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• Mercedes-Benz C 63 AMG Coupé, yours for RM781,888

  In Cars, Local News, Mercedes Benz / By Chris Ng / 10 May 2012 / 45 comments

  

  There is some serious power to be had in here. This is the just-launched Mercedes-Benz C 63 AMG Coupé and it has a massive 6.3 litre V8 engine armed with the AMG Performance package that produces 487 hp and 600 Nm of torque. It accelerates from 0-100 km/h in 4.3 seconds and has an electronically-limited top speed of 280 km/h.

  Since it inherits the SLS AMG’s bag of tricks, the C 63 AMG’s engine has forged pistons, connecting rods and lightweight crankshafts that shave three kilograms in weight. To visually differentiate the stock 6.3 litre V8 (this standard engine has 30 hp less without the AMG Performance pack), the engine features a variable intake manifold in titanium grey.

  

  The AMG Speedshift MCT 7-speed is tasked with transmission duties. The gearbox uses a compact, wet start-off clutch rather than relying on a standard torque converter.

  There are four settings for the transmission. ‘C’, for Controlled Efficiency, provides earlier upshifts, lowest possible engine speed and a softer accelerator pedal. Three other settings come after ‘C’, they are ‘S’, ‘S+’ and ‘M’. Modes ‘S+’ and ‘M’ shifts gears in just 100 milliseconds. Race Start mode lets the driver squeeze out maximum acceleration.

  

  The C 63 AMG rides on specifically designed three-link front suspension, reinforced multi-link independent rear suspension and a wider track all around. The list continues with a stiffer elastokinematics, the autonomous axle kinematics with negative all-round camber and stabilisers with a larger cross-section for better responsiveness and greater lateral acceleration. Spring and damper rates have been modified to optimise ride comfort without culling responsive handling characteristics.

  The driver can also influence handling with the three-stage ESP – ESP On, ESP Off or ESP Sport Handling Mode. Stopping power comes from an AMG high-performance braking system that consist of internally ventilated and perforated brake discs on all wheels, highlighted by red painted brake calipers all round.

  

  The Coupé gets all of AMG’s styling cues. The front section is made visually sharper with the AMG front apron that includes lower cross-struts finished in high-gloss black and LED daytime driving lamps specially created for AMG. Also in front is the new wing-shaped grille and powerdomes on the aluminium bonnet.

  As for the rear, the C 63 gets an AMG rear apron complete with a black diffuser and three diffuser fins. Flanking those are a pair of chromed twin tailpipes that make up the AMG sports exhaust system.

  

  Inside, the Coupé shares the CLS 63 AMG’s parts such as the instrument panel with integrated screen, as well as the AMG Performance steering wheel, which features nappa leather and Alcantara grip areas. AMG sport seats can also be found inside.

  Adding to the long list are things from the AMG Performance Studio catalog. They include the AMG Exterior Carbon Fibre package, AMG rear axle differential lock, AMG trim elements in carbon fibre/high-gloss black piano lacquer and AMG floor mats.

  

  Mercedes-Benz also bestowed the C 63 with COMAND Online that enables Internet browsing when the car is stationary. COMAND also comes with sat-nav that shows four routes with one being the economical route. It also allows you to record and repeat the route that the car has travelled. These destinations can then be saved and imported via an SD card.

  In terms of safety, the C 63 comes standard with seven airbags, belt tensioners and belt-force limiters for all seats. It also has Attention Assist that detects drowsiness, ABS, Adaptive Highbeam Assist, ESP, headlamp assist, Intelligent Light System ILS, Parktronic including Parking Guidance, Pre-Safe, Lane Keeping Assist, cruise control with Speedtronic variable speed limiter and blind spot assist.

  It is safe to say that this coupe comes armed to the teeth with parts from the AMG catalog. Mercedes-Benz Malaysia is asking RM781,888 (on-the-road without insurance) for it. You can also request for a C 63 without the AMG Performance package.

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  
  

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• Mercedes-Benz Citan – Kangoo with a three-pointed star

  In Cars, International News, Mercedes Benz / By Danny Tan / 20 April 2012 / 24 comments

  

  This is the Mercedes-Benz Citan van that will debut at the IAA Commercial Vehicle Show in Hanover in September. The Citan – coined from the words ‘city’ and ‘titan’ – is an urban delivery van that succeeds the discontinued Vaneo line. In MB’s van lineup, this is the younger brother of the Vito and Sprinter.

