diff --git a/lib/vagrant/environment.rb b/lib/vagrant/environment.rb
index fcea6b69f..d4b8db1fd 100644
--- a/lib/vagrant/environment.rb
+++ b/lib/vagrant/environment.rb
@@ -526,7 +526,11 @@ module Vagrant
       if name != "dotlock"
         lock("dotlock", retry: true) do
           f.close
-          File.delete(lock_path)
+          begin
+            File.delete(lock_path)
+          rescue
+            @logger.debug("Failed to delete lock file #{lock_path} - some other thread might be trying to acquire it -> ignoring this error")
+          end
         end
       end
 
diff --git a/lib/vagrant/errors.rb b/lib/vagrant/errors.rb
index b705b362e..2ce133618 100644
--- a/lib/vagrant/errors.rb
+++ b/lib/vagrant/errors.rb
@@ -784,6 +784,14 @@ module Vagrant
       error_key(:boot_timeout)
     end
 
+    class VMCloneFailure < VagrantError
+      error_key(:failure, "vagrant.actions.vm.clone")
+    end
+       
+    class VMCreateMasterFailure < VagrantError
+      error_key(:failure, "vagrant.actions.vm.clone.create_master")
+    end
+     
     class VMCustomizationFailed < VagrantError
       error_key(:failure, "vagrant.actions.vm.customize")
     end
diff --git a/plugins/providers/virtualbox/action.rb b/plugins/providers/virtualbox/action.rb
index 0d8fc8e38..635907827 100644
--- a/plugins/providers/virtualbox/action.rb
+++ b/plugins/providers/virtualbox/action.rb
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ module VagrantPlugins
       autoload :CleanMachineFolder, File.expand_path("../action/clean_machine_folder", __FILE__)
       autoload :ClearForwardedPorts, File.expand_path("../action/clear_forwarded_ports", __FILE__)
       autoload :ClearNetworkInterfaces, File.expand_path("../action/clear_network_interfaces", __FILE__)
+      autoload :CreateClone, File.expand_path("../action/create_clone", __FILE__)
       autoload :Created, File.expand_path("../action/created", __FILE__)
       autoload :Customize, File.expand_path("../action/customize", __FILE__)
       autoload :Destroy, File.expand_path("../action/destroy", __FILE__)
@@ -21,6 +22,7 @@ module VagrantPlugins
       autoload :ForcedHalt, File.expand_path("../action/forced_halt", __FILE__)
       autoload :ForwardPorts, File.expand_path("../action/forward_ports", __FILE__)
       autoload :Import, File.expand_path("../action/import", __FILE__)
+      autoload :ImportMaster, File.expand_path("../action/import_master", __FILE__)
       autoload :IsPaused, File.expand_path("../action/is_paused", __FILE__)
       autoload :IsRunning, File.expand_path("../action/is_running", __FILE__)
       autoload :IsSaved, File.expand_path("../action/is_saved", __FILE__)
@@ -325,7 +327,13 @@ module VagrantPlugins
             if !env[:result]
               b2.use CheckAccessible
               b2.use Customize, "pre-import"
-              b2.use Import
+              
+              if env[:machine].provider_config.use_linked_clone
+                b2.use ImportMaster
+                b2.use CreateClone
+              else
+                b2.use Import
+              end 
               b2.use MatchMACAddress
             end
           end
diff --git a/plugins/providers/virtualbox/action/create_clone.rb b/plugins/providers/virtualbox/action/create_clone.rb
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e26b5721f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plugins/providers/virtualbox/action/create_clone.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+require "log4r"
+#require "lockfile"
+
+module VagrantPlugins
+  module ProviderVirtualBox
+    module Action
+      class CreateClone
+        def initialize(app, env)
+          @app = app
+          @logger = Log4r::Logger.new("vagrant::action::vm::clone")
+        end
+
+        def call(env)
+          @logger.info("Creating linked clone from master '#{env[:master_id]}'")
+        
+          env[:ui].info I18n.t("vagrant.actions.vm.clone.creating", name: env[:machine].box.name)
+          env[:machine].id = env[:machine].provider.driver.clonevm(env[:master_id], env[:machine].box.name, "base") do |progress|
+            env[:ui].clear_line
+            env[:ui].report_progress(progress, 100, false)
+          end
+
+          # Clear the line one last time since the progress meter doesn't disappear immediately.
+          env[:ui].clear_line
+
