Mercedes-Benz launches fresh assault on competitive van segment

17th July 2015

By: Irma Venter

Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor

  

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Mercedes-Benz has launched a fresh attack on the highly competitive van segment with the launch of its new V-Class multipurpose vehicle (MPV).

The V-Class replaces the Viano.

The Mercedes-Benz Vito van remains in the local market, with a new model on its way in August.

The Vito, which has a panel van and people carrier version, finds favour in more commercial applications, such as small businesses and the car rental market, explains Mercedes-Benz South Africa (MBSA) Vans VP Nicolette Lambrechts.

“The new Vito will be priced under the V-Class, so customers who cannot afford the V-Class can get into the Vito.”

The Sprinter, which has a loyal following in the long-distance taxi market, also remains on the menu in MBSA’s revamped van offering.

The Sprinter is much larger than the Vito and V-Class.

Lambrechts hopes the new V-Class will outsell the Viano, which sold 420 units in its best year, even though the customer base at this “high end of the market” is not that big.

“We believe we can improve on this number. The V-Class is a combination of a C-Class and an E-Class. It is like driving a passenger car, but with the space and flexibility of a sports utility vehicle.”

The target market for the premium van is the luxury car rental market, luxury shuttle services, boutique hotels and families with deeper wallets.

Lambrechts believes the South African total van market will be down in 2015, compared with 2014, as consumers are “hanging onto their vehicles for longer” in the current tough economic climate.

The New V-Class
Pricing for the new V-Class starts at R695 981, and tops out at R984 196.

The vehicle offers room for up to eight people.

The rear of the vehicle can be transformed into a cargo space for bikes, for example, or into a lounge area/meeting room, with four individual leather seats with arm rests and trays/working space, facing each other, or into a proper family van with two benches offering seating for up to six people.

There are three equipment lines available: the V-Class Standard, the V-Class BlueTEC and the V-Class BlueTEC Avantgarde, with an exterior sports package and an interior design package available for each line, as well as a host of optional extras.

Standard equipment includes Crosswind Assist, which helps to stabilise the V-Class in strong crosswinds, and Attention Assist, which warns the driver of inattention and drowsiness.

Available as standard is Active Parking Assist, which makes parking of the new MPV as easy and convenient as parking a compact car.

Optional features include a 360° camera, Lane Keeping Assist, Blind Spot Assist and Adaptive Highbeam Assist.

The V-Class comes to the starting line with a 2.2 ℓ four-cylinder turbodiesel engine with two-stage turbocharging.

It is available in three power output levels.

The somewhat sluggish V 200 CDI develops 100 kW of power and maximum torque of 330 Nm.

The V 220 CDI generates 120 kW of power and 380 Nm of torque.

This is an increase of 20 Nm in each case over the Viano predecessor, but with fuel consumption down by around 2ℓ per 100 km.

The V 220 CDI offers fuel consumption of 5.7 ℓ/100 km.

The highly agile, surprisingly easy-to-manoeuvre V 250 BlueTEC has a power output of 140 kW and peak torque of 440 Nm. In the acceleration phases, an additional 10 kW and 40 Nm become available.

The V 250 BlueTEC accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 9.1 seconds.

Inside, every V-Class features a free-standing seven-inch central display, piano-lacquer-look trim, three-spoke multifunction steering wheel with 12 buttons, a steering column adjustable for height and tilt, luxury front seats with side airbags, electric parking brake and active arrest for the rear sliding door.

The V-Class features a rear windscreen that can be opened and closed independently of the tailgate. This means there is no need to open the large tailgate in tight parking spaces.

The V-Class is introduced standard with a six year/100 000 km maintenance contract with no customer contribution.

Edited by Martin Zhuwakinyu
Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor

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