The New Citan from Mercedes-Benz: A Truly Professional Urban Delivery Van

MULGRAVE, AUSTRALIA – Apr 24, 2012: Powerful yet with compact dimensions making it especially suitable for city use – for the first time, the Mercedes-Benz portfolio of vans features a dedicated delivery vehicle for the urban environment. With its impressive quality and driving dynamics, exemplary safety and economy, and high level of versatility and robustness, the new Mercedes-Benz Citan is a truly professional urban delivery van.

The Mercedes-Benz Citan will be unveiled to the public for the first time at the IAA Commercial Vehicle Show in Hanover in September.

“We are currently working on the business case for the Citan, at this stage we can’t confirm which variants we will take but we can confirm that we will be taking the vehicle. We are excited by the opportunities and choices that the Citan offers our Van customers. We are about offering solutions to our commercial vehicle customers and the Citan fills a gap in our product range that our customers have been asking us to fill.” said The General Manager, Mercedes-Benz Vans, Diane Tarr

Comprehensive safety equipment
As is the case with every Mercedes-Benz vehicle, safety is plays a central role in the new Citan. The urban delivery van comes with the Electronic Stability Program ADAPTIVE ESP® as standard, which takes the vehicle load into consideration. This innovative dynamic handling control system in the new Citan combines the functions of the anti-locking braking system ABS®, VDC® (Vehicle Dynamic Control) which counters over- and understeer, and TCS® (Traction Control System). It also includes ASR® (acceleration skid control) and drive and braking torque control.

Characteristic brand look with prominent radiator grille
The Mercedes-Benz Citan is instantly recognisable as a Mercedes-Benz thanks to the vehicle’s characteristic brand look. Providing the brand signature, the chromed star sits prominently and proudly in the centre of the radiator grille with three sporty perforated louvres. The Mercedes-Benz Citan’s bold headlamps and the pronounced V-shape to the bonnet with its clearly defined edges are equally striking.

The trapezoidal shape of the air intake in the bumper emphasises width and the powerful impression made by the Citan. There is a clear design theme of the Citan showing the relationship with the latest Mercedes-Benz cars in the compact class through to the new Actros.

Equipped to a high standard for ergonomic and comfortable working
Just as distinctive, the interior of the new Mercedes-Benz Citan is equipped to a high standard. Both the driver and front passenger benefit from equally firm, comfortably padded seats. The form-fitting shape of the backrests in particular provides lateral support, thereby ensuring comfort and safety. Drawing on the brand’s typical design idiom, the fabric cover on the seats is skin-friendly and breathable, as well as easy to care for and durable.

As powerful and striking as the exterior of the new Citan, the instrument panel is designed around the driver. The surface has a leather-like grain for an attractive look and feel.

Drivers of any other Mercedes-Benz will immediately feel at home in the cockpit of the new Citan and not just due to the familiar star on the steering wheel: the combination switches, gearknob, light switches and keys on the instrument panel all meet Mercedes-Benz’s usual standards for the driver’s area in terms of layout, look and function. Trim over the glove compartment enhances the interior further.

Engines covering all requirements
The General Manager, Mercedes-Benz Vans, Diane Tarr said “For Australia and New Zealand we expect to offer a high-torque, turbodiesel direct-injection engine and a nippy forced induction, petrol engine both with close to 200Nm of torque, the diesel engine will have a particulate filter as standard. “

A six-speed transmission with a joystick gearshift positioned within easy reach on the centre console transmit power to the front wheels. The Citan will come with a BlueEFFICIENCY package as standard. Amongst other features this includes the ECO start/stop function, battery and generator management, plus optimised low rolling resistance tyres depending on the variant which again reduce fuel consumption.

Handling as expected of the brand: safe and smooth
The developers of the Mercedes-Benz Citan have paid particular attention to ensuring that the handling is as expected of the brand, delivering a combination of driving dynamics, agility and ride comfort. The Direct-Steer system is accurate and sensitive, while the suspension, damping and stabiliser bars have been carefully attuned to each other.

Whether empty or loaded, the new Citan is a bona fide Mercedes-Benz, offering precision, driving safety and the smooth handling that drivers are accustomed to from the Sprinter and Vito.