All automotive enthusiasts around the world recognize Mercedes-Benz as a high-end luxury cars manufacturer from Germany. However, maybe only some of them know that the German based automaker is also a very tough player in the commercial van market segment. The German automaker mostly produces larger vans but it will take one smaller offering. The new van will be the first result of the Renault-Nissan and Daimler alliance’s project. The name of van is Citan and according to plan, it will share the same market segment with Ford’s Transit Connect.
Mercedes-Benz Citan Compact Van “Name”
The Name Citan was the result of combination between “City” and “Titan”. From its physical appearance, we can recognize that the Citan is based entirely on the Kangoo, a van from French Renault. However, both models bring big aesthetic difference, which is one its redrawn front end that adopts styling cues from the B-Class – a model that is recently launched to the market.
Mercedes-Benz Citan Compact Van Variants
Similar like the Renault’s Kangoo, the Mercedes-Benz Citan Compact Van will be also available in three different variants of wheelbase, which are compact, long and extra-long. However, one thing you have to know that the Mercedes-Benz will not provide a passenger version of the new van because the German automaker seems wants to give the chance on that segment for Renault.
The Mercedes-Benz Citan will be powered by a turbodiesel 1.5-liter 4-cylinder engine available with 75, 90 or 110 horsepower. The turbodiesel unit will be mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox and the power will be delivered to the front wheels.
The lone gas offering will be a 115 HP of power supercharge 4-banger with a displacement of 1.2-liter. Like its oil-burning colleague, it comes from French automaker, Renault.
Mercedes-Benz Citan Compact Van Release Date
Mercedes-Benz is expected will release the Citan to the public for the first time at the 2012 Commercial vehicle Show in Hannover this September.
