Never before have we pondered a subconscious connection with the contents of an uncracked egg, but there’s a first time for everything. In this case, the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4×4 is the shell and we’re its quivery innards, practically foaming as the big van teeter-totters up and down a craggy off-road course outside of the Ladson, South Carolina, facility where U.S.-market Sprinters are assembled. Our squishy sensitivities aside, this is the ideal first encounter with the Sprinter’s newly available four-wheel-drive system, which has been offered on global models for some time but is only just reaching our shores for the 2015 model year.

2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4×4

WANNA GET HIGH?

For an extra $6500, any Sprinter body style (passenge

2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4×4

r, crew, cargo) in either wheelbase length (144.3 or 170.3 inches) can be equipped with four-wheel drive and a nifty “4×4” badge. (Add another $300 for a low-range transfer case with a 42-percent-lower crawl ratio.) To get four-wheel drive, buyers must also order the 188-hp V-6 turbo-diesel and five-speed automatic. The four-cylinder turbo-diesel/seven-speed automatic that joined the refreshed-for-2014 Sprinter lineup remains rear-drive-only.

A push of a button switches the van from a two-wheel-drive hauler into a four-wheel-drive off-roader that just happens to carry a massive volume of stuff. On Sprinters so equipped, a second button press activates low range. In either 4×4 mode, 35 percent of torque is routed to the front axle while the other 65 percent powers the rear. Unlike Mercedes-Benz’s 4MATIC all-wheel drive, the torque split isn’t variable, so it’s best to leave the Sprinter in two-wheel-drive mode on dry pavement unless you enjoy the sounds of binding driveline components.

2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4×4

UP, UP, AND AWAY—FROM PAVEMENT

Unfortunately, the preproduction Sprinter 4x4s weren’t registered for street use, but a brief trip on pavement confirmed that, with four-wheel drive switched off, the 4x4s drive more or less identically to their two-wheel-drive counterparts. On Benz’s mini Rubicon, however, a short-wheelbase, high-roof Sprinter 4×4 with low range proved to be a different animal.

To help the long van clear obstacles (even the short 144-inch wheelbase is a recipe for high-centering), every 4×4’s suspension is raised 4.3 inches in front and 3.1 inches in back. The articulation limitations of the Sprinter’s independent front and solid-axle rear suspension are overcome by Mercedes-Benz’s Electronic Traction System (ETS). Essentially a few lines of code added to the van’s electronic stability control, ETS brakes traction-challenged wheel or wheels, which sends torque through that axle’s differential to the opposite wheel. Thus, even with one or two wheels hanging high above ground, the Sprinter 4×4 scampered over obstacles with the alacrity of a seriously bloated Jeep Wrangler. To cap off the dirt theater, we never once experienced anything approaching palpable chassis twist, an impressive feat for a vehicle with such a large, hollow, tubelike structure.

Speaking of large, broadsided structures, they’re not ideal in heavy crosswinds. Benz has come up with a solution for that; the 2015 Sprinter 2500 models with any drive configuration get Crosswind Assist, yet another function of the stability control brain that detects strong gusts and applies the brake on the appropriate individual wheels to maintain a straight path. We rode for an exciting test during which a Benz engineer drove past a row of several-hundred-horsepower worth of swamp boats running at full tilt (pumping out a near-constant 90-mph gale) at roughly 50 mph—the system’s minimum speed threshold. This hurricane-grade blast didn’t put the thing on its door handles. The Sprinter’s body rocked heavily, certainly, but ultimately the van continued on its course.

Rocking and rolling in a Sprinter 4×4, whether it be through a tornado or climbing to a remote mountain trail, won’t be cheap—the least expensive 2015 Sprinter 4×4 starts at $44,475 in cargo form—but if you need to move a lot of people or cargo through inclement weather or into inhospitable environs, pickings are quite slim. Four-wheel-drive-converted Chevrolet Express and Nissan NV vans are smaller; the new Ford Transit and Ram ProMaster are two-wheel-drive-only (at least until Quigley or a competing converter steps up); and a Zeppelin is, well, it’s a zeppelin, meaning it ain’t terribly convenient and lacks a nationwide network of dealers that can service it. Clearly, the Sprinter 4×4 is pretty much your only choice.

