New Generation Mercedes-Benz Sprinter

							                                                    Sprinter Passenger van, Panel van & Panel van short


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New Generation Mercedes-Benz Sprinter
Text & photos courtesy Daimler AG
01-31-2006




Versatility, power, safety and comfort

    •   Production in Düsseldorf and Ludwigsfelde
    •   Advanced safety technologies
    •   High-tech turbo diesel engines: powerful and clean
    •   Innovative suspension, standard-fitted ADAPTIVE ESP® with extended functionality

Eleven years and approximately 1.3 million units after making its debut, the European market
leader in the 3.5 t GVW van sector, the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, now has a successor. Daimler
has invested some €1.8 billion in the development of this new model. With a raft of innovations,
the new Sprinter is a milestone in its class. It will be launched in Europe at the end of March
2006 and offered to the US market by late 2007.

The Sprinter is built at the two German factories in Düsseldorf and Ludwigsfelde (Brandenburg).
Daimler invested €550 million in expanding the paint and body shop in Düsseldorf, where panel
vans and passenger vans are produced. The company also invested €300 million in the new
paint and body shops for the Ludwigsfelde plant, where pickups and chassis versions are built.
Since the introduction of its first generation in 1995, the Sprinter traditionally has played an
important role in the van unit’s success. In 2005, the Sprinter set a new record in its last year of
production at the Düsseldorf and Buenos Aires plants with more than 167,000 units.

In the NAFTA region last year, 28,100 Sprinters were sold under the Mercedes-Benz, Dodge and
Freightliner brands, a 49% increase over the 2004 total (18,900 units). Daimler recently
announced it will be dedicating its Charleston/South Carolina facility to assembly of the next
generation Sprinter van in response to growing demand in the North American markets.

A new era in van design

The new generation Sprinter opens a new era, beginning with styling that combines emotional
and rational aspects and is a perfect blend of form and function. The emotional and dynamic
styling melds typical design themes of the Mercedes-Benz brand – for example the treatment of
the headlamps and radiator grille – with the rational and functional qualities required in a van.

The dynamic side view, the rear lights which blend in with the contours of the vehicle and the
taper in the lower part of the rear view are further typical Mercedes-Benz styling features, but
they are interpreted in an original way. As far as the Mercedes star itself is concerned, the new
Sprinter wears it proudly – at the front it appears on a sculpted base, while at the rear it occupies
a central position between the doors.

Extensive standard specification; options to suit individual needs

New standards in this class are also set by the Sprinter's standard specification – amongst many
other features, every model now comes with electrically operated windows, radio remote control
central locking, driver's airbag, six-speed transmission, wide-angle mirrors and ADAPTIVE
ESP®. Materials and build quality are likewise impressive. The new seats are anatomically
contoured and provide good support. The driver's seat also has infinitely variable height
adjustment. Optionally, for example for the parcel delivery sector, flip-up co-driver's seats are
available.

First-class lighting and visibility; Sprinter now available with bi-xenon headlamps

The standard-specification halogen H7 headlamps offer enhanced performance and excellent
light output. Their integrated sidelights are a new and important safety feature. The optional bi-
xenon headlamps meanwhile represent a new dimension in lighting technology for vans. They
also incorporate an Add-Light system with cornering light function – both of which are new to the
van market in this class.

High-tech diesel engines: powerful and clean

The new top-of-the-line diesel engine is the OM 642, a 3.0-litre V6 unit developing a maximum
output of 135 kW (184 hp) and a maximum torque of 400 Nm. Noted for their state-of-the-art
engineering, the V6 includes an aluminum crankcase, a balancer shaft and two overhead
camshafts per cylinder bank. .A new dimension: 190 kW (258 hp) petrol engine

The M 272 V6 petrol engine opens a new performance dimension for vans. With a displacement
of 3.5 l delivering a maximum output of 190 kW (258 hp), it sets new standards. As well as
impressive power delivery, a further feature of this high-tech engine is its exceptional
smoothness. Power is transferred to the rear wheels via a five-speed automatic transmission.
This transmission is also optionally available for the diesel engines.
Innovative suspension, standard-fitted ADAPTIVE ESP® with extended functionality

All models including chassis versions are equipped as standard with a new-generation Electronic
Stability Program (ESP®) known as ADAPTIVE ESP®. In addition to the usual parameters, this
system is now also able to determine the mass and the centre of gravity. This and other new
functions allow ADAPTIVE ESP® to intervene with even greater sensitivity and precision in
critical situations. Optionally, the Start-off Assist system AAS can be integrated in ADAPTIVE
ESP®. This hill-start system prevents the vehicle from rolling downhill when the driver switches
from the brake pedal to the accelerator during a hill start. To facilitate the maneuver, Start-off
Assist maintains the brake pressure for up to two seconds after the service brake has been
released.

Particular attention given to passive safety and load restraint

The new-generation Sprinter raises the already outstanding passive safety performance of this
model series a further notch. Each seat is now equipped with three-point seat belts, height-
adjustable head restraints and belt force limiters. The driver's seat and the outer co-driver's seat
are also fitted with belt tensioners. A front airbag for the driver is standard. A co-driver's front
airbag, thorax bags and windowbags are optionally available.

High standards of passive safety are one of the basic values of the Mercedes-Benz brand and
the Sprinter is no exception. In an accident, controlled energy absorption is provided by the side
members and the powertrain