Sprinter [Spy Shots] Next generation Mercedes-Benz Sprinter

[Rainer271]

2017 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter spied with camouflaged nose

Mercedes-Benz is working on an all-new Sprinter, but testing appears to be in the mule phase.

We are talking about a prototype that is covered by the current generation’s body, usually called a “mule.” As our friends at SB-Medien revealed, Mercedes-Benz is testing several prototypes of the upcoming Sprinter in this formula.

The photo gallery of this story has two prototypes spied wearing the same disguise - a camouflaged front grille. The rear of the vehicle has had its badging removed, but it’s obvious to all that the vehicle is a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter.

The new Sprinter is expected to come to market in 2017, so we should see more prototypes being tested on the road. These will have a production body, but it should not be significantly different from the one that you see in the article’s image gallery. After all, this is a van, and its features are more important than its design.

Mercedes-Benz will overhaul the engine range, as well the technology offering. The new Sprinter will probably feature more driver assistance systems, as well as enhanced connectivity options.

Naturally, these will be offered in higher trim levels and as optional equipment, as the Sprinter will remain a van for utility purposes ahead of anything else. However, since it is a Mercedes-Benz, it will be available with more features than its competitors.

As most of you know, Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen had a partnership concerning vans, as Volkswagen’s Crafter is built in Daimler’s Ludwigsfelde and Düsseldorf factories, the same plants where the Sprinter is made. The two vehicles share many components, except for the engines.

The two companies have decided to split ways in the field of commercial vehicles, so the new Sprinter and Crafter will be made separately. While Volkswagen will build the next Crafter in a factory in Poland, located around 50 kilometers (31 miles) away from Poznan, Daimler will keep making the Sprinter at the two facilities mentioned above.

2017 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Spied with Camouflaged Nose

 

[tennmb]

Sprinter has been a nice addition to our dealer line-up.
The next gen needs to be wider.

 

[Wolfgang]

Could offer optional FWD for the lighter/smaller versions like the Vito according to some rumors? Which could reduce the step-in height?


From the Vito/Metris page:
Another rather interesting thing, the drive systems. Why was front wheel drive added? During the live presentation in Berlin and subsequent expert talk two major explanations crystallized. One is the lower cost, and total cost of ownership is important in this segment. The other was the weight advantage of around 120 kg which would then increase the load carrying capacity by a similar amount. A plumber, it was said, could thus load an additional washer and dryer, a gardener seven more bags of potting soil and a baker another 1500 (don't remember the exact number) Berliner Ballen.

http://www.germancarforum.com/threads/mercedes-vito.51082/

 

[Wolfgang]

Sprinter has been a nice addition to our dealer line-up.
The next gen needs to be wider.

Congratulations, tennmb! Well done.

Mercedes-Benz of Knoxville nets national dealer award

Lee Ann Furrow-Tolsma, president and CEO of Furrow Automotive Group, parent company of the dealership, said sales have increased as the dealership has begun carrying Sprinter and Metris vans over the past year, bringing in new customers.

"Our customers range from teachers to individuals who own their own businesses," she said. "We have plumbing companies, concierge services, services that deliver to nursing homes. Our customer base is broad and wide."

http://www.knoxnews.com/business/mercedes-benz-of-knoxville-nets-national-dealer-award-3464a1e8-bb6a-0a9b-e053-0100007fdaf2-381819171.html

 

[Wolfgang]

Start of production of the new Sprinter is planned for March of 2018, but may still change a bit.

Mercedes-Benz Vans (MBV) | readySC Recruitment

 

[Wolfgang]

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[Wolfgang]

Mercedes-Benz Vans celebrates groundbreaking of new Sprinter plant in North Charleston

• Ceremony with Nikki Haley, Governor of South Carolina, Volker Mornhinweg, Head of Mercedes-Benz Vans, and other distinguished guests
• Investment of approximately 500 million US dollars, up to 1,300 jobs at Mercedes-Benz Vans in North Charleston and 400 new jobs at local suppliers
• Groundbreaking marks start of construction of the body shop
• Volker Mornhinweg: “With our new plant, we will continue with our success story in North America even more dynamically.”
• Nikki Haley: “We are proud to say that Mercedes-Benz vans will now be made in South Carolina!”