+          # Flag as erroneous and return if clone failed
+          raise Vagrant::Errors::VMCloneFailure if !env[:machine].id
+
+          # Continue
+          @app.call(env)
+        end
+
+        def recover(env)
+          if env[:machine].state.id != :not_created
+            return if env["vagrant.error"].is_a?(Vagrant::Errors::VagrantError)
+
+            # If we're not supposed to destroy on error then just return
+            return if !env[:destroy_on_error]
+
+            # Interrupted, destroy the VM. We note that we don't want to
+            # validate the configuration here, and we don't want to confirm
+            # we want to destroy.
+            destroy_env = env.clone
+            destroy_env[:config_validate] = false
+            destroy_env[:force_confirm_destroy] = true
+            env[:action_runner].run(Action.action_destroy, destroy_env)
+          end
+        end
+      end
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/plugins/providers/virtualbox/action/import_master.rb b/plugins/providers/virtualbox/action/import_master.rb
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..61b0064eb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plugins/providers/virtualbox/action/import_master.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,66 @@
+require "log4r"
+#require "lockfile"
+
+module VagrantPlugins
+  module ProviderVirtualBox
+    module Action
+      class ImportMaster
+        def initialize(app, env)
+          @app = app
+          @logger = Log4r::Logger.new("vagrant::action::vm::create_master")
+        end
+
+        def call(env)
+          master_id_file = env[:machine].box.directory.join("master_id")
+          
+          env[:machine].env.lock(Digest::MD5.hexdigest(env[:machine].box.name), retry: true) do
+            env[:master_id] = master_id_file.read.chomp if master_id_file.file?          
+            if env[:master_id] && env[:machine].provider.driver.vm_exists?(env[:master_id])
+              # Master VM already exists -> nothing to do - continue.
+              @logger.info("Master VM for '#{env[:machine].box.name}' already exists (id=#{env[:master_id]}) - skipping import step.")
+              return @app.call(env) 
+            end          
+            
+            env[:ui].info I18n.t("vagrant.actions.vm.clone.importing", name: env[:machine].box.name)
+            
+            # Import the virtual machine
+            ovf_file = env[:machine].box.directory.join("box.ovf").to_s
+            env[:master_id] = env[:machine].provider.driver.import(ovf_file) do |progress|
+              env[:ui].clear_line
+              env[:ui].report_progress(progress, 100, false)
+            end
+            
+            # Clear the line one last time since the progress meter doesn't disappear immediately.
+            env[:ui].clear_line
+            
+            # Flag as erroneous and return if import failed
+            raise Vagrant::Errors::VMImportFailure if !env[:master_id]
+
+            @logger.info("Imported box #{env[:machine].box.name} as master vm with id #{env[:master_id]}")
+
+            @logger.info("Creating base snapshot for master VM.")
+            env[:machine].provider.driver.create_snapshot(env[:master_id], "base") do |progress|
+              env[:ui].clear_line
+              env[:ui].report_progress(progress, 100, false)
+            end
+              
+            @logger.debug("Writing id of master VM '#{env[:master_id]}' to #{master_id_file}")
+            master_id_file.open("w+") do |f|
+              f.write(env[:master_id])
+            end
+          end          
+          
+          # If we got interrupted, then the import could have been
+          # interrupted and its not a big deal. Just return out.
+          if env[:interrupted]
+            @logger.info("Import of master VM was interrupted -> exiting.")
+            return
+          end
+
+          # Import completed successfully. Continue the chain
+          @app.call(env)
+        end
+      end
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/plugins/providers/virtualbox/config.rb b/plugins/providers/virtualbox/config.rb
index 5bb1e754b..55b8356aa 100644
--- a/plugins/providers/virtualbox/config.rb
+++ b/plugins/providers/virtualbox/config.rb
@@ -32,6 +32,12 @@ module VagrantPlugins
       # @return [Boolean]
       attr_accessor :gui
 
