The 2014 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter has been significantly updated with power, safety and a refined design. A new 161 horsepower, 2.1-liter four-cylinder diesel makes 265 lb-ft of torque and comes as standard equipment. The unchanged 188 hp, 3.0-liter V6 turbo-diesel makes 325 lb-ft of torque and is optional. The new four-cylinder comes with a seven-speed automatic transmission.
Other notable updates revolve around the updated exterior, which brings the 2014 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter into the rest of the Mercedes-Benz family’s visual DNA. The interior is much more polished with higher quality components throughout. Infotainment equipment has been upgraded and the safety standards of the 2014 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter have been enhanced.
“The new headlamps feature sharper contours and lend the Sprinter a serious yet energetic look. A striking feature is the masking of the reflector housings. A surround divides the headlamps into individual segments, emphasizing the Sprinter’s eyes and providing the entire front end with a substantially more cutting-edge appearance. In the bottom of the housing there is space for the LED light strips of the daytime running lamps.
The new hood is higher, resulting in improved protection for pedestrians. It also features more pronounced contours, lending the Sprinter a look of authority.
The same applies to the new bumper featuring a more pronounced upward sweep under the headlamps and bolder lines. The air inlet in the middle is now set back, providing the Sprinter’s face with added dynamism and creating an impression of greater poise on the road. The opening continues to function as a step to facilitate cleaning of the windscreen. The purposeful impression created by the new Sprinter is heightened by the detailed attention paid to design on the underside of the bumper, whose appearance is reminiscent of an SUV.” – – Mercedes-Benz Media
Among several safety additions, the new lane-departure system is a boon for drivers who have to travel many miles on the highway. This system warns the driver when they are veering off their lane. It’s a smart idea for those who spend so much time on long highway slogs. Better still, the system can be switched off when not needed.
“Right from its market launch, the new Sprinter has an excellent track record to its name. It has demonstrated its reliability in comprehensive trials, from endurance tests at top speed to extreme short-distance tests in Scandinavia at icy temperatures with a high proportion of idling and a large number of stops. In all, the new Sprinter has covered around five million miles in endurance tests, including tough deployment by customers in real-life traffic. These operations spanned a highly diverse spectrum of driving profiles, including service with a company which covers up to 170,000 miles annually, using alternating drivers in a relay system.
Four new assistance systems help to avoid accidents
A key focus in developing the new Sprinter was on a whole range of new assistance systems – including world premieres in the van segment. New available features to be premiered with the new Sprinter are Collision Prevention Assist, Blind Spot Assist, Highbeam Assist and Lane Keeping Assist. This array of new assistance systems underscores Mercedes-Benz Vans’ pioneering role in safety technology and as a driving force behind innovative developments.
The additional new assistance systems spawn a crucial benefit: the electronic aids will help to prevent many accidents. The developers at Mercedes-Benz are convinced that this new generation of assistance systems in the van segment will have an extremely positive impact on accident statistics.” – – Mercedes-Benz Media
The 2014 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter will go on sale in the U.S. in Fall 2013.
Speaking of vans, check out this video of the debut of the Ford Transit Connect!
“The exceptionally low fuel consumption of the new Sprinter is not attributable solely to the engine technology. The engineers at Mercedes-Benz have also finetuned the Sprinter’s accessory equipment for maximum economy.
Intelligent generator management ensures that the alternator gives priority to charging the battery during braking and coasting. During acceleration and cruising, the full engine output is available to the drive system. The electric fuel pump controls the fuel supply for the Sprinter according to requirements, i.e. with a variable delivery rate. Last but not least, the compressor of the optional air conditioning system incorporates a freewheel, so that it is only active when the air conditioning is on.
Seven-speed automatic transmission for the 4-cylinder
The 4-cylinder Sprinter features a 7-speed automatic transmission with torque converter – the only 7-speed automatic transmission to feature in a van anywhere in the world is refined for maximum fuel economy. The improved damping technology results in a lower tendency to generate noise and hum. The reduced slip on the lockup clutch gives a more direct connection to the accelerator pedal and therefore provides greater agility.
The development engineers have additionally adapted the automatic transmission’s shift points precisely to the engine characteristics, also optimizing the oil’s heat-up behavior in the cold running phase in this respect, along with the torque converter’s hydraulic circuit. This results in faster heating-up of the oil, therefore minimizing frictional losses after cold starting.
Rear axle with reduced friction for greater economy
The developers have tweaked all the available points of detail in order to achieve maximum efficiency for the new Sprinter. A key example here is the driven rear axle. In the interests of low-friction and economical running, modifications have been undertaken here right down to the microgeometry of the differential’s tooth flanks, the precision of installation has been further improved and the oil flow has been optimized to reduce churning loss while the axle is running. These measures have been applied to all axle variants.
Other Fuel-Efficient Measures
The generator management system has been optimized for even greater efficiency. The same applies to the further enhanced fuel pump, which controls the supply pressure and flow rate according to the prevailing requirements. The ECO power steering pump is only activated when power assistance is actually required.” – – Mercedes-Benz Media