North Charleston, South Carolina, USA/Stuttgart, Germany – Celebration in North Charleston, South Carolina: Mercedes-Benz Vans marked yesterday the groundbreaking of its new Sprinter plant for the North American market. Among the distinguished guests of the ceremony on-site were Volker Mornhinweg, Head of Mercedes-Benz Vans, and Nikki Haley, Governor of South Carolina. With this new full-scale plant, Mercedes-Benz Vans will offer faster and more individualized supply to its customers. The new plant is an expansion of the existing van assembly site. It represents an investment of around 500 million US dollars. Mercedes-Benz Vans will create up to 1,300 jobs. It is estimated that suppliers will create approximately 400 new jobs in and around North Charleston. First the body shop of the new plant will be constructed, followed by the paint shop and the assembly lines later this year. Production of the next-generation Sprinter is planned to begin before the end of the decade.

Writing automotive history in South Carolina

Volker Mornhinweg at the ceremony: “Today we are writing automotive history in South Carolina! The groundbreaking also marks an important milestone for our growth strategy ‘Mercedes-Benz Vans goes global’: With our new plant, we will continue with our success story in North America even more dynamically.”

Nikki Haley: "Today's groundbreaking, and the 1,300 jobs it means, will build on the successful partnership that our friends at Daimler and Mercedes-Benz Vans have enjoyed with our state for years. We are proud to say that Mercedes-Benz vans will now be made in South Carolina!"

One of the most advanced automotive plants in North America

Frank Klein, Head of Operations Mercedes-Benz Vans: “Our new Sprinter plant is a big leap into the future of production at Mercedes-Benz Vans. We are combining all of our global expertise and experience in this plant. In doing so, we make it one of the most advanced facilities in North America. The plant will meet the highest standards in quality, based on our globally standardized production system – from the first vehicle that rolls off the assembly line.”

Mercedes-Benz Vans will implement its most innovative production technologies and concepts in the new plant. Focusing on connectivity like digital communications on the shop floor, it will be most agile and adaptive to respond fast to market changes and customer needs. The workforce will undergo comprehensive technical trainings to ensure a smooth and successful production ramp-up.

Construction and preparations right on schedule

Michael Balke, incoming CEO of Mercedes-Benz Vans, LLC and Director of Production at the plant: “Construction and all necessary preparations are right on schedule. We have already begun to recruit and train a core team of employees in administration. We have also hired the first technical specialists. Applications of production job candidates will be accepted beginning mid-2017.”

Positive impact on the Charleston region

The current production area and administration building of the assembly plant in North Charleston cover 409,000 square feet (approx. 38,000 m²). The new facility will additionally cover around 1.1 million square feet (approx. 105,000 m²) plus a 2.8 million square feet (259,000 m²) marshalling yard for finished vehicles. With the new production site Mercedes-Benz Vans will be among the biggest industrial employers in the region. The new plant will make a further positive impact on the region’s economy and attract new business, especially among suppliers. For example the upfit integration partners of Mercedes-Benz Vans, Auto Truck Group as well as The Knapheide Manufacturing Company, will establish new production sites in the region, too.

Optimized delivery process for Sprinter vans

The United States is one of the fastest growing van markets in the world. It has become the second-largest single market for the Sprinter in terms of unit sales, after Germany. In 2015, Mercedes-Benz Vans delivered about 28,600 units to customers in the USA - eleven percent more than in the previous year (2014: 25,800 units). The Sprinter vans for the US market have so far been produced at German plants. However, because of high import tariffs, they have been partially dismantled in a time-consuming process, and reassembled at the North Charleston plant. Since 2006, Mercedes-Benz Vans has performed this so-called semi-knocked-down (SKD) assembly in North Charleston for imported Sprinter large-size vans and since 2015 also for imported Metris mid-size vans (“Vito” in other markets). This process results in a significant competitive disadvantage on the US market for Mercedes-Benz Vans. The new plant and the Sprinters “made in USA” will enable the company to more economically meet the growing demand and to considerably reduce delivery time to this market.

Global Sprinter production network

Including the future Sprinter production site in North Charleston, the large-size van is being manufactured at six locations around the world: In Germany at the center of competence for the production of large vans in Düsseldorf and at the plant in Ludwigsfelde. As the only manufacturer in the large van segment to do so, Mercedes-Benz Vans will continue producing the next-generation Sprinter at its German production sites. To this end, the division is investing 450 million euros in the modernization of both plants. The Sprinter is also being manufactured in the Argentinian capital Buenos Aires and, within the framework of the joint-venture company Fujian Benz Automotive Co., Ltd., in Fuzhou in China. The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Classic is being produced by Russian partner GAZ in Nizhny Novgorod, approximately 400 km east of Moscow.

