First Glimpse at 'Chiselled' New Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Van
A first glimpse of the next generation Mercedes-Benz Sprinter large van has been unveiled well ahead of its planned arrival in 2027 as part of an unusual ‘rocky’ sculpture that shows off some of its design features.
Forming one-third of Mercedes-Benz’s commercial vehicle range, the Sprinter – a nameplate that it has used since 1995 - is the German marque’s most important model and holds sway as its top-seller across most markets it is sold, including the UK.
While we are still a long way from witnessing the final result, Mercedes-Benz has offered up a partial look at what to expect with an installation that chisels some of its front-end features out of the ‘stone-look sculpture’.
Branded ‘the Boulder’, the sculpture is supposed to represent Mercedes-Benz’s rock-solid reputation for building durable and hardy workhorses that go the distance.
Presented alongside what it describes as the van it invented in 1896, the sculpture gives an idea of what the front-end will look like with a chunky, broad-grille displaying the three-pointed star motif and a sleek headlight design that sweeps around the front flank.
The glimpse appears to correlate with a design direction expected to appear first on the upcoming Mercedes-Benz Vito medium van, which is due next year.
It also appears to give an idea of the profile, particularly the A-pillar, which has been crafted with a view to improving aerodynamics.
Indeed, aero will be a crucial area of improvement for the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter as it will be offered with the choice of either conventional diesel engines or an electric powertrain.
As it stands, the e-Sprinter is already one of the most frugal large electric vans on sale with a potential 279-miles of range available from the largest 113kWh battery.
However, this was recently bettered by the new Renault Master, which can go 285-miles, partly as a result of a major step forward in its aerodynamic efficiency.
However, Mercedes-Benz is hinting at great things for the durability of its next generation of electric models.
It has already set a new standard in the passenger car market with the launch of the 473-mile CLA, while the upcoming Mercedes-Benz VLE – which will form the basis for the Vito – is expected to exceed 300 miles on a single charge.
The new Mercedes-Benz Sprinter will be built on the new VAN.EA (Van Electric Architecture) platform that will also underpin the new Vito, which Mercedes-Benz has been busy developing throughout this year. However, the German marque remains committed to selling diesel-powered versions too, creating a new VAN.CA (Van Combustion Architecture) platform alongside it.
Next Generation of Mercedes-Benz Vans to Set New Standards
Mercedes-Benz is also promising a big step forward in terms of connectivity and software, claiming it will set new standards for the commercial vehicle industry.
Running entirely on Mercedes-Benz’s own operating system (MB.OS), the new software will be deep integrated and supported by AI to deliver new opportunities for businesses and be tailored to customer needs.
One key feature will be the use of Mercedes-Benz Intelligent Cloud, which enables over-the-air updates – including driver assistance systems – to help businesses to keep their vehicles modern and hold onto them for longer.
Mercedes-Benz is yet to confirm what body sizes it will be offer with the next generation Sprinter.
As it stands, the third-generation Mercedes-Benz Sprinter – which has been on sale since 2019 – is available in L2/L3/L4 and H2 body sizes, plus Luton van, Chassis, Chassis Crew Can, Dropside and Tipper body styles.
