Daimler Vans USA launches Sprinter Crew Van Seats five with space for tools, materials
Daimler Vans USA is launching its fifth new Sprinter model - the Crew Van - which joins the Cargo Van, Passenger Van, MiniBus and Cab Chassis. Complete with many Mercedes-Benz safety and convenience features, the Sprinter Crew Van seats five, with all the remaining room set up for cargo.
Featuring a three-place second row seat, the Sprinter Crew Van can carry an entire work crew to the job site and back, plus all their tools and materials. Like other Sprinter models, the fuel-efficient Crew Van is powered by a 3.0-liter V6 diesel that, company officials said, “gets 30 percent better fuel economy than a comparable gasoline engine.”
With the launch of the Crew Van, five Sprinter models are now available:
Cargo Van - Available in three different body lengths and two roof heights, the van boasts the largest side- and rear-door openings, as well as the lowest load floor and step-in height of any full-size van.
Cab Chassis - A highly flexible platform or “stake-body“ van, this model can be finished as a trademan’s tool and parts vehicle or an agri-farming flatbed. Available in two wheelbase lengths, the Cab Chassis platform can also accommodate the installation of special cargo boxes ranging from motor homes and medical emergency units to full kitchens and refrigerated compartments.
Passenger Van - With four rows of seats for up to 12 occupants - each fitted with an individual three-point seat belt and head restraint, this Sprinter is intended for airport, residential care and community service shuttles as well as limousine services. It can be ordered in two different wheelbases and two roof heights.
MiniBus - Larger than the Passenger Van but similar in design, the MiniBus features four basic seating configurations, each with floor plans that can be customized. Airport and Hotel versions provide ample luggage areas and seating for 15 passengers. A commuter shuttle offers seating for 16 with optional video equipment, while a paratransit version comes with multiple wheelchair positions, seating for up to eight passengers and a choice of side or rear wheelchair lifts.
Van features
The Sprinter has best-in-class cargo capacity of up to 547 square feet and payload capacity up to 5,375 pounds, said company officials. With doors that open a full 270 degrees, the Sprinter also boasts a rear door opening that’s 5 feet 2 inches wide and 6 feet tall.
Both the Cargo and Passenger Vans feature a side-door opening that’s 4 feet 3 inches wide and 6 feet high. At the same time, step-in height is only 19.9 inches - the lowest in the industry, officials noted.
The MiniBus has a power-operated split-entry door and step that’s 38 inches wide. Interior standing height can be up to 6 feet 4 inches.
Unlike many other vans, all Sprinters are equipped with independent strut suspension with coil springs in front and four-wheel disc brakes, as well as a solid axle with leaf springs at the rear. A five-speed automatic transmission is standard. There are several choices of springs, shock absorbers and stabilizer bars.
BlueTEC emission system
All 2011 Sprinters are powered by a 3.0-liter V6 diesel that generates 188 hp and 325 lb ft of torque (from 1,400 to 2,400 rpm). The Sprinter’s four-valve-per-cylinder BlueTEC diesel features centrally located piezo-electric injectors, CDI direct injection, a variable-nozzle turbocharger and exhaust gas recirculation.
Building on this foundation of advanced engine design, the Sprinter engine incorporates several modular after-treatment units in the exhaust stream, including an oxidizing catalytic converter, a maintenance-free particulate filter and an NOx storage converter, officials said. An AdBlue system injects a urea solution into the exhaust, which releases ammonia (NH3), reducing nitrogen oxides to harmless nitrogen and water in the downstream Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) catalytic converter.
SCR is a process that creates an effective method of diesel exhaust gas after-treatment, they said. AdBlue is carried in its own tank and metered into the exhaust in minute quantities, so small that the tank only needs to be refilled during routine scheduled maintenance.
Mercedes-Benz safety
Every Sprinter comes with a number of Mercedes-Benz safety features, including Adaptive ESP stability and rollover control, ABS anti-lock brakes, Brake Assist and traction control. The driver and front passenger seats are equipped with standard multi-stage front air bags, and side curtain and torso air bags are optionally available.
Other options include Bi-Xenon headlights, a tire pressure monitoring system and a Parktronic parking aid.
Sprinter network
The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter made its European debut in 1995, and a new-generation Sprinter was launched globally in 2006. Since 2001, the Sprinter has been sold in the U.S. by Freightliner.
Mercedes-Benz USA began offering the Sprinter line through select Mercedes-Benz dealers in 2010. Both Mercedes-Benz USA and Freightliner are divisions of Daimler AG, the world’s largest manufacturer of commercial vehicles.
In the U.S., the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter is targeted primarily toward small businesses, while the Freightliner version continues to focus on its established customer base of commercial vehicle operators.
Sprinter Cargo Vans, Crew Vans, MiniBus and Passenger Vans are produced in Düsseldorf, Germany, while Sprinter Cab Chassis vehicles are made in Ludwigsfelde.
Located in Montvale, NJ, Daimler Vans USA is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Mercedes-Benz USA, responsible for sales and marketing of Sprinter commercial vehicles in the U.S.
For more information on Sprinter vans, visit www.freightlinersprinterusa.com and www.mbsprinterusa.com.
