The new generation of Mercedes-Benz minibuses based on the Sprinter platform premiered at the International Commercial Vehicle Show in Hanover two years ago. Since then, the new range has become firmly established. And it has been extended to include further models: with a choice of Sprinter Transfer, Sprinter Travel, Sprinter City or Sprinter Mobility, the range now comprises a total of twelve base models with numerous variants. Mercedes-Benz Minibus GmbH in Dortmund – an EvoBus subsidiary – can therefore meet practically every require­ment in the growing market for small buses. The first of the model year 2009 mini­buses is the upgraded flagship model in the urban range: the Sprinter City 65.

Premiere: upgraded Sprinter City 65 low-floor minibus
The Sprinter City low-floor models are Western Europe’s best-selling and market-leading urban regular-service minibuses. Whereas the compact Sprinter City 35 (length 6.9 m, with up to 22 passenger seats) is based on a panel van, the second model – the larger Sprinter City 65 (length 7.7 m, with a maximum of 30 passenger seats) – is instantly recognisable by its unique body with a self-supporting bus skeleton structure and panoramic windows.

The urban bus is powered by Euro 4 four-cylinder turbodiesel engines with a standard output of 80 kW (109 hp) in the case of the Sprinter City 35 and 110 kW (150 hp) in the case of the Sprinter City 65. All the diesel units in the minibus range are fitted with particulate filters.

For the new model year, the range-topping Sprinter City 65 features a wealth of modifications. By way of example, the developers have enlarged the low-floor zone between the axles by around ten percent. The first seat row is now in the low-floor area to ensure barrier-free access. The higher floor at the rear can be accessed easily via a single step. The manually operated wheelchair ramp has been optimised in terms of both looks and ease of use. Other features include a new ticket counter

designed for flexibile accommodation of ticket canceller and printer. The counter unit also houses the fire extinguisher, breakdown kit and the driver’s bag.

Sprinter Transfer/Sprinter Travel/Sprinter Mobility: a multitude of variants
The Sprinter Transfer is ideal for rural-service routes, for use as a shuttle or for day trips. Comprising five base models, there is a choice of four different lengths from 5.9 m to 7.7 m and four different weights. The minibus range is topped out by the Sprinter Travel models, which offer a high level of comfort for excursions, touring and shuttle services. The flagship model is the Sprinter Travel 65 which has its own unique body. The Sprinter Mobility models are tailor-made for transporting passengers with restricted mobility.

The Sprinter is the ideal platform for all minibus applications. Powerful, economical diesel engines with outputs ranging from 65 kW (88 hp) to 135 kW (184 hp) are paired with a six-speed manual transmission with a joystick gearshift or a five-speed automatic transmission with a torque converter. Their appeal is further enhanced by the standard-fit particulate filter and long service intervals.

The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter City 65 at the 2008 International Commercial Vehicle Show in Hanover
Mercedes-Benz Minibus GmbH is unveiling the modified version of its flagship Sprinter City 65 urban minibus with an alluring dolphin blue paint finish. A large low-floor platform, rear air suspension, a suspension seat for the driver, a ticket-counter unit, an electrically operated roof hatch, a destination indicator with an LED matrix, classification to EU Directive 2001/85 Class 1 and a whole host of further details underline the impeccable credentials of the compact urban minibus for up to 30 passengers.