2018 Mercedes Sprinter: Here’s Your All-New Fully Connected Premium Van

Mercedes has revealed the all-new Sprinter, which enters its third generation with an impressive range of new technologies and the first model to embody the brand’s new adVANce philosophy.

The company takes great pride in the new PRO Connect services and the state-of-the-art connectivity hardware of the new Sprinter, which makes it essentially part of the Internet of Things.

The new connectivity services aim to make tasks like fleet controlling and communications much easier and efficient between fleet managers and drivers, opening a new chapter in fleet vehicle management.

But the new Mercedes Sprinter is not just about connectivity: to make sure that it will suit every possible requirement and professional need, the company has made it more adaptable than ever, with more than 1,700 different variants.

By combining body type, drive concept, cab design, body length, tonnage and load compartment, the new Mercedes Sprinter wants to become the perfect vehicle for almost every transport need and sector. From a construction site workhorse to a posh shuttle bus, the new Sprinter has you covered.

The new generation Sprinter will continue being offered in rear- and all-wheel drive but this time around Mercedes has added a new, entry-level front-wheel drive option as well. In fact, Mercedes claims that the front-wheel drive versions of the new Sprinter can carry 50kg more than the rear-drive ones, not to mention the 80mm-lower loading sill which makes loading/unloading much more convenient.

The new front-wheel drive versions also get two newly developed transmission options: a six-speed manual and -for the first time in the large van segment- a nine-speed torque-converter automatic.

Euro-spec Sprinters are available with a 2.1-liter diesel four-cylinder unit available with three outputs: 114hp, 143hp and 163hp in combination with rear-wheel drive. Front-wheel drive models are offered with the same first two outputs but the most powerful one makes 177hp and is exclusively reserved for camper vans. If you’re looking for even more power, the new Mercedes Sprinter continues to be offered with a 3.0-liter six-cylinder diesel unit as well, making 190hp and 324lb-ft (440Nm) of peak torque.

The biggest news however is the upcoming all-electric eSprinter, which is expected for launch in 2019. No technical details have been announced yet, with Mercedes saying that it’s “primarily designed for inner-city operations, not only protect the environment but also offer customers tangible added value with their day-to-day suitability and flexibility”. The company has already opened the order books for the smaller eVito, which is expected in the second half of 2018.

As for the new Mercedes Sprinter, customers can place their orders now and get their new vans starting from June.