Mercedes-Benz minibuses: New generation based on the new Sprinter, top-of-the-range model Sprinter City 75 with unrivalled technology

• Advantage of the Sprinter: full connectivity and common-part strategy
• Sprinter City 75: new top-of-the-range model with unrivalled technology
• Sprinter Transfer: all-rounder among minibuses
• Sprinter Mobility: the specialist for passengers with limited mobility

The new Mercedes-Benz Sprinter forms the basis for a completely new generation of minibuses with the three-pointed star. As before, they comprise the model series Sprinter City, Sprinter Transfer, Sprinter Mobility and Sprinter Travel. The names stand for operations in scheduled services, as a versatile shuttle bus, for transporting passengers with limited mobility, and for tourist transport. The Sprinter City 75 with exclusive technology has a prominent role to play. All models are based on the Sprinter with rear-wheel drive or optionally all-wheel drive.

New names, staggered start-up

The model names of the minibuses will change with the new generation: As before, the first digit is based on the length variant of the base vehicle, but the second digit now indicates its weight category. The model start-up is aligned to the availability of the Sprinter: It starts in 2018 with the Sprinter Transfer 23 and 35, the Sprinter Mobility 23 and the Sprinter City 75, which has been developed from scratch. The rest of the models of these series will follow in 2019, as will all models of the Sprinter Travel. After the model changeover is complete, the product range will comprise more than 20 left-hand-drive and right-hand-drive models in autumn of 2019.

Advantage of the Sprinter: full connectivity and common-part strategy

The minibuses benefit from the advantages of the new Mercedes-Benz Sprinter. That starts with the flowing lines of the design, comprises the updated components of engine and chassis, and ultimately culminates in the completely new cockpit. Impressive characteristics include its ergonomics and a high degree of variability. The broad spectrum extends to the leather multifunction steering wheel, a colour display between the two clearly arranged instruments, as well as a high-resolution display in the area of the centre console, with a choice of 7.0-inch or 10.25-inch screens including the Mercedes‑Benz User Experience MBUX multimedia system. In addition, there are numerous assistance systems, from the standard-fit Crosswind Assist to Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC, Active Brake Assist and Active Lane Keeping Assist.

Like the Sprinter, the minibuses are fully networked. They come with the connectivity module of the Sprinter for fleet management as standard. However, they can also be optionally integrated into the Omniplus On fleet management system. The minibuses benefit not least from a common-part strategy shared with Mercedes‑Benz Vans: Be it air suspension (exception: Sprinter City 75) or a climate control system for the passenger compartment with 7 kW or 11 kW output – these and other components are identical on minibuses and platform vehicles.

Sprinter City 75: new top-of-the-range model with unrivalled technology

The new Mercedes‑Benz Sprinter City 75 is the hallmark of the minibuses from Mercedes‑Benz for scheduled services. The 8.5 m service bus offers seating for up to 38 passengers. Like its predecessor, the Sprinter City 75 has an independent skeleton body. The minibus adopts the Sprinter's body width of just 2020 mm and consequently also moves nimbly through narrow alleys in historic city centres or densely built-up suburbs. Its bodywork conceals unrivalled technology.

Distinct styling, sidewalls with asymmetrical design

A typical feature of the Sprinter is the combination of a clearly defined face with precisely drawn headlamps and soft and flowing shapes. The body of the Sprinter City 75 skilfully takes up these fundamental design traits. Similar to the predecessor generation, the panoramic windscreen rises up very high and integrates the destination display.

The two sidewalls have an asymmetrical design. On the driver’s side, the cab and the body fuse into a single unit. The glazing of the body has a distinctive arrow shape at the front. It is different on the entrance side: the rising window railing aft of the A‑pillar drops down to the low beltline. At the rear, the Sprinter City 75 terminates in a distinct bus rear end. The distinct design of the largest minibus is copyrighted.

Passenger compartment: low entrance, flexible low-floor platform

Passengers enter the passenger compartment of the Sprinter City 75 through a double-wing electrically operated outward-swinging door aft of the front axle. Like the single-wing rear door, it is powered by the 12-volt technology of the Sprinter. Because the step height in driving position is just 270 mm, the minibus does not need a complex kneeling function.

Spacious low-floor zone with variable use

The passenger compartment has a low-entry design. The low-floor zone has a highly variable design. It offers room for up to five folding seats on the driver's side and two more on the door side, alternatively for a wheelchair and/or pram. If the seats are not in use, the minibus offers standing room for up to 26 passengers. Fitting a quick-change seating system with up to three double seats on the driver's side is also possible.

A low step in front of the rear axle leads to the raised seating area in the back. A further eleven seats are located here. The City Star Sprinter seats are available in different versions from plastic seat shells to fully cushioned seats.

A hallmark feature of the Sprinter City 75 is its extensive and well-thought-out equipment. For example, the bus ceiling with its air ducts on both sides features integrated LED lights. The developers paid great attention to effective heating and climate control. Drivers benefit from the semi-automatic Tempmatic climate control system and an electric hot-air auxiliary heater. The temperature in the passenger compartment is regulated by a roof-mounted climate control system with an output of 11 kW; in addition, by a heat exchanger with blowers in the entrance area and rear end, as well as by a convection heating system. The heating and blower output has been increased even further compared with the predecessor model. In addition, there is a hot-water auxiliary heater with pre-heating function.

