Mercedes-Benz Viano News

Meet the Mercedes-Benz of people-movers. It's called the V-Class and seats up to eight people in comfort.

Peoplemovers are viewed as the ungainly end of the passenger vehicle spectrum, but with new V-Class, Mercedes-Benz says it's setting a higher benchmark for those who need to haul up to eight people and their gear.  Replacing the Vito-based Valente passenger hauler and the more upmarket Viano, the V-Class is described by Merc as "a saloon (sedan) for up to eight people”, combining functionality, comfort and style "in a way that no other vehicle in this segment can offer".The V-Class will launch overseas in three lengths: a 4.9m short wheelbase, 5.17m mid-length and 5.37m long wheelbase, although not all may be offered here, where both the Valente and Viano arrive only in the 5m versions -- although the lower-spec Vito is available as a short wheelbase in both van and eight-seat passenger versions.Mercedes says the V-Class offers elegant design and luxe interiors nappa leather options, plus a range of technology more usually associated with prestige sedans, including automatic climate-control airconditioning and the latest COMAND infotainment system with 'scrawlable' touchpad control. And for commercial passenger duties -- or perhaps conversation flow in very large families -- there's a microphone system to let the driver talk to the rear rows more clearly.Those rows can be configured with buckets or benches to accommodate up to eight, with both options offering foldable seatbacks to create more luggage space, while the rear windscreen opens separately to the lower tailgate, giving quick access to toss smaller items into the cargo area.Under the sloping bonnets will be a 2.1-litre turbodiesel four-cylinder, available in two levels of tune: a 120kW/380Nm V220 CDI (promising around 5.7L/100km fuel economy) and a 140kW/440Nm V250 BlueTec (6.1L/100km) Merc says has "as much pulling power and agility as the previous 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel".Australian specification and locked-in timing is yet to be confirmed for the V-Class's arrival, however it's likely to be early in 2015. "We expect it to arrive in the first quarter of next year," Mercedes-Benz Australia spokesman David McCarthy says.However he stresses that despite the more upmarket focus, there may not be upward move for pricing from the starting points of $54,490 for the Valente model and $78,635 for the Viano. “We think it really depends how we specify the car here – we don't see any great change in where it sits in the market, so don't expect much change in the price point,” McCarthy says. “We've been successful with Valente and Viano because of price and how they’re specified so we’ll be continuing that strategy.”However he says there’s no indication yet of whether the V-Class will also later replace the passenger version of the Vito, which starts with the five-seater at $48,990 and the eight-seater at $49,990 (the delivery van version starts at $38,990). “At this point passenger version of Vito will stay – but it’s really too early to confirm as we haven’t locked down the product yet.”McCarthy says it’s also too early to define all the drivetrain offerings. “Viano will probably have the higher level of tune, but Valente we don’t know yet – as we get closer to the local launch we’ll nail down the specification.”This reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincott 

And the all-new Viano next year should make it more attractive to Voyager and Tarago shoppers.There will be more luxury, BlueEfficiency diesel engines and a more stylish nose shaped for pedestrian protection. 

Just a brief look into any junior sports club shows fewer people now do more to keep such clubs and teams afloat.

...and could even be dangerous to other drivers — a Volkswagen expert says. But Mercedes-Benz responds that such statements are ‘rubbish’.Prof Horst Oehlschlaeger, head of concept development for Volkwagen’s popular Transporter van, says getting a five-star crash rating for the upgraded model due here next year is ‘not so important’. “I think if you look at the question of injuries, there is very little difference between five-star to four-star,” Prof Oehlschlaeger says. “It’s not a big difference at all.”He says that while it may be a little safer for the occupants, a five-star van can be more dangerous to passenger vehicles it crashes into. “In reality, if you make the van stiffer and stronger for five-star, you will do more damage to the smaller passenger cars they come into contact with in an accident,” he says. “You have to look at crash compatibility with small cars, so as well as crashing Transporter with another Transporter, we crashed it with a Golf and a Polo.”Prof Oehlschlaeger says the Transporter, the current model of which has four stars in Europe’s NCAP ratings, is expected to be ‘borderline’ between four and five stars – but not reach five — when the new model is tested, although there have been no structural changes.He says any extra points will come mainly from the addition of side curtain airbags, while the inclusion of ESP and ABS as standard features — rather than options – will also be attractive safety points for the market.However, Mercedes-Benz, which gets a five-star rating on its Viano and Vito vans in a segment where most get just three, says the highest crash rating is just as crucial for the light commercial segment as for passenger vehicles. “To say it’s not important is – quite frankly – wrong. And you would only say that if you can’t get them,” Mercedes-Benz spokesman David McCarthy says. “The difference between four stars and five stars is significant. “Safety in these vehicles needs to be lifted, not reduced or kept the same. Vehicle crash safety is just as important for people who drive commercial vehicles. “To say otherwise is very regrettable, and it’s a generalisation that does not do credit to a brand such as Volkswagen with a very good tradition of safety – a company that makes predominantly five-star passenger vehicles.”McCarthy says the same logic about impact between larger and smaller cars is not applied to Volkswagen’s passenger vehicle ranges. “If Volkswagen is concerned about the damage large, five-star rated vehicles do to smaller ones, can we assume they are going to stop making Touareg, Phaeton and Bentleys, and just stick to making Polos,” he says. “To anybody – anybody — saying that safety is not important in that segment, I would prescribe a couple of reality pills. “And I’m sure Worksafe and the Transport Accident Commission would be happy to supply a glass of water to swallow them with.” 