2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4×4

Via: Car and Driver

Airstream, maker of the iconic silver-bullet travel trailers, has unveiled its all-new luxury passenger van – the Airstream Autobahn® – a vehicle that delivers a new standard in VIP travel. Through its ongoing collaboration with Mercedes-Benz, Airstream combines its signature quality and design with individualized comfort, convenience and productivity in this new category-creating platform.

First introduced at the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter national dealer meeting this week, the Autobahn stays true to Airstream’s heritage of aircraft inspired design and innovation. Taking cues from the private jet experience, the Autobahn offers a sleek, sophisticated interior, expansive space and handcrafted furnishings. With seating for eight, the Autobahn includes the advanced Airstream Smart Control System™ for a flawless passenger experience.

“Airstream continues to set the industry standard for unparalleled luxury travel, a strategy further enhanced by our partnership with Mercedes-Benz,” said Airstream CEO and President Bob Wheeler. “Whether your VIP is a professional client or family member, we are creating a new category that delivers an exclusive level of focus on individual passenger comfort and convenience.”

With its carefully designed professional and personal functionality, the Autobahn also takes aim at the commercial market, targeting companies that cater to affluent travelers.

Design & Luxury

The Autobahn is equipped with a power entry sliding door that open onto a well-appointed cabin with a stunning array of finishes, materials and amenities including durable wood trim, leather seating, dual refrigerators and individualized controls to enhance the passenger experience.

Each position in the main cabin includes a power footrest, heated seating and power outlets (120v and USB) along with a workspace equipped with a functional desk.

Productivity & Convenience

Autobahn comes standard with the innovative Airstream Smart Control™ System providing centralized control for all main cabin lighting, shades, heating and air conditioning through the user’s smart device. The system also controls onboard entertainment, with state-of-the-art electronics including a 32 inch LCD TV screen, Blu-Ray player, Pandora, and an Apple TV box with Air Play functionality. The Airstream Smart Control System can be operated through the vehicle’s onboard electronics, any web-enabled smart device (including smart phones & tablets) and laptops with wireless capabilities.

Safety

Superior safety features include collision prevention assist, lane keeping assist, blind spot assist, front and rear parking assist, headlight high beam assist and more.

Beyond the reassuring coverage of the three year/36,000-mile warranty, the Autobahn is supported by the premier coast-to-coast Mercedes-Benz dealer network and the Mercedes-Benz Club of America.

Airstream first began its collaboration with Mercedes-Benz with the launch of the Airstream Interstate in 2004. The Interstate remains the top selling Type B motorhome model for the third year in a row.

The Airstream Autobahn is now available and will be sold exclusively through Mercedes-Benz Sprinter dealers across the nation. For more information visit www.airstreamautobahn.com or contact your local Mercedes-Benz Sprinter dealer.

Inside the OKCU vehicle you will find yourself in one of the most beautiful and stylish ambience to be found on the road today. It goes without saying that only particularly fine and exclusive materials are considered for the interior; sumptuous leather, exquisite wood in its most natural form, softest hides, superbly finished trim works, finest chrome detailing, and most luxuriant carpeting. But to select the finest materials is not good enough to satisfy the most demanding tastes. These materials need to be tailored with exacting craftsmanship to create a magnificent generous space and a unique ambience where you and your guests savour the view in an impeccably handcrafted interior.

Mercedes Sprinter Madreperla Edition

OKCU Madreperla Edition’s rear compartment allows you to enjoy greater levels of luxury, comfort and sophisticated amenities. Not only the materials used are exactly same used by Rolls Royce and Bentley, but also the craftsmanship’s quality is extremely high to compete with those brands.

