Sprinter now as a 5,5-tonner

Mercedes-Benz has upgraded its Sprinter: The van will be available with even more payload starting in June.

It was a customer request: The converter tinkered, built, and welded, and in the end, the customer was satisfied with the conversion of his Sprinter – until the vehicle landed on the scales. Even with the upgraded version of the Sprinter, the payload was still 200 to 300 kilograms short, which the customer urgently needed. More payload is of interest not only to companies that have to transport heavy loads, but also to caravan owners who want to have as much as possible on board.
Up to 3,4 tonnes payload
Mercedes-Benz has now responded to this unspoken demand. Starting in June, customers can order the Sprinter in a version with a permissible gross weight of 5,5 tons. "The missing 200 to 300 kilograms are definitely included," explains Peter Strobach, Head of the Mercedes-Benz Bodybuilder Center. Indeed, in this version, the new Sprinter can accommodate up to half a ton of additional payload – a maximum of 2,95 tons can fit into a box, and the chassis can carry a maximum of 3,4 tons, which is a class-leading value. This means the Sprinter is available in an impressive tonnage range from 2,8 to 5,5 tons permissible gross weight.

With the new version, the Stuttgart-based company has chosen a different approach than the traditional load increase, which permitted a maximum of 5,3 tons. They used the existing five-tonner as a basis and specifically reinforced components of the self-supporting integral frame. "Essentially, this involves stiffening, newly bolted brackets for the shock absorber struts, reinforcements, and additional weld points on the locking plates of the frame longitudinal members," says Norbert Kunz, Head of Product Management for the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, summarizing the changes. Technically speaking, the targeted reinforcement also allows for higher axle loads. For the 5,5-ton Sprinter, this has increased from 1.950 kilograms at the front to 2.100 kilograms, while at the rear, the load has grown by two hundredweight to 3.600 kilograms.
Confident on the mountain
Equipped with the second-most powerful diesel engine, the Sprinter, as a panel van with half the payload, masters the short test track with ease. Starting uphill is absolutely no problem with the load and the 163 hp diesel engine, and in purely technical terms, the Sprinter is unaffected by the load. Since the vehicles are still prototypes, they could only be tested on a small, closed-off road area – but one thing is clear: the driver is unlikely to notice any difference compared to the "smaller" versions.

The star brand's new payload class isn't the only innovation that will be available with the new tonnage class starting in June. At the same time, Mercedes-Benz has given the Sprinter a new entry-level engine. The diesel engines have gained more power. The entry-level engine now starts at 84 kW/114 hp. The OM 651 has a torque of 300 Newton meters. The next higher diesel engine now has an output of 105 kW/143 hp with a torque of 330 Newton meters. The previous engines remain unchanged at 120 kW/163 hp and 140 kW/190 hp.

Legislation has forced another change. Starting in September, it will require all new vehicles to meet the Euro 6 or Euro VI emissions standard. While these have been available as an option for the Sprinter since 2013, the van will now only be available with the Euro 6/VI emissions standard. This was previously indicated by the BlueTec designation, but this will be dropped with the changeover – diesels will now simply carry the abbreviation CDI.

Photos: Mercedes-Benz