+      # If set to `true`, then a linked clone is created from a master
+      # VM generated from the specified box.
+      #
+      # @return [Boolean]
+      attr_accessor :use_linked_clone
+      
       # This should be set to the name of the machine in the VirtualBox
       # GUI.
       #
@@ -59,6 +65,7 @@ module VagrantPlugins
         @name             = UNSET_VALUE
         @network_adapters = {}
         @gui              = UNSET_VALUE
+        @use_linked_clone = UNSET_VALUE
 
         # We require that network adapter 1 is a NAT device.
         network_adapter(1, :nat)
@@ -136,6 +143,9 @@ module VagrantPlugins
         # Default is to not show a GUI
         @gui = false if @gui == UNSET_VALUE
 
+        # Do not create linked clone by default
+        @use_linked_clone = false if @use_linked_clone == UNSET_VALUE
+
         # The default name is just nothing, and we default it
         @name = nil if @name == UNSET_VALUE
       end
diff --git a/plugins/providers/virtualbox/driver/meta.rb b/plugins/providers/virtualbox/driver/meta.rb
index 242372452..df52f0849 100644
--- a/plugins/providers/virtualbox/driver/meta.rb
+++ b/plugins/providers/virtualbox/driver/meta.rb
@@ -84,8 +84,10 @@ module VagrantPlugins
 
         def_delegators :@driver, :clear_forwarded_ports,
           :clear_shared_folders,
+          :clonevm,
           :create_dhcp_server,
           :create_host_only_network,
+          :create_snapshot,
           :delete,
           :delete_unused_host_only_networks,
           :discard_saved_state,
diff --git a/plugins/providers/virtualbox/driver/version_4_3.rb b/plugins/providers/virtualbox/driver/version_4_3.rb
index 3b08d43cd..bc2c87478 100644
--- a/plugins/providers/virtualbox/driver/version_4_3.rb
+++ b/plugins/providers/virtualbox/driver/version_4_3.rb
@@ -35,6 +35,15 @@ module VagrantPlugins
           end
         end
 
+        def clonevm(master_id, box_name, snapshot_name)
+          @logger.debug("Creating linked clone from master vm with id #{master_id} from snapshot '#{snapshot_name}'")
+
+          machine_name = "#{box_name}_#{snapshot_name}_clone_#{(Time.now.to_f * 1000.0).to_i}_#{rand(100000)}"
+          execute("clonevm", master_id, "--snapshot", snapshot_name, "--options", "link", "--register", "--name", machine_name)
+
+          return get_machine_id machine_name
+        end
+
         def create_dhcp_server(network, options)
           execute("dhcpserver", "add", "--ifname", network,
                   "--ip", options[:dhcp_ip],
@@ -77,6 +86,10 @@ module VagrantPlugins
                   "--ipv6", interface[:ipv6])
         end
 
+        def create_snapshot(machine_id, snapshot_name)
+          execute("snapshot", machine_id, "take", snapshot_name)
+        end
+
         def delete
           execute("unregistervm", @uuid, "--delete")
         end
@@ -171,6 +184,13 @@ module VagrantPlugins
           execute("modifyvm", @uuid, *args) if !args.empty?
         end
 
+        def get_machine_id(machine_name)
+          output = execute("list", "vms", retryable: true)
+          match = /^"#{Regexp.escape(machine_name)}" \{(.+?)\}$/.match(output)
+          return match[1].to_s if match
+          nil
+        end
+
         def halt
           execute("controlvm", @uuid, "poweroff")
         end
@@ -246,10 +266,7 @@ module VagrantPlugins
             end
           end
 
-          output = execute("list", "vms", retryable: true)
-          match = /^"#{Regexp.escape(specified_name)}" \{(.+?)\}$/.match(output)
-          return match[1].to_s if match
-          nil
+          return get_machine_id specified_name
         end
 
         def max_network_adapters
diff --git a/plugins/providers/virtualbox/driver/version_5_0.rb b/plugins/providers/virtualbox/driver/version_5_0.rb
index 3c84ad3c7..4bb839c1c 100644
--- a/plugins/providers/virtualbox/driver/version_5_0.rb
+++ b/plugins/providers/virtualbox/driver/version_5_0.rb
@@ -34,6 +34,15 @@ module VagrantPlugins
           end
         end
 