  The Citan is based on the Renault Kangoo, which makes sense. The Kangoo is one of Europe’s leading small vans, and the duo will take on usual segment suspects such as the Volkswagen Caddy, Citroën Berlingo and Fiat Doblo.

  

  By the way, Mercedes-Benz parent company Daimler has an ongoing partnership with Renault-Nissan that will also see Renault provide small car engines to Mercedes/Smart, in exchange for Merc powerplants for Nissan’s Infiniti. Both parties will co-develop the next-gen smart fortwo/Renault Twingo and are already jointly building engines in the US.

  The Citan will be available in three different lengths: 3.94 m, 4.32 m and 4.71 m. There will also be a five-seat Citan Mixto with folding rear seat bench, wire mesh partition separating the load compartment, and two sliding doors. The Mixto is based on the longest body. The third basic design is the Citan crewbus, also a five-seater based on the long wheelbase van.

  

  There are also three different weights ranging up to a maximum permissible gross vehicle weight of 2,200 kg. As an alternative to the standard tail doors, is also offering a wide-opening tailgate. Optional roof rails boost flexibility as does the optional ladder hatch for the panel van to facilitate the transportation of extra-long items.

  Three turbodiesels (from 75 to 110 hp) and a 115 hp supercharged petrol engine are the engine choices. All oil burners have a particulate filter as standard, while the petrol comes with a BlueEfficiency package as standard – it includes start/stop, battery and generator management and low rolling resistance tyres. Five and six-speed transmissions send power to the front wheels.

  

  Economy is a major factor in such vehicles, and the Citan has long service intervals of up to 40,000 km or two years.

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  
  
  

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• Mercedes-Benz Concept Style Coupé to debut in Beijing

  In Cars, International News, Mercedes Benz / By Anthony Lim / 20 April 2012 / 15 comments

  

  Another Beijing debutant comes in the form of Mercedes-Benz’s Concept Style Coupé. The four-door coupé study is, as the company says, nonconformist, provocative and masculine – it features frameless side windows, and has no B-pillar.

  The car, finished in an Alubeam exterior shade, is powered by a 2.0 litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol unit with direct injection, good for 211 hp. The mill is combined with a 7G-DCT dual clutch transmission and a 4MATIC all-wheel drive system.

  Plenty of novel cues, aside from that of the exterior lines, and this includes a striking headlamp design featuring innovative indicators. In standby mode, the headlamps shine red, like – as MB puts it – the wary, intimidating eyes of a predatory animal. As for the indicators, individual points of light light up in succession, rather like a piano keyboard.

  

  The Concept Style Coupé – which rides on 21-inch five-spoke turbine design wheels – seats four, with integral seats and integrated head restraints, the last already seen in the Sports version of the new A-Class. There’s an electroplated insert in the upper part of the seat, which is illuminated and adds to the impression of lightness.

  The rest of the light grey and anthracite-coloured cabin features a mix of materials and lines. The instrument panel is upholstered in white nubuck leather, contrasting with the anthracite-coloured Alcantara on the upper section of the panel, and the steering wheel is wrapped with suede leather.

  Neon green piping and topstitching, which appear on the instrument panel, steering wheel, seat and door centre panels, provides further contrast. The air vents, like that on the Concept A-Class, are backlit and change colour according to the temperature.

  

  When cool, fresh air is being brought into the car, they are blue, but light up in red when the airflow is warm. At a mid-range temperature setting, the vents light up in fluorescent yellow, matching the colour of the piping perfectly.

  Meanwhile, the chrome trim elements and control panels are done in a black anodised finish, as seen on top-of-the-range limited Sports Edition chronograph watches, and black anodised aluminium adorns the surfaces around the HMI control panel.

  Elsewhere, there’s a carbon-fibre trim panel spanning the full width of the dashboard fascia, and the centre console flows back in a long, continuous wave from the instrument panel, with an intricately designed fan module for the two rear seats neatly embedded in it.

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  
  

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• F1: Nico Rosberg wins the Chinese GP, his maiden victory and Mercedes’ first triumph since 1955!

