- Short Version: The new Mercedes-Benz Sprinter
- World premiere for new safety systems
- World´s first van to meet the future Euro VI emissions standard
- The most economical van in its class
- Exterior and interior receive further upgrades
- Tested over millions of kilometres, commercial release scheduled for the beginning of June
Stuttgart – It has given its name to an entire vehicle class – around the world the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter is synonymous with large vans with a permissible gross vehicle weight of 3.5 t.
The Sprinter has always been the leader in its class in terms of innovation, and now it is once more demonstrating this to impressive effect: with five new safety systems, engines meeting the future Euro VI emissions standard and a striking look, the new Sprinter is again setting the benchmark. And one thing is clear: with outstandingly low consumption figures of up to 6.3 l/100 km, it is streets ahead when it comes to best-in-class fuel consumption too.
World premiere for new safety systems
Traditionally the Sprinter has been the pioneer for driver assistance systems. In the new Sprinter, five new assistance systems – including some world premieres in the van segment – are helping to reduce the number of accidents even further.
Celebrating their world premiere in the Sprinter are the standard-fit Crosswind Assist, Collision Prevention Assist and Blind Spot Assist. Also new are Highbeam Assist and Lane Keeping Assist. The developers at Mercedes-Benz are convinced that the use of electronic aids in the van segment will have an extremely positive impact on accident statistics.
Crosswind Assist will form part of the standard equipment as a feature of the Electronic Stability Program. The other assistance systems can be ordered as individual extras or logically compiled packages. As a result, each buyer can individually tailor their Sprinter to the respective application.
In addition, Mercedes-Benz has also enhanced the driving dynamics of the Sprinter even further. A lowering of the chassis has helped not only to reduce wind resistance and consumption, but also to further increase road safety and make loading and unloading easier.
World’s first van to meet the future Euro VI emissions standard
The new Sprinter is the first van to emerge with a complete engine range which complies with the future Euro VI emissions standard. This means a drastic reduction in emission levels for nitrogen oxide (NOx), hydrocarbons (THC) and particulate matter. The Sprinter achieves the strictest limits with BlueTEC engine technology and SCR technology featuring the injection of AdBlue into the exhaust gas. This has already proven highly effective in several hundred thousand Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicles.
The performance offered by the diesel engine range remains unchanged: it comprises four and six-cylinder engines spanning outputs from 70 kW (95 hp) to 140 kW (190 hp).
The developers have made use of the additional exhaust gas aftertreatment to optimise injection characteristics, the combustion process and the charge pressure. This results in low fuel consumption and quieter combustion. In addition, the drive assemblies and ancillary components have been consistently tuned for low consumption. This has been applied in terms of the transmission, rear axle and also intelligent alternator management.
As an alternative to the diesel engines, the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter is also available with a supercharged four-cylinder petrol engine with direct injection. It produces 115 kW (156 hp) from a displacement of 1.8 l. There is also a natural gas variant based on this engine offering identical output.
Power transmission is taken care of by either the six-speed ECO Gear manual transmission or the seven-speed 7G-TRONIC PLUS automatic transmission with torque converter, the only one of its kind to be used in a van.
The most economical van in its class
The combination of the highly economical diesel engines, optimised drive train, ancillary equipment and the BlueEFFICIENCY plus package results in combined fuel consumption of at least 6.3 l/100 km – a sensational new record figure for the Sprinter’s vehicle class. But it is not only this which makes the new Sprinter an economic miracle: its standard specification in Europe now also includes the ASSYST maintenance computer. This helps to extends the already long maintenance intervals yet again, to as much as 60,000 km.
Exterior and interior receive further upgrades
Visually, the new Sprinter also makes a clear-cut and striking impression. In keeping with the current Mercedes-Benz design line, the radiator grille appears more upright and self-assured. The three radiator louvres are swept back and perforated. This not only underscores the dynamic impression, but at the same time also increases the air flow. The brand’s hallmark radiator grille is made more striking thanks to a bevelled surround.
The headlamps feature sharper contours, and a particularly striking feature is the masking of the reflector housings which divides the headlamps into individual segments. The new bonnet is higher, resulting in improved protection for pedestrians, and the bumper features a more pronounced shape. The detailed attention paid to the design on its underside makes it reminiscent of an SUV. From the rear, the new Sprinter is still recognisable from its two-compartment tail lights.
The indisputably exemplary interior has been upgraded even further. New seat upholstery and a new cover provide for enhanced comfort, the steering wheel features better grip with a thick rim, and the fresh air vents are embellished with chrome applications. The shift lever knob sports a new design too.
With the new radio generation, state-of-the-art consumer electronics featuring Bluetooth telephony with telephone keypad and phone book have found their way into the Sprinter, along with the Becker MAP PILOT navigation system.
Tested over millions of kilometres, commercial release scheduled for the beginning of June
The developers of the new Sprinter placed particular emphasis on intensive testing. With endurance tests covering more than eight million kilometres and also intensive customer trials involving practical applications, the high quality of the new Sprinter has already been put to the test.
The new Mercedes-Benz Sprinter will be available to order from 1 June of this year, with deliveries commencing in September.