and two-tone colour scheme, what makes the Carapate a bit different is the caravan-like window area, large lift-up entry door at the side, and a modular bed layout with access to the slide-out kitchen from both inside and out.

Like the original 1930s teardrops, the 3.2m long and 450kg (Tare weight) Carapate is built from timber (marine grade plywood).

The compact interior boasts three single-sized 140 x 64cm mattresses, that can be configured as seating during the day before converting to a double bed at night.

Lifting the top on the front wooden bench inside provides access to the basic slide-out kitchen that includes a single burner cooker and bucket sink with tap, as well as a cutting board. Or you can cook outside if the weather's nice.

Other standard features include PVC flooring, a spare wheel mounted on the back, stabilizing jacks and various storage compartments, while the Carapate can be optioned up with a various accessories including a battery pack, LED lighting, and fridge box.

Pricing in Europe starts from €14,000 (about $23,000), and there’s no word yet whether the new timber camper will be available in Australia.