V-Class Press Release
New full-size MPV from Mercedes-Benz sets benchmarks in the segment for design, comfort, and safety
V-Class meets customer requirements of families, people with active hobbies, and shuttle bus operators
Market launch to take place in Germany in late May 2014
Daimler to invest about €190 million in production plant in Vitoria, Spain
The Mercedes among MPVs is being launched today. At the world premiere of the new Mercedes-Benz V-Class at the Munich Olympics complex, Mercedes-Benz will present the youngest and largest member of the automobile family from Stuttgart to more than 450 international guests. With the new V-Class, Mercedes-Benz is completely redefining the MPV and setting benchmarks for the segment with regard to design, appearance, comfort, versatility, efficiency, and safety. In Germany, customers will be able to order the V-Class beginning on March 6, 2014; the market launch will begin in late May.
“With the new V-Class we are expanding the Mercedes-Benz premium automobile range with a sedan for up to eight people,” says Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars Division. “Functionality is a must for an MPV; comfort and style are the icing on the cake. The new V-Class combines both in a way that no other vehicle in this segment can offer.”
The V-Class boasts an extensive range of new features that so far do not exist in any other vehicle in this segment. The MPV is equipped with Crosswind Assist and ATTENTION ASSIST as standard.Also available as options are many practical assistants, including a 360-degree camera, active parking assistance systems, and the 7G-TRONIC PLUS automatic transmission. Another completely new feature is the latest-generation multimedia system, which comes with a touchpad for operating all of the telematics functions in the vehicle. The new V-Class also offers impressive spaciousness and a wide variety of seat configurations in the rear. Examples include individual seats and benches for two or three passengers. The separately opening rear window is a special highlight for the easy loading and unloading of cargo. The rear window can be opened and closed independently of the rear hatch, enabling users to access a second cargo platform.
At its market launch, the new V-Class will be available with a cutting-edge turbodiesel in three output ratings. The 2.1-liter four-cylinder engine has common rail direct injection and is available in 100 kW (136 hp), 120 kW (163 hp), and 140 kW (190 hp) versions. The engine with the internal designation OM 651 has proven its worth in almost all of the brand’s car models, from the A-Class to the S-Class. The Mercedes engineers have specifically enhanced it for use in the new V-Class. They focused on combining the superior performance of a six-cylinder engine with the exemplary efficiency of a four-cylinder unit. In the top-of-the-line V 250 BlueTEC model, this results in a torque range and power delivery that are comparable to those of the previous three-liter V6 turbodiesel, even though the new vehicle consumes up to 28 percent less fuel and meets the Euro 6 emissions standard, thanks to BlueTEC.
The new V-Class addresses three customer groups
“The new V-Class demonstrates that an elegant and dynamic appearance is also possible in size XXL,” says Volker Mornhinweg, Head of Mercedes-Benz Vans. “The V-Class is a versatile, multitalented vehicle that offers value, efficiency, and safety at the highest level. As a result, we are addressing completely new customer groups — including people who need a large amount of space but never wanted to drive an MPV because style, well-being, and riding comfort have so far been neglected in this segment.”
Mercedes-Benz Vans has made sure that the new V-Class meets a wide variety of customer requirements, focusing especially on the needs of three customer groups. First, families that include two or more children and value an active family life, leisure time, and a good work-life balance. Secondly, people who are very active in their leisure time. Because these individuals have a lot of sports and outdoor equipment, they need more transport capacity but would still like to remain as independent as possible. The third group consists of operators of luxurious VIP or hotel shuttle buses who want to provide their passengers with a comfortable and high-quality travel experience.
“The new V-Class is simply the best vehicle available in its segment,” says Mornhinweg. “It’s a stylish all-rounder that can be customized to fit every taste and every requirement. And the designation ‘best-in-class’ also applies to the vehicle’s price-to-performance ratio. The new V-Class can be had for as little as €42,900, excluding sales tax — at any Mercedes dealership, no matter whether it’s a sales outlet for vans or cars.”
To ensure that all customer groups can be optimally served, the new V-Class will be available at dealers of Mercedes-Benz cars and commercial vehicles and marketed through both sales channels. For example, families will be able to buy the V-Class at their usual Mercedes-Benz car dealers, while business customers, including VIP shuttle companies and hotel fleet operators, will also be able to purchase the V-Class at a Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicle dealership.
Big investments strengthen production plant
Top-quality vehicle production operations are just as important as a strong customer focus in sales. Daimler AG is therefore investing extensively in the Mercedes-Benz plant in Vitoria, Spain, to prepare the facility for the production launch of the new V-Class. The investment of around €190 million will primarily cover the modernization and reorganization of the plant’s body shop, paint shop, and assembly units. The site’s logistics are also being optimized. The plant currently employs more than 3,100 men and women who manufacture around 75,000 medium-duty vans per year. “With the investment of approximately €190 million we are strengthening our Vitoria facility and making it fit for the future,” says Mornhinweg. “At the same time, we are emphasizing the importance of the second-largest van plant in the global production network of Mercedes-Benz Vans.”