Market success of the “world vehicle” Sprinter

The Sprinter is one of the most successful commercial vehicles of all time and a best-seller in the Daimler product portfolio. Since its market launch in 1995, the division has delivered over three million units of its "world vehicle" to customers. 2015 was the most successful year for the Sprinter in its history. In the year of its 20th birthday, sales rose by four percent to 194,200 vehicles. The founder of the segment for large vans is driven in over 130 countries. Over the years, it has been able to assert itself as market leader in several of these countries.

When Mercedes-Benz Vans launched the first Sprinter in 1995, it had recognized the signs of the times and the needs of customers. Highest quality standards were established, both in development and in production. Revolutionary aspects right from the start included the dynamic design, the numerous base variants, the efficient engines, exemplary safety equipment and the ergonomic cockpit. This innovative concept, the outstanding product quality and satisfied customers ensured a successful start for the sophisticated van. In particular for North America, Mercedes-Benz Vans has been a pioneer in bringing a van like the Sprinter to the market, offering these completely new levels of customer value. Coupled with its high profile, the Sprinter gave its name to an entire vehicle category and is today globally synonymous with the segment for vans with a gross vehicle weight of up to 5.5 tons.

The Mercedes-Benz Vans division

Mercedes-Benz Vans is a global full-line supplier of vans and related services. Alongside the large-size van Sprinter and the mid-size van Vito (known in the U.S. as Metris), the division's worldwide product portfolio includes the Mercedes-Benz Citan urban delivery van. Mercedes-Benz Vans is also represented in the private segment with the V-Class MPV (multi-purpose vehicle) and the Marco Polo and Marco Polo ACTIVITY camper vans. The division has a total of nine production locations: in Germany, Spain, the USA, Argentina, China (joint venture with Fujian Benz Automotive Co., Ltd), France (strategic alliance with Renault-Nissan) and Russia (partnerships with GAZ and YaMZ). To date, the division's main markets have been in Western Europe, accounting for a total of 65 percent of unit sales in 2015. As part of the "Mercedes-Benz Vans goes global" growth strategy, the division is also increasingly opening up the growth markets of South America and Asia, as well as the Russian market, by initiating locally adapted sales and production activities.

Source: Daimler

 

[hannaz]

Mercedes-Benz Sprinter on the road for charity campaign "Every Mile Counts"

• Amateur athletes ride their bicycles 8000 km across Europe for disadvantaged children, part of the tour a Sprinter as support vehicle
• Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 319 CDI 4x4 specifically selected and outfitted for charity campaign

8000 km on bicycles from the North Cape in Norway via Scotland, England and France to Gibraltar for children in need – � � starting on 1 August, the initiators and key players of the "Every Mile Counts" charity campaign, Andreas Isler and Marcus Niessl, rise to the challenge. The amateur athletes from Switzerland are supported by a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter. The aim is to raise 75 000 Swiss franks for the Pro Juventute Foundation and ROKJ, the youth organisation of the Rotary Clubs. The money will benefit the integration of economically and socially disadvantaged children.

Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 319 CDI 4x4 specifically selected and outfitted for charity campaign

Mercedes-Benz Switzerland AG and Mercedes-Benz Automobil AG Merbag in Schlieren support the "Every Mile Counts" charity campaign with a support vehicle, a Sprinter 319 CDI 4x4. The van was selected in light of the challenges of the expedition and converted together with outfitter specialists.

Marcus Niessl says: "The intensive preparations took about two and a half years. Fitness is one thing. The organisation, putting together the right equipment and crew and finding suitable partners is another."

Apart from a V6-engine that is rated at 190 hp and produces a torque of 440 Nm, the Sprinter is equipped with on-demand all-wheel drive and off-road tyres to master even difficult road conditions on the 8000 km trip. Safety is ensured by Crosswind Assist, Lane Keeping Assist and Blind Spot Assist, among other things.

Comfort for the team and crew in the interior is provided by a wash basin, refrigerator, gas stove, TV and high-performance music system, on the outside by hook-ups for gas, power, air pressure and a shower. In addition, there are technically sophisticated features such as digital controls for programming lights, pumps and electricity.

This is already the second year for the charity campaign.

