IT GOES BOLDLY (IN BRIGHT YELLOW GARB!) WHERE NO SPRINTER HAS GONE BEFORE IT

Its purposeful bright presence on the road has impressed members of the South African public so much that the driver of the demo vehicle reports that he frequently had to pull over to the side of the road to give curious fellow-drivers – off-road enthusiasts, no doubt! – an exciting little sneak preview of the first 4x4 Sprinter to hit our soils.

Mercedes-Benz Commercial Vehicles has just introduced the Sprinter 4x4 permanent four-wheel-drive model this month after identifying a need in the southern African market for an all-terrain vehicle. For this venture they teamed up with a German body conversion company, Messrs Iglhaut GmbH.

“Mercedes-Benz Commercial Vehicles is aware of the imperative need for emergency services and disaster management in the informal settlements around our cities and in rural areas. This Sprinter 4x4 will be able to gain immediate access to such places due to its agility and speed. Even in permanent four-wheel drive, the Sprinter 4x4 can travel at high speed when required,” says Gert Grobler, product manager for the Mercedes-Benz Van Division of DaimlerChrysler SA. He adds that many requests were received from the emergency services in the various provinces, NGOs and other semigovernment sectors for an all-terrain vehicle with high ground clearance in a van execution.

It will also open up new business opportunities for mobile banking, retailing and tourism, he adds.

Sprinters offer a wide variety of conversions to suit specific requirements, such as ambulances, fire-engines, mobile workshops, motor homes and eco-tourism buses.

Emergency services, telecommunications companies, electricity suppliers and tour operators are typically the operators interested in the Iglhaut GmbH unit. They were also informed that the Iglhaut GmbH team from the Wuerzburg area of Germany will support the local conversion with a fully equipped factory and workshop in Gauteng.

“Although there are a number of 4x4 vehicles on the market, the Sprinter has the advantage of interior space and headroom and its chassis is easily adaptable to many different applications,” says Grobler.

With 25 years experience in the off-road market, the company has unsurpassed expertise and knowledge in the conversion of the Sprinter 4x4 vehicles.

“We are delighted with the opportunity this partnership opens up,” says Michael Iglhaut, dealer principal of Iglhaut GmbH.

“We are aware of the harsh southern African conditions and the local units will be converted to suit these conditions,” adds Iglhaut. “The Sprinter 4x4 is a real off-road vehicle, not to be confused with the standard all-wheel drive available from the factory in Germany.”

Iglhaut GmbH supplies off-road vehicles to a number of high-profile customers all over Europe, including the Red Cross. The company exports to Iceland, where the conditions are treacherous and mountainous, as well as to England and Australia. Production of the Sprinter 4x4 in Europe has reached 150 per year and Iglhaut expects to manufacture a similar number in South Africa.

All-wheel Sprinter hi-roof here

The current test demonstration vehicle is the Sprinter 313 CDI, panel van or chassis cab. However, the model chosen for the southern African Sprinter 4x4 is the new Sprinter 315 CDI, which will be introduced into the subcontinent in March 2007.

The basic drive train used is the same as for the standard Sprinter; however, the front axle has been converted into a driving axle together with three diff-locks and a transfer gearbox, including low-range (i = 2,5). The vehicle is fitted with a range of tyres (245/265/285 x 16 inch), depending on the application and use of the vehicle.

• Engine: four-cylinder
• Power output: 110 kW with 330 Nm of torque
• Gearbox: Five-speed manu
• Ground clearance: 315 mm (max)
• Approach and departure angles: Dependent
on the wheelbase but typically will have a front approach angle of 39 degrees and a departure angle of 29 degrees.
• Wheelbase: 3 550 mm
• Safety features: Standard ABS (anti-lock brake system), integral ASR (acceleration skid control) and ESP (electronic stability programme), airbags for the driver and front passenger, integral three-point seat belts on all seats, two- or four-way head restraints
• Standard equipment: parcel shelves, side panels, fire extinguisher, grab handle at the entrance and emergency exit

Once the 4x4 conversions of the Mercedes- Benz panel vans or freight carriers have been undertaken by Iglhaut, the body conversions can be done only through recommended Mercedes- Benz body builders, who are SABS approved.

NAB THE NICHE

Operators that are gearing towards greater diversity in their fleets and that are looking at the opportunities presented by the 2010 World Cup event, should take a closer look at niche vehicles currently in the pipeline

Practical new additions to some of the Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicle ranges have widened the choices for operators looking for specific vehicles to complete specific tasks.

Robust, reliable Atego
This range places emphasis on the needs of distribution transport – reliability, long service life, low lifecycle costs with its fuel economy and ease of maintenance, as well as a particular vehicle design that focuses on agility and driveability.

Whether used for refrigerated transport, specialist trades or furniture carrying, the Atego is always a solution. Specially designed for the rigours of local distribution work its compact dimensions and outstanding handling make the Atego impressive.

In the first quarter of 2007 the lightest member of the Atego range, with a four-ton payload, will be making its bow. The Atego 817/33 features all the sophisticated technical improvements of the entire range but it is especially when precise manoeuvrability is called for – in narrow city streets and tight loading bays, for instance – that it will come into its own.

The Atego 817/33 in a nutshell
 • Smaller than the popular Atego 101
 • Standard light-weight distribution
 • It can be fitted with the air-suspension that is specific to German models
 •Ideal for the movement of fruit and vegetables, postal delivery and emergency deliveries

High performance Axor
During development of the Axor, only one benchmark was used right from the start: practical operation. And the result is plain to see out on the road. For the haulage operator, cost factors such as low fuel consumption, a high payload and major assemblies designed for a long service life are critical. Repair times have been kept short by taking vehicle repairs into account as early as the development stage.

Another arena where it is also increasingly shouldering its weight, is in construction tasks. With the current growth in this industry, especially as its builds towards 2010, an extra-heavy Axor 3335 6x4 heavy duty tipper will be welcomed.

The Axor 3335 in a nutshell
• Well proven engine that made ADE famous
• Six-cylinders in-line developing 260 kW
• Robust tipper with a gross vehicle mass (GVM) of 33 ton
• 16-speed transmission
• Two 13-ton rear axles with hub-reduction gearbox
• 6x4 configuration is ideal for on- and off-road conditions
• To be launched in the first quarter of 2007

The Axor 3535 in a nutshell
If you are looking for maximum legal capabilities and optimal payload, the Axor 3535 8x4 vehicle should be ideal.
• Its 8x4 twin-steer axles are great for manoeuvring on a construction site
• Typical fleet workhorse with a GVM of 35 tons
• Torquey engine that develops an output of 260 kW (354 hp) through a 16-speed gearbox
• Hub-reduction rear axles
• Off-road it offers maximum ground clearance

Increasing focus on economy
The Actros – the flagship heavy truck range – is also focusing on customers’ specific orientation.

The Actros 2644, successor to the popular models of the previous Powerliner range, promises to provide value for money and reduce life-cycle costs on par with the other heavies in this GVM category, the 2640/2648. A Voith retarder comes standard as does a full premium sleeper-cab, double bunks and high roof.

The Actros 2644LS/33 in a nutshell
• To arrive locally in April 2007
• Long-distance unit
• V8 engine developing 320kW (435 hp) with a new 12-speed gearbox

Technology in the Actros is a step above the rest of the market. The Telligent systems such as Telligent automatic version are well proven, while the Telligent brake systems give the Actros excellent stopping distances. The Telligent driver assistance systems such as the Lane Assistant and proximity control gives significantly higher levels of safety. Lane Assist is now a standard safety feature on all Actros truck tractors.