In the rear compartment of the OKCU Madreperla Edition, you feel like entering into a world of wonders with full of surprises. A glass divider which separates the driver from the rear compartment dominated by 40” Samsung 3D LED TV that can be deployed from partition wall with just push of a button. You can either watch TV, DVD or use as your own computer’s monitor with auto integrated computer.

In OKCU Madreperla Edition, we use latest generation of apple gadgets such as; Mac Mini, iPhone/iPad docking stations and wireless keyboards. The USB parts are also integrated into the leather upholstery for an easy access.

Mercedes Sprinter MadrePerla Edition

Leathers and precious woods are aesthetically pleasing and create an agreeable ambiance. The seats are upholstered in A grade premium Nappa leather, a superior material covering the interior of every OKCU vehicle. To make sure there are no imperfections, every inch of leather is meticulously inspected. To avoid color imperfections, we make sure that every hide comes from the same batch. The delicate pores remain visible on seats, enhancing its excellent breathing characteristics and making it particularly comfortable. All seats are heated and electrically adjustable and offer programmable massage function for the ultimate comfort and relaxation.

OKCU Madreperla Edition also provides onboard refreshment such as 25 lt. capacities of refrigerator, two hidden bars and a latest generation of Nespresso coffee maker.

Many dignitaries, politicians and celebrities who buy our vehicles already own luxury cars yachts and private jets. We are aware that our customers are used to the best and we are very proud of creating for them in a subtle stylish way, the same luxurious appointments they are used to in their privileged lifestyle.

When you step inside the OKCU Madreperla Edition, all you have to do is to relax and enjoy a unique luxury that could be easily associated with a multimillion-dollar private jet.

Comparing the exquisitely engineered OKCU vehicle interiors to the push cabin of a private jet is no accident or coincidence, as our interiors are equal to and often surpass what could be found on a jet. Sitting in aviation oriented OKCU vehicle is a refined experience itself, as it is crowned with a state of the art entertainment and communication installations.

Mercedes Sprinter Madreperla Edition

We have embellished the side trims with mother of pearls. Mother of pearl is actually a natural shell material, though like pearls it is made up of the layers inside of shells called nacre. Nacre is found as a coating inside a number of mollusk shells and is the beautiful iridescent material that pearls are made of.

OKCU produced only three of thisLimited Edition Mercedes Sprinter for lucky buyers around the world.

There is no question that the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van has proven to be a success, offering a tall Euro-style van in the already overcrowded and bland commercial van segment. Originally arriving in 2003 under the Dodge brand (when Daimler owned Chrysler) and now under Mercedes-Benz since 2010, the Sprinter was a pioneer in the segment worldwide.

Today, however, the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter has several competitors all wanting a piece of the Euro-style van market, specifically in the U.S.. This morning, with the launch of their new Sprinter – the first overhaul of the Sprinter since 2006 – Mercedes-Benz is proving that they’re still, and will remain, the leader in the field.

The new Sprinter continues to set the benchmark in safety, eco-friendliness, and style. The new Sprinter, available for order in June, boasts five new safety systems, engines that meet the future Euro VI emissions standard, a four-cylinder diesel engine for the U.S., and a far more rugged appearance. More importantly to buyers, however, is the decreased fuel consumption. The new Sprinter model will offer decreased fuel consumption over the current Sprinter, which at present averages around 25 miles to the gallon.

Customers can order the new Mercedes-Benz Sprinter beginning in June 2013; deliveries will begin in September.

World premiere of new safety systems

The Sprinter has always been a pioneer with regard to driver assistance systems. Five new assistance systems — including several van firsts — will help reduce the number of accidents even further in the new Sprinter.

The following systems are celebrating their world debut in the Sprinter: Crosswind Assist, which is fitted as standard, and COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST and Blind Spot Assist, which are both optional. Other new features are Highbeam Assist and Lane Keeping Assist. The developers at Mercedes-Benz are convinced that these electronic assistants will play a key role in helping to reduce accidents in the van sector.