More information about the "Every Mile Counts" charity campaign is available online at:www.jedemeilezaehlt.ch/en

Source: Daimler

 

[hannaz]

Mercedes-Benz could have electric Sprinter van by 2018

All-electric work van? It might be in the cards.

Mercedes-Benz's next-generation of its Sprinter utility van could get an all-electric powertrain, The Detroit Bureau says, citing Ulf Zillig, head of project VS30 at Mercedes-Benz. It won't be a guaranteed option, but Mercedes is designing the trucks with both batteries and autonomous-driving features in mind. The updates will be available as soon as 2018.

Last week, Mercedes announced plans for the Urban eTruck. That heavy-duty short-haul concept vehicle, designed for urban deliveries, will have a 124-mile single-charge range. More importantly, Mercedes-Benz says the truck delivers 8,100 lb-ft of torque to the rear wheels. Additionally, Daimler has been running trials of the all-electric Fuso Canter E-Cell for the past two years.

Still, while electric utility vans seem to make sense, the reality is that they've been hard to successfully develop. In 2012, Azure Dynamic, which had been making the powertrain the Ford Transit Connect Electric (TCE) delivery van, went bankrupt, causing production of that vehicle to be halted. That year, Bright Automotive, maker of those racy extended-range plug-in utility vehicles, shut down after saying that the US Department of Energy was taking too long to deliver on its promised loans. And in 2013, Smith Electric stopped production of its all-electric delivery trucks.

Of course, one of the things that interests us in this Mercedes-Benz electric Sprinter van concept is the possibility of a torquey beast of an electric van. Last month, a startup called Atieva released a video of its modified Mercedes-Benz Vito van equipped with a 900-horsepower electric drivetrain that was shown beating a Tesla Model S and a Ferrari California in a drag race.

Mercedes-Benz could have electric Sprinter van by 2018

 

[Wolfgang]

New strategic future initiative adVANce and Vision Van: Mercedes-Benz Vans is presenting the van of the future: intelligent, interconnected and electric

Mercedes-Benz Vans launches future initiative adVANce to expand its growth strategy and develop new business models
Investments of approximately 500 million euros over the next five years for digitalisation, automation and robotics in vans as well as innovative mobility solutions
New organisational unit within the start-up scene in Stuttgart, Berlin and Silicon Valley – approximately 200 employees already work on numerous projects
Close cooperation with start-ups, including first strategic investments – among others in Matternet
All-electric "Vision Van" van study with a range of up to 270 km, fully automated cargo space and integrated drones

Stuttgart – Today the globally successful van manufacturer Mercedes-Benz Vans has unveiled its strategic future initiative adVANce for the transport industry. This sees the division systematically taking up its customers' changing requirements. The transformation of the industry is the result of various economic and social trends, among them urbanisation, the growth in e-commerce, the intelligent networking of a wide range of technologies in the Internet of Things (IoT), and the proliferation of platform-based business models.

Mercedes-Benz Vans präsentiert den Transporter der Zukunft: Intelligent, vernetzt und elektrisch - Mercedes-Benz Passion Blog / Mercedes Benz, smart, Maybach, AMG

 

[hannaz]

Watched live on MB Youtube channel

 

[Wolfgang]

This Sprinter comes with autonomous delivery robots.

solutions@vans: Lieferfahrzeug mit bodengebundenen Lieferrobotern in Entwicklung - Mercedes-Benz Passion Blog / Mercedes Benz, smart, Maybach, AMG

 

[Wolfgang]

The cooperation with Matternet was announced.

Daimler said on Wednesday it would join with U.S. startup Matternet to develop drones for its delivery vans and invest €500 million ($562 million) over the next five years in designing electric, networked vans.

Daimler, the maker of Mercedes-Benz cars and trucks, acquired a minority stake in Menlo Park, Calif.-based Matternet as part of the partnership, a spokeswoman said. Daimler’s overall investment in the initiative, called adVANce, will go to vehicle digitization, automation, robotics and mobility solutions technologies.

“We are looking beyond the vehicle to the whole value chain and the entire environment of our clients,” said van division chief Volker Mornhinweg. The goal is to turn vans into “intelligent, interconnected data centers,” he said.

Daimler to Work With Matternet to Develop Delivery Van Drones

solutions@vans: Mercedes-Benz Transporter mit Drohnenlandefunktion - Mercedes-Benz Passion Blog / Mercedes Benz, smart, Maybach, AMG

 

[Mr Robert]

Can this change the US mind from trucks to vans?

