Mercedes-Benz V-Class revealed

Mercedes-Benz revealed its new eight-seater V-Class people mover in Germany overnight, which will be on sale in that country from May 2014 and is expected to come to Australia from 2015.

Priced from €42,900 ($A66,120) the new model will be arriving locally as a replacement for the Viano and Valente vans and will also fill the void left by the discontinued R-Class, and is powered exclusively by efficient four-cylinder turbo-diesel engines.

Adhering to Mercedes-Benz’s passenger car naming convention with the V-Class moniker, the new model is being touted as a “sedan for up to eight people,” by Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars Division.

The exterior of the V-Class shows off a smoother, sleeker style than previous passenger vans, the headlight design a tip of the hat to the S-Class sedan. Overall it has a more progressive appearance than the Viano.

Although the vehicle's profile is unmistakably van-like, Mercedes-Benz is pitching the vehicle as a van people will want to be seen in, as Zetsche explained.

“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,” he said at the launch in Germany.

Much attention has been paid to the V-Class’s interior, with luxury trimmings such as woodgrain and leather materials and a new touchscreen infotainment system, but also the functionality that Zetsche espouses. The eight-seater’s rear seats are attached to sliding rails, allowing for a range of configurations, and it can be offered with individual or bench seats.

The German van also features a separately opening rear window like the Ford Territory, and comes with two cargo platforms for easy loading and unloading.

According to Mercedes it also benefits from a number of world firsts in the MPV segment, including the availability of features like Crosswind Assist, which is designed to keep the slab-sided van from being blown sideways into another lane in high winds. This technology will be standard along with Attention Assist, while a 360-degree parking camera and parking aids will be optional.

The V-Class will be offered with short (3200mm) or long (3420) wheelbases and comes in three lengths from 4895mm to 5370mm.

Power will come from a sole turbo-diesel engine displacing 2.1-litres initially, offered in three states of tune: 100kW/330Nm, 120kW/380Nm and 140kW/440Nm.

It's expected a V6 model will be introduced at a later date, but there's been no mention of a high-output AMG version.

Mercedes-Benz is injecting €190 million into its Vitoria factory in Spain to build the new model.

Mercedes-Benz Cars Australia spokesman David McCarthy said the local importer is keen to bring the new V-Class to Australia.

“We want it,” said McCarthy of the V-Class.

He said the new passenger van will arrive no earlier than 2015 and will be priced similarly to the Viano, which starts at $78,635 plus on-roads.

“We’ve done well in the van segment with Viano and Valente, which both saw solid growth, but this vehicle is a big advance,” he said.