+        def clonevm(master_id, box_name, snapshot_name)
+          @logger.debug("Creating linked clone from master vm with id #{master_id} from snapshot '#{snapshot_name}'")
+          
+          machine_name = "#{box_name}_#{snapshot_name}_clone_#{(Time.now.to_f * 1000.0).to_i}_#{rand(100000)}"
+          execute("clonevm", master_id, "--snapshot", snapshot_name, "--options", "link", "--register", "--name", machine_name)
+          
+          return get_machine_id machine_name
+        end
+          
         def create_dhcp_server(network, options)
           execute("dhcpserver", "add", "--ifname", network,
                   "--ip", options[:dhcp_ip],
@@ -73,6 +82,10 @@ module VagrantPlugins
           }
         end
 
+        def create_snapshot(machine_id, snapshot_name)
+          execute("snapshot", machine_id, "take", snapshot_name)
+        end
+        
         def delete
           execute("unregistervm", @uuid, "--delete")
         end
@@ -167,6 +180,13 @@ module VagrantPlugins
           execute("modifyvm", @uuid, *args) if !args.empty?
         end
 
+        def get_machine_id(machine_name)
+          output = execute("list", "vms", retryable: true)
+          match = /^"#{Regexp.escape(machine_name)}" \{(.+?)\}$/.match(output)
+          return match[1].to_s if match
+          nil
+        end
+        
         def halt
           execute("controlvm", @uuid, "poweroff")
         end
@@ -242,10 +262,7 @@ module VagrantPlugins
             end
           end
 
-          output = execute("list", "vms", retryable: true)
-          match = /^"#{Regexp.escape(specified_name)}" \{(.+?)\}$/.match(output)
-          return match[1].to_s if match
-          nil
+          return get_machine_id specified_name
         end
 
         def max_network_adapters
diff --git a/templates/locales/en.yml b/templates/locales/en.yml
index 2401c1bf6..d0f311fd0 100644
--- a/templates/locales/en.yml
+++ b/templates/locales/en.yml
@@ -1618,6 +1618,14 @@ en:
           deleting: Clearing any previously set network interfaces...
         clear_shared_folders:
           deleting: Cleaning previously set shared folders...
+        clone:
+          importing: Importing box '%{name}' as master vm...
+          creating: Creating linked clone... 
+          failure: Creation of the linked clone failed.
+                      
+          create_master:
+            failure: |-
+              Failed to create lock-file for master VM creation for box %{box}.
         customize:
           failure: |-
             A customization command failed:
diff --git a/website/docs/source/v2/virtualbox/configuration.html.md b/website/docs/source/v2/virtualbox/configuration.html.md
index 22cb2a6c5..5c908ab68 100644
--- a/website/docs/source/v2/virtualbox/configuration.html.md
+++ b/website/docs/source/v2/virtualbox/configuration.html.md
@@ -36,6 +36,30 @@ config.vm.provider "virtualbox" do |v|
 end
 ```
 
+## Linked Clones
+
+By default new machines are created by importing the base box. For large
+boxes this produces a large overhead in terms of time (the import operation)
+and space (the new machine contains a copy of the base box's image).
+Using linked clones can drastically reduce this overhead.
+
+Linked clones are based on a master VM, which is generated by importing the
+base box only once the first time it is required. For the linked clones only 
+differencing disk images are created where the parent disk image belongs to
+the master VM.
+
+```ruby
+config.vm.provider "virtualbox" do |v|
+  v.use_linked_clone = true
+end
+```
+
+<div class="alert alert-info">
+	<strong>Note:</strong> the generated master VMs are currently not removed
+	automatically by Vagrant. This has to be done manually. However, a master
+	VM can only be removed when there are no linked clones connected to it.
+</div>
+
 ## VBoxManage Customizations
 
 [VBoxManage](http://www.virtualbox.org/manual/ch08.html) is a utility that can