Mercedes-Benz Sprinter gets refresh

In good news for discerning motorhome buyers, the popular Mercedes-Benz Sprinter has been upgraded for 2018 and, for the first time, front-wheel drive variants will be offered as part of the range – delivering a lower starting price for fleet buyers.

Due here in the final quarter of this year, the 2019 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter will also introduce the manufacturer's MBUX infotainment system as part of an interior upgrade to complement the substantial facelift. The new infotainment system has been seen already in the A-Class and the recently unveiled C-Class passenger cars.

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Mercedes-Benz Australia is yet to reveal pricing of the updated Sprinter range, but the new front-wheel drive models are expected to be competitive in a sector of the market in which the Volkswagen Crafter also competes.

Formerly, the Crafter essentially shared its architecture with the rear-wheel drive Sprinter. But the all-new second-generation front-wheel drive Crafter spells an end to any platform-sharing deals between Benz and VW.

That means Mercedes-Benz has been freed to develop its own front-wheel drive variants of Sprinter to compete directly with the Crafter in the local 3.5 to 8.0-tonne commercial-vehicle segment.

The front-wheel drive Sprinter will also go toe to toe with Fiat Ducato, Ford Transit, Iveco Daily and Renault Master.

"Since its introduction in 1998 we have lead the market with the first two generations of the Sprinter," says Diane Tarr, CEO of Mercedes-Benz Vans Australia, via press release.

"With such a vast and configurable range of variants, we have provided sector-specific solutions covering a range from classic courier services over the last delivery mile, major motorhome manufacturers, service providers, eGrocery delivery, construction, manufacturing, rental, passenger transportation and of course Ambulance services.

"Amazingly we are now adding even more, opening the Sprinter to new sectors through additional variants and features whilst providing a far more intelligent, user-friendly and interactive Sprinter range. Not to mention we will further bolster safety through a range of new assistance systems, previously only found in the passenger car range."

The load-carrying structure of the rear-drive Sprinter is unchanged, and its the ambulance services around the world that will benefit most from that, apparently. Fixtures developed locally for Sprinter ambulances can be recycled and retro-fitted to the new models once the old vehicles have been decommissioned and passed on to the used-car trade.

The front-wheel drive Sprinters are powered by the 2.1-litre OM651 four-cylinder turbo-diesel, driving through a nine-speed automatic transmission. This transmission will also be introduced to the rear-drive Sprinters in 2020, once those powertrain variants move to a new-generation (OM654) diesel V6. Six-speed manual transmissions are available on a special-order basis – and at a lower cost – but Mercedes-Benz Australia expects the vast majority of buyers will prefer the automatic offerings.

The load floor of the front-wheel drive Sprinter is 80mm lower than the rear-drive models while the respective payload is 50kg more, comparable to rear-drive Sprinter variants.

According to Benz, the front-drive Sprinter is essentially an "all-new" design, but it and the rear-drive models share features that improve the Sprinter's load-carrying versatility. These features include single rear wheels that can handle gross vehicle weights up to 5.5 tonnes, "loadable" rear-wheel housings and single-handed rear door opening and closing.

Importantly, for the 21st Century commercial vehicle driver, the MBUX system features at its core a 10.25-inch touch screen and touch pads on the steering wheel spokes to control and scroll through functions in the infotainment screen and the trip computer in the instrument binnacle.

Combined, the rear- and front-wheel drive Sprinter range numbers up to 1700 variations on the basic theme, and Mercedes-Benz Australia will bring in rolling-chassis models (no bodywork from the A pillars back) to cater for motorhome manufacturers in the local market. In this form, the four-cylinder front-wheel drive Sprinter will develop 130kW and 400Nm. The OM651 engine will also be offered in 84kW/300Nm, 105kW/330Nm and 120kW/360Nm versions.

The looming V6 will be reserved for rear-drive Sprinters only, and engine output will be pegged at 140kW and 440Nm. This engine will be matched exclusively to the seven-speed automatic transmission as standard.