While more traditional Mercedes-Benz vehicles such as the S-class and the SL-class may be what first come to mind when one thinks of Mercedes, the not so glamorous Sprinter has become a key member of the brand in its own right. The current-generation van, however, is nearly a decade old, which means it’s time for Mercedes to give a fresh face to its commercial lineup. Set to make its debut at the North American Commercial Vehicle Show, the new Sprinter peeked from behind the curtain, showing plenty of DNA from last year’s Vision Van concept.
The new Sprinter will be at the forefront of the company’s adVANce initiative, a push that shifts away from focusing on vehicles as transportation devices to thinking of them as tools that can connect and assist with the movement of cargo. Nearly a year ago, Mercedes-Benz unveiled the Vision Van concept, a futuristic look at mobility and logistics solutions for commercial customers. It was all electric and featured both roof-mounted delivery drones and a lock-and-load cargo system that allowed for simple sliding units to move from warehouse to van and back again. This new Sprinter looks extremely similar to the concept but with production-style functionality and form. While the headlights are carried over almost exactly as they’re seen on the Vision Van, the light-up nose is replaced by a functional grille with traditional air intakes. The concept’s blacked-out A-pillars that created a motorcycle-...