  In Formula 1, Mercedes Benz, Motorsports / By Danny Tan / 16 April 2012 / 30 comments

  

  Nico Rosberg’s first win was always likely to be at the Chinese GP. The young German has led the race in Shanghai in recent years, only to fail to take the win. He showed that he had something extra in qualifying, where his fastest lap was half a second faster than the next man. Yesterday, he sealed the deal, and claimed his maiden win with a margin of 20.6 seconds!

  Nico’s commanding Shanghai triumph is also Mercedes-Benz’ first as a works team since Fangio won the 1955 Italian GP, so it’s double joy for the team, which of course is sponsored by Petronas. Lots of screen time for the national oil company as a result.

  

  McLaren’s two ex-world champs Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton completed the podium, while Red Bull drivers Mark Webber and Seb Vettel had to settle for fourth and fifth. The other team with two cars in the points were Williams – Bruno Senna and Pastor Maldonado finished seventh and eight, respectively. Lotus’ Romain Grosjean will be extremely happy with his sixth place, since he had completed all of five race laps before Shanghai.

  The final two points paying positions were taken by Fernando Alonso in the Ferrari and Kamui Kobayashi in the Ferrari-powered Sauber. The kamikaze Japanese driver made a brave late move on teammate and Sepang hero Sergio Perez for the final point.

  

  Mercedes AMG Petronas’ other driver didn’t have a good race. Living legend Michael Schumacher started alongside Rosberg on the front row after Hamilton took a grid penalty, but the team botched Schumi’s first pit stop. His rear wheel was incorrectly fitted, and he was the only man to DNF in China. The team were also fined €5,000 for the unsafe release.

  It was a race dominated by tyre strategy, but Rosberg proved that Mercedes has resolved its rubber eating issues – a simple two-stop strategy and good pace kept him way ahead of the crazy battles behind.

  

  Further back, Caterham’s Vitaly Petrov finished ahead of the rookie team drivers in 18th. Heikki Kovalainen was classified as last. Looks like Caterham is still nowhere near the midfield as targeted – while they’ve improved, so have others.

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• Mercedes-Benz SL 65 AMG: 650 hp and 1,000 Nm

  In Cars, International News, Mercedes Benz / By Chris Ng / 26 March 2012 / 9 comments

  

  The power of the new Mercedes-Benz SL 65 AMG is quite overwhelming. It originates from a 6.0 litre V12 biturbo (or twin turbo if you prefer), which is not exactly new. It is a heavily revised version of the M 275, earning the new name of M 279.

  Or simply put, this engine has added fastness – lots of it. New to the engine are the exhaust gas turbochargers with an increased spiral cross-section, manifolds and wastegate ducts. Multi-spark ignition with 12 double ignition coils makes the feel of the engine smooth. The exhaust escapes the car through optimised catalytic converters and the new AMG sports exhaust that weighs 3.2 kg lighter than the old one.

  

  Partnering the engine is the AMG Speedshift Plus 7G-tronic, a first for AMG. Wider gear ratios, a new fuel economy torque convertor, reduced friction bearings and transmission-oil thermal management improves the gearbox’s efficiency.

  The numbers? 630 hp with 1,000 Nm of twist, 0-100 km/h is done in 4.0 seconds and an electronically-limited top speed of 250 km/h. Environmentalists will be happy to know that the SL 65 AMG expels a small 270g/km of CO2 and has a fuel consumption of 24.4 mpg, or about 9.6 litre/100km.

  

  There’s also less fat in the new SL 65 AMG. Intelligent lightweight construction, all-aluminium bodyshell and plenty of carbon fibre brings the weight down to just 1950 kg, which is 170 kg lighter if you’re comparing the new with the old.

  The suspension system also makes use if its lightness. Steering knuckles, spring links of the 4-link front suspension and nearly all of the multi-link independent rear suspension is made of aluminium. To really give the car more handling, there is more negative camber on both axles with a revised elastokinematics. The SL 65 AMG also comes standard with AMG’s Active Body Control, or ABC for short.

  

  There are only two suspension settings to choose from, Sport and Comfort. I think you can take a guess on what those two modes do to the driving dynamics of the car.

  In spite of the powerful figures and the aggressive styling of the car, it is still a Mercedes-Benz and it still comes with a host of uber luxury features.

