Mercedes-Benz Driving Experience: the six test vehicles

Mercedes-Benz Citaro LE hybrid: low-floor bus with Preventive Brake Assist and Sideguard Assist

Once again, Mercedes-Benz is setting the benchmark for active safety in city service buses. Preventive Brake Assist: the world’s first active brake assist system for city buses. It warns of collisions with moving pedestrians or stationary or moving objects and automatically initiates partial application of the brakes in the event of the risk of a collision. Another world premiere is the turning assistance system Sideguard Assist with pedestrian detection. It first of all informs the driver about relevant objects in the warning zone. In a second stage, the driver receives a warning via a visual signal in the A0-pillar and a vibration in the driver’s seat if the risk of a collision remains.

In the Driving Experience, Mercedes-Benz demonstrates both assistance systems on a Citaro LE hybrid. The low-entry design combines a convenient low floor in the front of the vehicle with the cost effectiveness of a high-floor bus aft of the rear axle. Along with the new assistance systems, the LED headlamps, tyre pressure monitor (TPM), Electronic Stability Program (ESP) and automatic fire extinguishing system reveal this vehicle to be a real Safety Bus. The hybrid technology with a 48-volt system as its basis deserves particular mention.

Mercedes-Benz eCitaro: all-electric-drive low-floor bus in a three-door variant

The test vehicle boasts elegant metallic anthracite paintwork to go with its distinctive eCitaro design. The eCitaro is equipped with the full complement of ten battery modules. The vehicle has a chassis roll and pitch control system due to the six battery modules located on the roof.

Three electric inward swivelling doors open into the passenger compartment. This enjoys fully automatic air conditioning as standard thanks to the highly efficient Evo Thermatic Plus system. Passengers can relax on "City Star Eco" seats from Mercedes-Benz. The upper sections of the seat shells are coloured black and the seat cushion and backrest is covered in distinctive "Flash" fabric. Grab bars in Evo Steel, black ceiling hand rails, blue-metallic stop request buttons and the new designer interior ceiling with innovative lighting provide visual accents. Passengers can access information from a 29-inch TFT monitor in the cross-aisle. They can use their own portable devices from 13 double USB ports.

The driver sits on a climate-controlled seat. The cockpit is as accustomed, except that the rev counter is replaced by a power meter that displays the energy flow of the eCitaro.

Mercedes-Benz eCitaro: two-door version of the all-electric bus

As a two-door vehicle, the second eCitaro in the Driving Experience is significantly different from its counterpart. It is also painted in elegant metallic anthracite and has the maximum complement of ten battery modules and a chassis roll and pitch control system.

Two electric inward swivelling doors open into the passenger compartment. This enjoys fully automatic air conditioning as standard thanks to the highly efficient Evo Thermatic Plus system. Passengers can relax on "City Star Eco" seats from Mercedes-Benz. In the rear, the seating is arranged in a back-to-back formation on the left and right to fit the two-door design. The upper sections of the seat shells are coloured black and the seat cushion and backrest is covered in distinctive "Flash" fabric. Here too, grab bars in Evo Steel, black ceiling hand rails, blue-metallic stop request buttons and the new designer interior ceiling with innovative lighting provide visual accents. Passengers can access information from a 29-inch TFT monitor in the cross-aisle. They can use their own portable devices from a total of 14 double USB ports.

The driver sits on a climate-controlled seat. The cockpit is as accustomed, except that the rev counter is replaced by a power meter that displays the energy flow of the eCitaro.

Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Transfer 35: the all-rounder among minibuses

Shuttle bus, transfers, inter-city travel, school bus, short trips and excursions – the Sprinter is a genuine all-rounder among minibuses. With 15+1 seats over a length of almost 7 m, the Transfer 35 offers plenty of room and thanks to a gross vehicle weight rating of 5.0 t the payload is high.

The passenger compartment of the test vehicle is equipped with the versatile Inter Star Sprinter overland seats covered in black Caluma fabric. An electrically operated sliding door facilitates entry into the passenger compartment, separate air conditioning for the driver’s area and the passenger compartment ensure a pleasant climate for all.

An extensive package of assistance systems supports the driver of the test vehicle. The stand-out systems are Active Distance Assist Distronic, Active Brake Assist, Active Lane Assist, Blind Spot Assist and traffic sign detection. LED headlamps provide the highest standard of visibility and the Parking package with 360-degree camera takes the strain out of reversing manoeuvres. At the heart of operations lies the Mercedes-Benz User Experience MBUX multimedia system with a high-resolution 10.25-inch touchscreen.

Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Mobility 23: one for all – the compact minibus for passengers with disabilities

The Sprinter Mobility 23 will not leave anyone stranded at the bus stop: it is specialised in transporting passengers with restricted mobility. Meanwhile passengers who are not disabled can also make use of its six seats with three-point belts.

These seats are mounted on a floor which has an integrated rail system. The minibus can therefore accommodate passengers with or without wheelchairs as required, either separately or together. The sliding door at the side is operated electrically, and the sturdy seats are covered in black Caluma fabric. Wheelchair users enter via a rear ramp as standard, while in the test vehicle there is a particularly safe and comfortable linear lift at the rear.

One considerable advantage of the Sprinter Mobility 23 is its gross vehicle weight rating of 3.5 t. This means the driver only needs a class B driving licence. The test vehicle has an extensive array of safety equipment, with Active Brake Assist, Blind Spot Assist and LED headlamps, plus the Mercedes-Benz User Experience MBUX multimedia system with a high-resolution 10.25-inch touchscreen. The driver’s area and passenger compartment are equipped with separate air conditioning.

Mercedes-Benz Tourismo M/2: the Tourismo Safety Coach – no high-decker is safer

File the Tourismo Safety Coach test vehicle under the headings of safety, cost effectiveness and comfort. It showcases state-of-the-art safety technology: the Active Brake Assist 4 emergency braking system automatically brakes for pedestrians and Sideguard Assist alerts the driver to the presence of pedestrians, cyclists and stationary obstacles when making a right turn. The Tourismo Safety Coach combines all the safety systems currently available for buses and touring coaches. In doing so, it follows in the footsteps of the legendary Mercedes-Benz Safety Coaches and boasts correspondingly distinctive paintwork.

Though the high-decker showcases the highest possible standard of safety, Mercedes-Benz demands more. Tourismo also stands for maximum cost effectiveness, for example with its 13.1-metre length on two axles, the anticipatory cruise control system Predictive Powertrain Control (PPC) and the Eco Driver Feedback technology (EDF) which reports back to the driver with tips on improving driving style. On top of all this there is the powerful and efficiency top-of-the-range engine to give the coach stature as well as enhancing safety and cost effectiveness. Passengers enjoy the comfort of Travel Star Eco seats with Softline upholstery, three electric fold-out monitors, plus a double USB port and a 230 volt power socket per double seat.