Daimler Vans USA is launching its fourth new Sprinter model – the Shuttle Van, which joins the Cargo Van, Passenger Van and Chassis Cab. Complete with many Mercedes-Benz safety and convenience features, the low-floor Sprinter Shuttle Van seats up to 16 passengers. The fuel-efficient Sprinter Shuttle Van is the ideal size for use by airports, limousine services, rental car agencies and residential care and community shuttles. Shuttle Van standard equipment includes an electrically operated split-entry door and step to make it easy on passengers with luggage, with air suspension that ensures automatic vehicle leveling, regardless of the load. All Mercedes-Benz and Freightliner Sprinters are powered by a 3.0-liter V6 diesel that gets 30 percent better fuel economy than a comparable gasoline engine.
Four Versatile Configurations
The Sprinter Shuttle Van is available with a choice of four seating configurations:
- Airport Shuttle – Perimeter seating for 15 passengers, plus driver as well an 80-inch 2-tier luggage rack.
- Commuter Shuttle – Forward-facing seating for 16 passengers, plus driver and optional video equipment with monitors ranging from 11- to 17-inches.
- Hotel Shuttle – Forward-facing seating for 15 passengers, plus driver and rear luggage area with fixed dividing wall.
- Paratransit Shuttle – Available with side or rear wheelchair lift, the ADAcompliant shuttle offers multiple wheelchair positions and forward-facing seating for up to 8 passengers, plus driver.
Mercedes-Benz Safety
Every Sprinter comes with the safety features people have come to expect from Mercedes- Benz – ADAPTIVE ESP stability and rollover control, ABS anti-lock brakes, Brake Assist and traction control. The driver and front passenger seats are equipped with standard multi-stage front air bags, and side curtain and torso air bags are optionally available. Other options include Bi-Xenon headlights, a tire pressure monitoring system and a Parktronic parking aid.
All Mercedes-Benz and Freightliner Sprinters are equipped with five-speed automatic transmissions, four-wheel disc brakes and independent strut suspension with coil springs in front as well as a solid axle with leaf springs at the rear. Several choices of springs, shock absorbers and stabilizer bars provide just the right suspension for each version of the Sprinter van.
Four Sprinter Models with Hundreds of Custom-Tailored Versions:
With the launch of the new Shuttle Van, four Sprinter models are now available through Mercedes-Benz and Freightliner dealers:
- Cargo Van – Available in three different body lengths and two roof heights, the popular Sprinter cargo van is already a familiar sight across the U.S. Used by diverse businesses from freight delivery services and dry cleaners to florists and gourmet caterers, the cargo van features a best-in-class payload capacity of 5,375 pounds and cargo capacity of up to 547 cubic feet. The van also boasts the largest side- and reardoor openings as well as the lowest load floor and step-in height of any full-size van.
- Chassis Cab – A highly flexible platform or “stake-body” van, the Sprinter chassis cab can be finished as a tradesman’s tool and parts vehicle or an agri-farming flatbed. Available in two wheelbase lengths, the chassis cab platform can also accommodate the installation of special cargo boxes ranging from motor homes and medical emergency units to full kitchens and refrigerated compartments.
- Passenger Van – With four rows of seats for up to 12 occupants (each fitted with an individual three-point seat belt and head restraint), the Sprinter passenger van is intended for airport, residential care and community service shuttles as well as limousine services. Sprinter passenger vans can be ordered in two different wheelbases and two roof heights.
- Shuttle Van – Larger than the Passenger Van but similar in design, the Shuttle Van features four different seating configurations for up to 16 passengers, plus their luggage. A paratransit version comes with multiple wheelchair positions and a choice of side or rear wheelchair lifts.
Both the cargo and passenger vans feature a side-door opening that’s 51 inches wide and 59 inches high, with a 71-inch height on high-roof versions. At the same time, their step-in height is only 19.9 inches. The Shuttle Van has a power-operated split-entry door and step that’s 38 inches wide.
About the Sprinter Van
The highly successful Mercedes-Benz Sprinter made its European debut in 1995, and a newgeneration Sprinter was launched globally in 2006. Since 2001, the Sprinter has been sold in the U.S. by Freightliner, the industry’s leading manufacturer of medium and heavy-duty trucks in North America.
Mercedes-Benz USA began offering the Sprinter line through select Mercedes-Benz dealers in 2010. Both MBUSA and Freightliner are divisions of Daimler AG, the world’s largest manufacturer of commercial vehicles. In the U.S., the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter is targeted toward small businesses, while the Freightliner version continues to be available to its established customer base of commercial vehicle operators. Sprinter cargo vans and passenger vans are produced in Düsseldorf, Germany, while Sprinter cab chassis vehicles are made in Ludwigsfeld