Cockpit with wide range of variants and bus-specific equipment

The driver's workplace in the Sprinter City 75 benefits from the redesigned and state-of-the-art cockpit of the platform vehicle. An additional panel stands out above the centre console. It clusters the bus-specific controls with up to 14 switches and 12 signal lamps in a clearly arranged layout. A new feature is an electrically operated roller sun shade for the panoramic windscreen.

To the right of the driver's workplace is space for the ticket-counter unit. This proven component comes from the predecessor model. On the inside are several consoles intended to accommodate electronic and electrical devices.

Discrete integral skeleton, exclusive high-load rear axle

Like the design, the technical concept of the Sprinter City 75 is completely new. It is based on the chassis of the Mercedes‑Benz Sprinter, but only up to the B‑pillar. Aft of the B-pillar is a self-supporting integral minibus skeleton. The new city bus has a wheelbase of 5095 mm. It thus surpasses the longest wheelbase of the new Mercedes‑Benz Sprinter by 770 mm. The gross vehicle weight rating of the two-axle vehicle is 6.8 t and offers large reserves.

The basis of the high gross vehicle weight rating is a high-load rear axle with air suspension developed exclusively for Mercedes‑B enz minibuses. The dual-tyre component has an axle-load rating of 5.0 t. A prerequisite for the tremendous load-bearing capacity are 17.5‑inch wheels with 215/75 R 17.5 tyres. Another new development is the optionally available minibus frequent-stop brake, which is located directly ahead of the rear axle. The standard equipment includes a Telma retarder with a braking power of 350 Nm as a wear-free auxiliary brake. It is positioned upstream of the foot pedal.

The new Sprinter City 75 contains a host of impressive assistance systems that further elevate the level of safety. Examples are the standard-fit Electronic Stability Program ESP or Crosswind Assist. Optional systems such as Active Brake Assist or Active Distance Assist Distronic also support the driver.

Sprinter Transfer: all-rounder among minibuses

The versatile Sprinter Transfer comes to the starting line with a full team – four models ranging from the Sprinter Transfer 23 with a length of 5.9 m and the Sprinter Transfer 35 (7.0 m) to the Sprinter Transfer 45 (7.4 m) and the Sprinter Transfer 55 with a length of 7.7 m and a rear-end extension and bus rear end. The Sprinter Transfer therefore covers a spectrum from 3.55 t to 5.5 t gross vehicle weight and offers room for 12 to 22 passengers. In addition to the passenger entrance through the sliding door, three door variants level with the co-driver's door are available to choose from, always in conjunction with a deepened and widened entrance. This eliminates the need for the otherwise customary electrically retractable step at the entrance.

The Sprinter Transfer's variety of equipment matches its wide range of operations. Take the interior ceiling, for example: depending on the model, it is available as a genuine part from the Mercedes‑Benz Sprinter, as a genuine interior ceiling with luggage racks and as a touring coach ceiling.

The focus at the start of the model changeover is on the Sprinter Transfer 35. The minibus with a length of 6.97 m is based on the original body of the Sprinter with high roof and has a passenger capacity of 15+1 as standard. Optionally, 18+1 and even 19+1 passengers are possible. The gross vehicle weight rating is 5.0 t to 5.5 t.

The Sprinter Transfer adopts the overland seats introduced just last year. The seats are firmly bolted to a floor track and the sidewall. Sidewalls, window posts and door panels are trimmed with black plastic.

There is also the especially compact Sprinter Transfer 23 with room for 13+1 passengers. The minibus is just 5.9 m long and only available as a right-hand-drive vehicle. The Sprinter Transfer 45 and Sprinter Transfer 55 models will follow over the course of 2019.

Sprinter Mobility: the specialist for passengers with limited mobility

The Sprinter Mobility model series focuses on two models. The compact Sprinter Mobility 23 with a length of just 5.9 m and a gross vehicle weight rating of just 3.5 t. It can be driven with just a Class B driving licence and has room for up to eight passengers, a maximum of four wheelchair bays or a mix thereof.

The passenger compartment is accessed over a step at the sliding door or a ramp at the rear end. The basis of the passenger compartment is an aluminium floor system with six integrated airline tracks for the fast and straightforward anchorage of wheelchairs.

The passenger seats are anchored with a quick-change system, giving the Sprinter Mobility the appropriate operational flexibility. The passenger seats feature an integrated two-point or three-point seat belt. A height-adjustable three-point belt is part of the standard equipment of the wheelchair bays.

The larger Sprinter Mobility 45 with a gross vehicle weight rating of 5.0 t and room for up to 19 passengers or six wheelchair bays deserves special attention. The large number of wheelchair bays is the result of the raised floor. The associated structure over the wheel housings creates a level surface in the passenger compartment. Eight airline tracks are embedded into the floor for flexible anchoring of different wheelchairs. Another special feature of the Sprinter Mobility 45: it is optionally fitted with the touring coach ceiling.

The Sprinter Mobility uses a new lightweight linear wheelchair lift. With a load-bearing capacity of 350 kg, it weighs just 100 kg. Part of the standard specification of the Sprinter Mobility 23 is a two-piece rear ramp with a length of 2.4 m and a weight of 30 kg.