Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 7G-Tronic: Small radius

More than half of Europe's population lives in cities, where the streets are used to deliver all goods to people. The brightest minds of carriers and manufacturers were struggling to answer the question how to do such delivery cheaper. Mercedes-Benz is offering the example of such solution by producing a whole line of delivery vehicles with engines from 75 to 510 hp. - Starting with the compact "Citan", which benchmark was "Reno-Kangu" (ZR, 2012, № 11), ending with the model "Anthos", younger brother of which is "Actros", the brand's flagship truck. 

Most of the machines are designed to deliver goods within a small radius, mainly in the city, at most in the suburbs. The most recent improvements are meant to serve this purpose. The electric Mercedes-Benz Vito E-CELLL with zero exhaust and an urban mileage of 80 km is good, but not for a country with half-year winter: the use of an electric car is effective at a temperature of at least 5 ºC. Alternative choice is a hybrid car - "Mitsubishi-Fuso Kanter Eco Hybrid" (a car manufacture is owned by the German concern). However,such model is 8000 euros more expensive than a conventional diesel car, so there was only 1200 of cars sold in Japan.

The most popular is Sprinter. Now it is equipped with branded 7G-Tronic gearbox, and, in my opinion, this is the kind of car that will raise the interest of our carriers. There are other improvements as well. The main pair - with a reduced gear ratio of value 3,692. Only this improvement, according to manufacturers, allows you to save 0.3 liters of fuel per 100 km. Additionally, the Blueaffixes complex will save half a liter more. It includes: more economic fuel pump and the booster pump of the steering wheel, the highly effective generator, system "start-stop", switching-off engine at red traffic lights. In addition to that, there are tires with reduced rolling resistance. Seven-stage automatic gearbox by itself saves another half a liter of fuel per each 100 km. In total, as the manufacturer states, the van will need in average only 7 liters of diesel fuel per 100 km. 

I remember, the seven-speed gearbox as a revelation appeared for the first time in the executive "S-class". Then it reached cheaper models. And now even distribution machines have received such a feature.

After a ride in Dusseldorf and around it, I've noticed: at a speed of 50 kmh, at the sixth gear, the tachometer often showed only 1200 rpm. The fifth gear in this gearbox is straight, with a ratio of 1:1. And the two highest ones - are tempting to increase the ratio. Switching between gears occurs almost imperceptibly, both up and down, even while braking. Despite the pouring rain, I drove a car with a big pleasure. 

Soon enough we'll find out the price of such Sprinter from the dealers. It will be interesting to check the declared fuel consumption. And, of course, the final decision will be made only after real drive.