Mercedes-Benz goes big
The Sprinter Luxury Coach Photos by Ulysses Ang
MANILA, Philippines — Auto Nation Group, the exclusive distributor of Mercedes-Benz passenger cars and commercial vehicles in the country, revealed two new products: the Sprinter Luxury Coach and the OF 917 Midi Bus. Both of these vehicles underline the three-pointed star’s world-renowned reputation for making the best commercial vehicles and Auto Nation’s intention to expand its product offering in the Philippines.
Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Luxury Coach
Accepted around the world for its reliability and performance whether as a passenger vehicle or commercial workhorse, the Sprinter Luxury Coach brings that up a notch by providing luxury amenities for those wanting a home on the road.
“The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter stands out because of its superior performance, which is second to none. And today, we are proud to unveil the luxury coach version of the Sprinter with a refined cabin that epitomizes the prestige of the brand,” said Joseph Ayllón, assistant vice president for public relations, Auto Nation Group.
The Sprinter is powered by a 2.1-liter common rail direct injection 4-cylinder diesel engine with a two-stage turbocharger. Paired with a 6-speed ECO Gear 360 manual, it makes an outstanding 163hp while boasting best-in-class fuel efficiency.
Aside from the usual airbags and antilock brakes (ABS), it also comes with Electronic Stability Program (ESP) with Crosswind Assist as an added safety measure. This system applies brake force automatically to one or more wheels whenever the system detects wheelspin, understeer, or oversteer while the engine output is adjusted to stabilize the van.
In the Luxury Coach guise, the Sprinter offers comfortable seating for up to 9 people and their luggage at all times. With an interior standing height of 1.918 meters, passengers can easily sit down, stand up, stretch out, and settle in.
Standard is leather upholstery with a diamond-cut pattern. All passengers have individual headrests with the front six passengers in the passenger cabin treated to executive chairs which have leg rests and are fully reclining.
A central console located in the passenger cabin houses dual LCD monitors alongside audio-visual and air-conditioning control panels. A roof-mounted console provides additional storage compartments and is accented with glossy laminates finished in a wood grain finish.
An automatic privacy screen between the driver and cabin helps further reduce noise, while pleated curtains on all windows provide additional privacy for each passenger.
Ingress and egress is also made quick and easy thanks to the Sprinter’s spacious side door entry (182.1 cm X 130.1 cm), which is currently the widest opening door in its class. An automatic stepboard also enables passengers to board the Sprinter with ease along with power sliding doors that close with the press of a button.
The Sprinter Luxury Coach is now available for viewing at all Mercedes-Benz dealerships nationwide with a suggested retail price of P 5990,000. It comes in just one color: Artic White.
Mercedes-Benz OF 917 Midi Bus
Unknown to many, Mercedes-Benz has been making buses since 1895 in Mannheim, Germany and the legacy continues today, with the same engineering DNA embodied in the OF 917 Midi Bus. With the chassis manufactured by Mercedes-Benz in India then assembled with an Alpha M8 body in Malaysia, the Mercedes-Benz OF 917 Midi Bus is an Asian product for the Asian market.
“We are very proud to showcase the OF 917 Midi Bus, a truly world-class product that was designed and manufactured with the Asian market in mind. Ideal for transportation companies and private institutions, customers will find the OF 917 Midi Bus to be a wise investment,” said Ayllón.
The high-decker OF 917 Midi Bus is sized perfectly, making it the ideal transport vehicle for a group of passengers traveling within the city or out of town. Its dimensions put the Midi Bus in between the small bus (6 meters) and large bus (12 meters) categories, and offers more space and capacity than vans and coasters. Even with a length of nine meters, the OF 917 is maneuverable in the streets of Manila and nearby towns.
Powered by a Euro 5 compliant 4-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine, the OF 917 Midi Bus puts out 170hp and more importantly, 520Nm of torque.
The bus configuration unveiled by Auto Nation Group, Inc. features a 32 reclining seat configuration, with standard amenities including a rear compartment luggage space of 4,783 liters, one of the largest storage capacities in its class. Other features include high capacity roof-mounted airconditioning, electrically operated outward swing-type passenger door with remote control, and emergency escape roof hatch.
“This is the standard configuration and package that we offer, but we will be happy to work with the customer on their preferred seating configuration, seat covering and other amenities to meet their needs,” said Don Ramos, assistant vice president for Commercial Vehicles, Auto Nation Group.
The Mercedes-Benz OF 917 Midi Bus standard edition is priced at P4,900,000.
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