 

[Wolfgang]

^ May be difficult as the commercial van segment is rather small.

 

[Wolfgang]

Matternet unveils the M2, their 2. gen drone delivery system.

- up to 4.4 lbs / 2 kg payload
- up to 12 miles / 20 km delivery range on a single charge

Matternet M2 is the new drone logistics system from Matternet. Featuring automatic payload and battery exchange, intelligent routing and monitoring, precision landing and intuitive command and control. Designed to address complex challenges in last mile and on-demand logistics.

 

[hannaz]

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[Wolfgang]

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[Wolfgang]

Large-scale order for Mercedes-Benz Van: 300 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter for the police in the Netherlands

• Sprinter validated in thorough testing by the responsible authority
• From 7G-TRONIC to Sound Commander: fully prepared for intended deployment

Stuttgart/Netherlands – The Dutch police has signed a framework agreement for 300 new Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 316 CDI (combined fuel consumption: 7.1 l/100 km, combined CO2 emissions: 186 g/km). The first vehicles have already been delivered in November 2016.

"Our experience with various van models from Mercedes-Benz in the past has been very good. Thus, we are looking forward to putting our new Sprinter into service. They are excellent to drive and manoeuvre. This won us over", explains Gerrit den Uyl, director of the police services centre.

Mercedes-Benz Sprinter dynamic and agile

Before signing the framework agreement for the 300 vans, the authority put the Sprinter through thorough testing. It demonstrated its high overall quality and outstanding driving dynamics thanks to the 7G-TRONIC seven-speed transmission with torque converter. This automatic unit provides for smooth power transmission accompanied by reduced fuel consumption. In addition, the Sprinter's small turning circle enables maximum flexibility and simple handling – even when little space is available for manoeuvring. The Sprinter can accommodate eight police officers.

Cutting-edge technology on board

The Dutch police's Sprinter are fitted out with state-of-the-art technical equipment, such as the National Operational Network System, which enables live images to be received from a police helicopter. The Position Monitoring System is employed for communications with the command centre. The Sound Commander enables the police officers to put out announcements to crowds up to 500 metres away from the vehicle. The scope of equipment also includes white blinder lamps on the roof. The conversion measures have been carried out among others together with the Dutch VanPartner by Mercedes-Benz VDL Bus Venlo bv.

The 300 Sprinter feature white paintwork. To ensure that they are immediately recognisable as police vehicles, they are provided with red and blue strips and sirens, of course.

 

[Rainer271]

Large-scale order for Mercedes-Benz Van: 300 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter for the police in the Netherlands

• Sprinter validated in thorough testing by the responsible authority
• From 7G-TRONIC to Sound Commander: fully prepared for intended deployment

Stuttgart/Netherlands – The Dutch police has signed a framework agreement for 300 new Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 316 CDI (combined fuel consumption: 7.1 l/100 km, combined CO2 emissions: 186 g/km). The first vehicles have already been delivered in November 2016.

"Our experience with various van models from Mercedes-Benz in the past has been very good. Thus, we are looking forward to putting our new Sprinter into service. They are excellent to drive and manoeuvre. This won us over", explains Gerrit den Uyl, director of the police services centre.

Mercedes-Benz Sprinter dynamic and agile

Before signing the framework agreement for the 300 vans, the authority put the Sprinter through thorough testing. It demonstrated its high overall quality and outstanding driving dynamics thanks to the 7G-TRONIC seven-speed transmission with torque converter. This automatic unit provides for smooth power transmission accompanied by reduced fuel consumption. In addition, the Sprinter's small turning circle enables maximum flexibility and simple handling – even when little space is available for manoeuvring. The Sprinter can accommodate eight police officers.

Cutting-edge technology on board

The Dutch police's Sprinter are fitted out with state-of-the-art technical equipment, such as the National Operational Network System, which enables live images to be received from a police helicopter. The Position Monitoring System is employed for communications with the command centre. The Sound Commander enables the police officers to put out announcements to crowds up to 500 metres away from the vehicle. The scope of equipment also includes white blinder lamps on the roof. The conversion measures have been carried out among others together with the Dutch VanPartner by Mercedes-Benz VDL Bus Venlo bv.

The 300 Sprinter feature white paintwork. To ensure that they are immediately recognisable as police vehicles, they are provided with red and blue strips and sirens, of course.

Source: Carscoops