Mercedes-Benz Vans has recently presented the latest generation of the their midsize van in the new Vito. The new people carrier features a drag coefficient of just 0.32 Cd and a permissible gross vehicle weight from 2.8 tons up to 3.2 tons, depending on the variant.

The new Vito will come as either a standard panel van, the Crew, which is a crewcab panel van, and the Vito Tourer, aimed specifically at passenger transport. Three lengths of the van are available to choose from; the standard 4,895mm, the longer 5,140mm, and the longest of them all measures at 5,370mm. Depending on the model, the average height of the vehicle measures at 1,910mm.

Interior space for the Vito has been improved for both the driver and passenger. Ergonomics and easy to reach controls has been put in mind in the design of the cabin, avoiding clutter while achieving symmetry.

Two diesel engines are available for the new midsize van with five different PS ratings and wheel drive configurations. First is the 1.6L four-cylinder engine that produces 87 PS under the 109 CDI and 113 PS under the 111 CDI spec.  Next is the 2.1L four-cylinder engine, which has three power ratings and is intended for heavy demand or towing. The 114 CDI spec produces 135 PS, the 116 CDI spec creates 161 PS and the Vito 119 BlueTEC produces 188HP. It is important to note that the Vito 119 BlueTEC is the only engine in the lineup that meets Euro6 standards. The 1.6L engine is configured to FWD, which provides better traction when carrying light loads while the 2.1L engine is set in RWD that gives better traction during towing heavy loads or carrying high volume cargo. A 6-speed manual transmission is standard for the 109 CDI and 111 CDI while an optional 7G-Tronic automatic transmission is optional for the 114CDi and 116CDI. The automatic transmission comes as standard in the 119BlueTEC.

Curb weight of the Vito panel van is just at 1,761kg, giving the FWD vehicle a gross weight load of 1,289kg with 3.05-ton capacity. For those who want the highest load capacity, the 3.2-ton capacity RWD van has a payload capacity of 1,369kg, the highest in its class according to Mercedes Benz Vans.

The standard Vito has standard airbags for both the passenger and driver. The Vito Tourer has 8 airbags airbags including side airbags and window airbags.  Other safety features and amenities in the new Vito include Adaptive ESP, Crosswind Assist, Active Parking Assist, Blind Spot Assist, Lane Keep Assist, and tire pressure information.

Pricing and specification of the Vito are still to be released by Mercedes-Benz.