Mercedes-Benz has revealed the first details and pictures of its new Vito medium van, which will make its public debut at the Hanover CV motor show in September, before going on sale in the UK in the first quarter of 2015.
The brand will offer the model in three bodystyles – panel van, crew van and Vito Tourer passenger van – and, in the UK, in front- and rear-wheel drive modes. Mercedes has introduced an all-wheel drive model to the line-up, but, unlike the larger 4×4 Sprinter, this will not be coming to the UK. The current Vito is produced as a RWD model only.
Gross vehicle weights range from 2.5 to 3.2 tonnes, and in Germany prices will start from ?17,990 (£14,227), excluding VAT for the 109 CDI panel van with FWD. Mercedes claims the new model range will have a best-in-class maximum payload of 1369kg.
The new Vito comes with two turbo-diesel engines with five power ratings, although the lower-rated units are not yet confirmed for the UK. The Vito 109 CDI gets a 88hp 1.6-litre unit and the 111 CDI has increased power of 114hp. A 2.1-litre engine is available with outputs of 136hp on the 114 CDI, 163hp on the 116 CDI, and 190hp for the flagship Euro6 Vito 119 Bluetec.
A UK spokesman said the 116 Blue Efficiency would be the most economical engine, achieving an official 49.6mpg on the combined cycle. Mercedes promises that consumption will be 20% less across the range than for the current Vito.
Six-speed manual transmission is standard on lower-powered models, and the 7G-Tronic Plus automatic transmission is an option on the 114 CDI and 116 CDI, and standard on the 119 Bluetec derivative.
The new medium van is likely to retain the variable service intervals of the current model in the UK, where the vehicle assesses when it will need workshop attention depending on how sympathetically it is driven.
As is the norm with Mercedes, much emphasis has been placed on safety with the new Vito, which, predictably, comes with Adaptive ESP as standard. The brand claims the new Vito panel van is the only model in its class to provide airbags and a seatbelt reminder for both the driver and passenger as standard and adds that the Tourer people carrier gets up to eight airbags including window bags in the front and rear and thorax/pelvis sidebags for the front seats.
Mercedes says the new Vito will also come with a standard piece of kit it dubs Attention Assist that gauges the driver’s state of alertness by detecting inconsistent driving characteristics through an array of sensors. It aims to protect drivers against fatigue on long journeys and is active at speeds of between 50mph and 110mph. Crosswind Assist, which was introduced on the Sprinter to guard against sudden gusts of wind, is also a standard fit, as is a tyre pressure monitoring system.
A tranche of other safety assistance items are up for grabs as options, including Blind Spot Assist, Lane Keeping Assist and Active Parking Assist, which the brand claims is a first for vans. Also introduced on the new Vito as an option is the Intelligent Light System as an alternative to the standard halogen headlamps. The technology consists of LED indicators, LED daytime running lights and LED headlights with a cornering function. Depending on road speed, the beam adapts for driving on motorways, city streets or rural roads by varying the light distribution.
Merc says all three body lengths of the new Vito (4895mm, 5140mm, 5370mm) are 140mm longer than the outgoing model, which it attributes to an extended front end designed to improve pedestrian protection. With a max height of 1910mm, all variants are below the 2.0m mark and thus fit into standard multi-storey car parks and automatic car washes.
According to Mercedes, the models at the heart of the range are the 2.8 and 3.0-tonne derivatives, which have payload capacities of 1000kg and 1289kg respectively.
Mercedes describes its new medium van as having a powerful-looking radiator grille framed by sharply contoured wing-shaped headlamps.
It says the new Vito fits snugly into the LCV line-up between the Citan and Sprinter with signature stylistic elements such as three perforated slats in the grille, which also serve to boost airflow.
The Vito has a horizontal bumper extending downwards with a further air intake incorporated. At Base level, the bumpers are unpainted to reduce repair costs, but higher up the range colour-coded bumpers are made available.
The arrow-shaped bonnet flows into the side walls that feature two raised contours, which Mercedes claims reduces wind resistance to improve fuel consumption. Roof rails, which do not raise the height above the 2.0m threshold, can be specified as an option.
Mercedes has raised the tail lights on the new model to enhance the vehicle’s visibility and reduce the risk of picking up knocks in traffic and tight spaces. The van, meanwhile is available with either a tailgate or twin hinged doors.
Inside story
Both the driver and passenger get contoured seats in the new Vito,
and the brand claims the seat cushion and backrest are both larger, while the latter is higher to provide lateral support.
Both front seats have two-way head restraints and can be adjusted lengthwise as standard, likewise the backrest angle, while the driver’s seat is also height adjustable. In the panel van, tall drivers now benefit from a change to the contour in the bulkhead that has increased the seat’s adjustment range. A curvature in the upper section enables the backrest to tilt back 83mm further than before.
Driver and passenger can both specify comfort seats that offer an adjustable seating surface, central armrests and four-way head restraints.
Lumbar support, backrest air cushions and electric seat adjustment with memory are also available, and a double seat can be chosen instead of the single passenger seat.
Steering wheel-mounted controls can operate the audio and navigation systems.
It won’t please everybody but, like its predecessor, the new Vito has a foot-operated parking brake.
More detail and pricing will emerge later this year as Mercedes builds up to the launch of a light commercial crucial to its goal of becoming the UK’s second biggest-selling van brand.