  

  Like the vario-roof for example. Not only does it change from roadster to coupe in under 20 seconds, the buyer also have the option to get the vario-roof with MAGIC SKY CONTROL that switches from light to dark at a push of a button.

  As for the interior, the car comes with AMG sport seats in single or two-tone nappa leather with the AMG pattern. AMG emblems are embossed on the seat’s backrests as well. Also making its way from the SLS AMG are the four jet engine- styled air vents, E-SELECT LEVER and AMG DRIVE UNIT.

  

  The standard equipment list is long: Bang & Olufsen BeoSound, AIRSCARF, COMAND Online, MAGIC VISION CONTROL, auto pop-up roll-over bars for driver and front passenger and the list goes on.

  The options’ list comes from the AMG Performance Studio, which means you can expect plenty more AMG anagrams that can be placed all over the car. AMG Exterior Carbon package, AMG Performance steering wheel and the AMG Performance Media are just some of the highlights.

  

  Price for the SL 65 AMG starts at around 236,334 euros and by the time it makes it way here will push the numbers past a RM1,000,000. Out of reach for a good majority of Malaysians; at least drooling over the pictures is free.

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  
  
  

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• Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team visits MBM’s Pekan plant

  In Cars, Formula 1, Local News, Mercedes Benz, Motorsports / By Chris Ng / 20 March 2012 / 10 comments

  

  It has only been two days since the race in Melbourne ended and already the Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula 1 Team has hit the road to visit the Mercedes-Benz Malaysia’s Pekan Plant in Pahang, where they also met-and-greeted 40 orang asli children from Kampung Meranti and Kampung Landai who were visiting the plant at the same time. Nice.

  This effort was made possible by Mercedes-Benz Malaysia and Petronas. The visit was part of the team’s annual programme before the race. This visit also tightened the partnership between the German car manufacturer and Malaysia’s lube company, since Petronas does supply fuels, lubricants and functional fluids to the Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team as well as the Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains.

  

  The visit also underlines Mercedes-Benz’s market strength in the country. According to Roland Folger, president and CEO of Mercedes-Benz Malaysia, the Pekan plant has already put together 21,000 premium vehicles, more than any other premium passenger brand in Malaysia. The plant is also the only one in the country that assembles a car with a price tag of more than RM1 million – the S500L BlueEFFICIENCY.

  Of course, it was not all business. Michael Schumacher, Nico Rosberg and Sam Bird demonstrated what they and the SLS AMG, E 63 AMG and the CLS 350 are capable of in the hands of a professional. Plus, they probably gave a few of the VIP Guests an experience of a lifetime with a taxi ride in one of those uber cars.

  If you want to catch Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg for their autographs, then they’ll be at the Showcase that is happening at the concourse of Suria KLCC tomorrow, March 21 at 5 pm.

  

  

  

  

  
  
  

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• PETRONAS Malaysia Grand Prix Showcase now at KLCC

  In Cars, Formula 1, Local News, Mercedes Benz, Motorsports / By Chris Ng / 19 March 2012 / 3 comments

  

  Some say that Formula 1 cars, at full speed, can drive upside down on the ceiling. No one has ever done it yet; so far the feat only happens within complex mathematics and computer simulations. It is very possible of course, when the conditions are perfect.

  What is very possible in the real world is this: anchoring two Formula 1 cars, with engines deleted, on a steel frame. While it would seem that Petronas has managed to balance the cars on a pinhead, architects will see the principles of cantilevering in action. How did they do it? We got the footage of its construction right here.

  It is eye-catching, especially when you walk into KLCC via the Dewan Philharmonic Petronas lobby. Keen eyes will notice that both cars are different. The one on the left is the team’s 2010 contender and the right has raced in the 2011 season.

  

  The fact that it is being suspended gives you a different view of the Formula 1 car. While most exhibitions show the shell of the car, this one gives you a view of the underside of the car, also known as the undertray where some of the car’s aerodynamic secrets are held. No, the view is not what you would call exciting but you can see, in finer detail, the guts rather than the glory of the race machine. See if you can spot the little fins that smoothens the airflow into the side pods.