As one of the functions of the Electronic Stability Program, Crosswind Assist will be part of the vehicle’s range of standard equipment. Customers will be able to order the other assistance systems as individual options or as components of logically assembled packages. This allows every customer to tailor the Sprinter to its specific area of application.

In addition, Mercedes-Benz has improved the Sprinter’s handling even further. The lowering of the chassis has improved the van’s drag and fuel consumption and makes it easier to load and unload cargo.

World’s first van to meet the future Euro VI emissions standard

The new Sprinter is the world’s first van to meet the future Euro VI emissions standard in all of its engine variants. Euro VI drastically reduces the emission limits for nitrogen oxides (NOx), total hydrocarbons (THC), and particulate mass. The Sprinter achieves the strict limits with the help of its BlueTEC engine and SCR technology that injects AdBlue into the exhaust gas. The technology has already proven its worth in more than 100,000 commercial vehicles from Mercedes-Benz.

The performance of the diesel engines has remained unchanged, encompassing four- and six-cylinder units with outputs ranging from 70 kW (95 hp) to 140 kW (190 hp).

The developers have used the additional exhaust treatment stage to optimize the injection and combustion processes as well as the boost pressure. The results are lower fuel consumption and less combustion noise. The engineers also adjusted the drive system and the ancillary components to enhance fuel efficiency. This applies to the transmission and the rear axle as well as an intelligent generator management system.

As an alternative to the diesel engines, the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter is also available with a Euro VI compliant supercharged four-cylinder gasoline engine featuring direct injection. The engine generates 115 kW (156 hp) from a total displacement of 1.8 liters. The engine is also available in a natural gas variant with the same performance.

Power is transmitted either by the ECO-Gear six-speed manual transmission or the 7G-TRONIC PLUS seven-speed automatic transmission with lock-up clutch, which is the only system of its kind to be found in a van.

Most economical van in its class

The combination of the highly efficient diesel engines, the optimized powertrain, the longer axle ratio, the ancillary components, and the BlueEFFICIENCY PLUS efficiency package has reduced fuel consumption to a minimum of 6.3 l/100 km (NEDC combined), which is a record value for the Sprinter segment. However, the new Sprinter is extremely economical not only as a result of its high fuel efficiency, but also because it comes with the ASSYST maintenance calculation system as standard in Europe. Thanks to this system, the van’s maintenance intervals, which were already long, have been extended to up to 60,000 km.

Enhanced exterior and interior

The new Sprinter’s appearance has also been substantially enhanced and made more striking. In line with Mercedes-Benz’ current design, the van’s radiator grille is now more vertical and confident. The grille’s three slats are perforated and wedge-shaped. Not only does this change create a more dynamic impression, it also increases the airflow. In addition, a frame surrounds the brand’s distinctive radiator grille, making it more prominent.

Another change involves the headlights, which are now more angular. The covers on the reflector housings are particularly striking, dividing the headlights into separate segments. The new hood is higher and the more distinctly shaped bumpers have finely worked lower edges similar to those found on SUVs. The new Sprinter is immediately recognizable from the rear, due to its double-segmented taillights.

The widely acknowledged exemplary interior has also been further enhanced. Comfort has been boosted by the new upholstery and seat coverings, the thicker steering wheel makes gripping easier, and the fresh air nozzles boast chrome applications if the customer opts for a multifunctional steering wheel. The knob of the gearshift lever has been redesigned as well.

The Sprinter is also fitted with a new-generation radio system that equips the van not only with state-of-the-art electronic entertainment features and Bluetooth telephone equipment (including a telephone keypad and phonebook), but also the Becker MAP PILOT navigation system.

Millions of kilometers of testing; orders can be placed beginning in June

The developers of the new Sprinter made sure that the van was thoroughly tested. More than eight million kilometers of endurance testing and extensive customer trials in everyday use had fully demonstrated the new Sprinter’s high quality by the time series production was launched.