Mercedes-Benz swamped the Frankfurt Motor Show with a range of eco-friendly cars, including seven hybrid cars, eight ultra-clean diesel Bluetec models and several new engines that meet Euro 5 emissions targets due in 2009.However, show goers were stunned by the striking F700 concept sedan, which uses an innovative DiesOtto and hybrid drive system that uses just 5.3 litres per 100km and delivers 127g/km CO2 emissions.The DiesOtto engine, housed in a sleek luxury body called the F700 research vehicle, is claimed to provide the best elements of both diesel and petrol engines. The engine is mated to a new hybrid starter/generator and seven-speed automatic transmission. It is a four-cylinder, 1.8-litre two-stage charging petrol engine that Mercedes says combines the frugal virtues of a diesel with the low emissions of a petrol engine.It can deliver 175kW with the electric motor producing an extra 15kW while torque is 400Nm.Mercedes executives say the car will accelerate to 100km/h in 7.5 seconds and has a top speed of 200km/h. Apart from the engine and powertrain, the F700 has a sophisticated suspension that uses two laser scanners to view the road ahead and adjust the suspension.The luxury Mercedes also uses a new “human machine interface” with a virtual operating assistant called the avatar which can assist the driver with specific functions, such as adjusting the airconditioning or dialling a phone number.Visually, the F700 is based on the S-Class sedan but has an extra 285mm built into the wheelbase. The rear doors are rear hinged to allow for easy access to the roomy cabin.The big Merc is one of the varied ways carmakers at the show are attempting to create greener machines. Car industry green expert Ted Grozier says the show illustrates how the industry is faring in its efforts to reduce its reliance on gas-guzzling larger vehicles.“The conventional wisdom is that the US will go hybrid and in Europe the diesel is being challenged,” says Grozier, of Green Order, a New York-based advisory group that counts General Motors, among others, as clients for its advice on how to make cars cleaner. “This may be a pivotal year for the industry in the battle for greener cars and the gloves have come off.”Indeed, BMW, Porsche, Volkswagen and DaimlerChrysler are among those showing cars with low-emission diesel engines and hybrids, featuring electricity to augment traditional fuel motors, as well as hydrogen fuel cell concepts that BMW is researching. It is all part of the effort to make high-mileage, cleaner cars that also meet drivers' expectations for performance.Nissan showed its Mixim concept car, an electric car powered by lithium ion batteries, with the driver's seat in the middle and steering controls inspired by video-game controllers.Unsurprisingly, it is geared toward younger drivers who spend a lot of time behind a computer keyboard. Ford showed off the current models under its ECOnetic label that produces a lower level of emissions.France's PSA Peugeot-Citroen has its 308 BioFlex compact at the show. The car uses biofuels, or fuel obtained from crops. GM goes a step further with a car powered by a hydrogen fuel cell. The show is also a chance for carmakers to explore new concepts and designs that may or may not take shape on the assembly line. Ford is eager to pique consumer interest in its new subcompact concept car, the Verve.If successful, it could be the basis of a new small car for global sales. It would come to Australia as the next generation Fiesta.Designed in Europe, the Verve concept has a rounded design and is demonstrably smaller than most cars on US roads.The president of the German Association of the Automotive Industry Matthias Wissmann says 1081 companies are at the Frankfurt Motor Show.In total, 88 new models are debuting at the biennial event which runs until September 23.