Since its introduction in 2006, the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter has become one of the best-selling vans in the world, familiar to RVers in the U.S. thanks to the popular Roadtrek campervan. According to Volker Mornhinweg, former head of Mercedes‑Benz Vans, the Sprinter is on the roads in over 130 countries with some 4 million vans sold.
In February, 2018, Mercedes-Benz introduced the third-generation Sprinter, featuring for the first time innovations intended specifically for the campervan and motorhome market.
“The campervan market is booming at present and we would like to play a more active part in this development,” Marion Friese, Head of Marketing at Mercedes-Benz Vans, said. “That's why we have consistently developed the third-generation Sprinter to meet the requirements of this segment and made it even more suitable than ever before for campervan bodies and installations.”
To give RV designers the widest selection of options, the third-generation Sprinter offers three different bodies, three wheelbases, three powertrains - front-wheel, rear-wheel and 4X4 - and a selection of diesel and gas engines that can be equipped with either automatic or manual transmissions.
All together Mercedes-Benz says there are some 1,700 variations of the new Sprinter available.
Third-generation Sprinter bodies include the familiar panel van, a single or dual cab van, and the new tractor head. In the tractor head, the powertrain, tank and all other major automotive components are located in the area of the front cab, providing expanded space for developers to design the living area. The frame and rear axle are connected to the tractor head individually giving designers options such as dual wheels in the rear, a cab-over design and numerous other modifications.
Among the features of the new Sprinter that were designed specifically for camper van manufacturers is a new front-wheel drive which allows vehicles to carry up to 50 kilograms (110 pounds) more and lowers the floor for easier access. Sprinter variants are also available with rear-wheel drive, a popular option for towing, or four-wheel drive for off-roading or challenging conditions such as driving on show or sand.
The Yucon 7.0 Lounge model from Frankia [Photo/Daimler]
Developers can choose between four or six-cylinder diesel engines with a 6-speed manual transmission or the new 9G-TRONIC front-wheel or 7G-TRONIC PLUS rear-wheel automatic transmissions. A new 177 hp four-cylinder diesel engine is available exclusively for campervans in combination with the new front-wheel drive models. A gas powered V6 was designed for sale in the U.S.
Other camper-friendly features in the new Sprinter include swiveling driver and front-passenger seats and an electric parking brake that allows easy access from the cockpit into the living area. All-season tires and a battery-saving "Hibernation" mode are also standard. The new Sprinters also come with MBUX multimedia system (Mercedes-Benz User Experience) with a touch screen display to provide a “smart RV” interface and a package of assistance systems previously available only in Mercedes-Benz passenger cars, including radar-based systems such as Blind Spot Assist, Distance Assist, Active Brake Assist and Active Lane Keeping Assist.
A year after its market launch, the third-generation Sprinter’s flexibility was on display at the 58th Caravan Salon in Dusseldorf, the world’s leading trade fair for recreational vehicles, and other automotive shows around the world. Klaus Maier, Head of Marketing and Sales at Mercedes-Benz Vans, commented, “With the third generation of the Sprinter we made an important step forward – as confirmed by the numerous product innovations at the 2019 Caravan Salon.”
A dozen developers from around the world presented 20 new motorhome designs - all based on variations of the Sprinter - at the Salon. About half of them make use of the tractor head Sprinter, including Carthago’s chic c-line and e-line models, the new James Cook from Westfalia, and the the LBX 365 from Bimobil.
Hymer, known as one of Europe’s most innovative RV makers, also introduced several new models based on the third-generation Sprinter this year, including the Hymermobil B-Class MasterLine 880, its first tandem-axle motorhome, which pairs a SLC chassis with a tractor head Sprinter. It’s just the latest in a long line of Mercedes-Benz based Hymer models, a collaboration that stretches back 47 years. Hymer is on-track to become the world’s largest customer for the new Sprinter, signing a contract for annual deliveries of the tractor head variant in the “high four-digits,” according to company sources.
While the innovative RV concepts developed by European manufacturers often have a high “Wow” factor, the truth is that many of these RVs never reach showroom floors in North America. The third-generation Sprinter looks likely to change that dynamic, in part because Mercedes-Benz Vans opened new dedicated Sprinter factory in South Carolina in 2018, which produces vans with the special modifications required by U.S. standards.
It’s part of a huge investment by Daimler in its best-selling brand, according to Dr. Dieter Zetsche, chairman of the board of management of Daimler AG and head of Mercedes Benz Cars. "We are investing some $2.7 billion around the globe in the new Sprinter's development, its worldwide production network, and sales and after-sales," he said. Today, Sprinters are being manufactured at factories around the world.
Another game-changer is the purchase of Erwin Hymer by Thor, the industry’s biggest headline in 2018. Thor has already started incorporating third-generation Sprinters into its newest RVs, debuting the Tiburon Class C diesel motorhome built on a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter chassis this fall. Expect new Thor models to make use of some of the innovative European designs that are a Hymer specialty.
Other North American manufacturers are coming out with their own Sprinter-based campervans. Winnebago’s Revel, based on the Sprinter 4X4 diesel variant, debuted in 2018. The Sprinter-based Roadtrek has returned as well, with new French owners Groupe Rapido displaying several new class B Sprinters at this year’s Elkhart Show.
So what’s next for the Sprinter? Mercedes-Benz Vans is hard at work on an all-electric "Vision Van" with a range of up to 270 km (168 miles), investing close to $555 million (or 500 million euros) in its development. The first result of this initiative, the Mercedes-Benz eSprinter, intended for commercial fleets, is already in production. How long before a battery powered eSprinter RV hits the market?