  You can also see the skid block here. In case you didn’t know, the skid block is a wood plank that measures 10 mm. This one is painted in the team’s silver. It is FIA’s low-tech solution to a very high-tech problem. You see, Formula 1 cars used to run very close to the track to enhance handling which enables drivers to take corners at break-neck speeds. It is also very dangerous; it caused Ayrton Senna’s death.

  Today’s regulations require the skid block to be measured before and after the race. Cars with skid blocks that are found to be less than 9mm post-race will be disqualified.

  

  It is not often you get to see the undertray. The only time you get to catch it is usually during a race incident when the car flips over during a race. Even then, unless you can pause the telly, views of the undertray is always too brief.

  Of course, this is not all. The installation is part of the 2012 Formula 1 Petronas Malaysia Grand Prix Showcase. A mouthful, I know.

  

  Plenty to see and do… there’s the Formula 1 car on display together with the CLS 350 and the SLS AMG Roadster. Fans of the team should really get over here because the latest line of team merchandise is here to make you part with your money.

  Highlight of the showcase has got to the Speed of Sound AR Game. Is it hard? Extremely. You race by matching the pitch of your voice to the pitch that is shown on screen. Hit the mark and you get seconds taken off your time. Miss the mark and you’ll notice the seconds can really add up. To win, you need a near perfect pitch and a very quiet room. Still, our Harvinder managed a time of 10.40 seconds in this noisy concourse and is on the top ten leaderboard. See if you can knock him off his lofty perch.

  

  The showcase has already begun and will come to a close on March 25. I’ll leave you with one last thing to nibble on – Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg will be meeting fans and signing autographs on March 21 from 5.00pm onwards. Fan or not, it is worthwhile to visit this showcase.

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  
  
  

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• Mercedes-Benz A-Class – third-gen takes over the mantle

  In Cars, International News, Mercedes Benz / By Chris Ng / 13 March 2012 / 76 comments

  

  Remember the cutesy MPV-looking vehicle from Mercedes-Benz? Well, it looks like the baby Mercedes is all grown up and ready to face the world – the new-generation A-Class, or the W176 if you will, has arrived.

  For starters, the A-Class is 4,292 mm long, 1,780 wide and 1,433 mm tall. It also crouches 180 mm closer to the road when compared to its predecessor, no doubt to match its exciting exterior that tears away the stigma of the brand for boring and balding. And if that is not enough, the A-Class retains the diamond grille that was first seen on the Concept A-Class. Refresh your memory here.

  

  If the tight design of the sheet metal isn’t enough, the daylight running lamps and indicators have been organised to give out a distinctive ‘flare effect’. It only highlights the company’s desire to appeal to a younger (or young at heart) audience.

  As for the rear, the taillights, which consists of fibre-optic cables and LED modules, continues the muscular lines and the A-Class’ stocky width.

  

  The interior injects that youthful feel as well, with a high-quality feel of course. It comes with trim surfaces that feature an electroplated finish in ‘silver chrome’ for a ‘cool touch’ effect and the option to pair the car via an iPhone app (more smartphones to be added to the list soon). And then there are the ‘little’ details that pull your attention, such as the air vents that are said to stand out like ‘sparkling jewels’.

  The A-Class comes in petrol and diesel powerplants. Mercedes-Benz claims that this is the first time it has produced a vehicle that emits just 99g of CO2 per kilometer. All engines also come standard with an ECO start/stop function.

  

  There are three permutations for the petrol engine. The A 180 has a 1.6 litre that produces 115 hp, while the A 200’s 2.0 litre is good for 156 hp and the A250 is powered by a 2.0 litre 211 hp engine. All the engines will feature direct injection and exhaust gas turbocharging.

  Specific to the 1.6 litre engine – a first for Mercedes-Benz – is something called CAMTRONIC, which restricting the amount of fresh mixture via the adjustments of valves on the intake side. What this means in English is that the system further reduces fuel consumption.

  

  There are three choices for the diesels as well. The A 180 CDI outputs 109 hp and 250 Nm, the A 200 CDI is rated at 136 hp and 300 Nm, and the A 220 CDI (with its 2.2 litre engine) offers 170 hp and 350 Nm. All engines can be partnered with either the new six-speed manual transmission or the 7G-DCT dual-clutch automatic transmission.

  Ride and handling duties of the new A-Class will be taken care of by a new four-link rear axle, which together with its lower centre of gravity gives the A-Class the credentials to slip on the 4MATIC all-wheel drive system. There’s also the option for customers to tweak suspension settings. The electromechanical steering has also been completely redesigned and repositioned to make usage of the Dual Pinion EPS possible.

  

  As for safety features, well Mercedes-Benz says that the A-Class is the only one in its class to feature the radar-based Collision Prevention Assist as standard. The A-Class also comes with a wide menu of safety tools like the Pre-safe, Brake Hold function, Hill-Start Assist, Distronic Plus, Adaptive Highbeam Assist, Blind Spot Assist, Active Parking Assist and Speed Limit Assist, to name a few.

  The question is, will we see a Malaysia-bound A-Class? If it does arrive it should be sometime next year.
  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  
  

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• Mercedes-Benz SL 63 AMG joins the roadster range

  In Cars, International News, Mercedes Benz / By Anthony Lim / 28 February 2012 / 4 comments

  

  Mercedes-Benz has announced another introduction to its roadster range, and the SL 63 AMG rolls in to join the SLS AMG Roadster and SLK 55 AMG in the company’s top tier topless range.

  The car is available with two power outputs for the first time – the M157 5.5 litre V8 twin-turbo AMG mill offers 537 hp and 800 Nm of torque in its base guise, while with the AMG Performance package strapped on, the figures rise to 564 hp and 900 Nm. And going the all-aluminium bodyshell route means that this one is 125 kg lighter than the car it replaces.

  

  The base output is good enough to get the vehicle from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.3 seconds, and it’s just a shade faster at 4.2 seconds for the AMG Performance spec. Meanwhile, top speed is an electronically-limited 250 km/h, but the AMG Performance package takes this to 300 km/h, again electronically-limited.

  Kit incudes an enhanced AMG sports suspension based on Active Body Control (ABC), a new AMG speed-sensitive sports steering, the AMG high-performance compound brake system and the AMG Speedshift MCT 7-speed sports transmission. An automatic double-declutching function for downshifting and the Racestart function are also included as standard with the transmission.

  

  The car comes fitted with five-twin-spoke AMG light-alloy wheels painted titanium grey, with a high-sheen finish, shod with 255/35 front and 285/30 rear tyres. A multi-spoke AMG forged wheel from the AMG Performance Studio is available as an option, and this one is in matte black with a rim flange done in a high-sheen finish.

  The sixth-generation SL retains the space-saving, electrohydraulically retractable vario-roof, enabling the SL to be transformed into a roadster or a coupé in under 20 seconds. In contrast to the outgoing model, however, there are three versions to choose from for the new SL, these being painted roof, glass roof or the unique panoramic vario-roof with Magic Sky Control.

  

  Inside, the SL 63 AMG’s cabin gets cues inspired by the SLS AMG – the four jet engine-styled air vents, the E-SELECT lever and the AMG Drive Unit are all reminiscent of the super sports car.

  Standard equipment includes AMG sports seats in single-tone or two-tone nappa leather, with a unique V8 seat upholstery layout and AMG badges in the seat backrests, AMG carbon-fibre trim and AMG illuminated door sill panels as well as IWC-design analogue clock.
  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  

  
  
  

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• Mercedes-Benz Citan small city van to launch this year

  In Cars, Mercedes Benz / By Paul Tan / 5 February 2012 / 10 comments

  

  The trend now is to go for smaller vehicles with smaller more fuel efficient engines wherever possible, and a prime candidate for these downsized vehicles are the packed cities that can be found in nearly every economy. The commercial vehicle business looks to be doing the same, as these sketches preview Mercedes-Benz Commercial Vehicles’ first small van designed for urban use.

  

  Called the Mercedes-Benz Citan – an amalgamation of City and Titan, the new “urban delivery van” will slot in a new segment under the Vito, Sprinter and Vario models, and will be available as a standard panel van as well as a crew bus and other configurations in various lengths and weights. A Mixto passenger variant will also be on sale. Once a “niche” market in the 90s, the small delivery van segment currently accounts for 700,000 units a year in Europe alone, and Mercedes-Benz expects to claim a 4% to 5% market share with the new Citan.

  

  Both petrol and diesel engines will be available for the Citan, and given the intended city usage, I wouldn’t be surprised if eventually you could see some kind of electric Citan in the future.

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