THE Mercedes-Benz Citan is presented today at the fair in Duesseldorf, Germany, with a more modern design, more advanced technology and with the extra argument of having a 100% electric version from the second half of 2022.
Mercedes-Benz manages, like no other car brand, to have an untouchable luxury image while selling commercial vehicles and passenger bypasses of all sizes.
From Marco Polo, to Sprinter and Vito, in addition to the Class V, there is an offer for different types of needs and capacity or load capacity, even if for this it is necessary to resort to partners outside the Daimler Group, as in the case of the Citan , whose second generation is built on the basis of the Renault Kangoo (although the association between the two groups is becoming less and less close, this project has not been affected).
But in a very different process, as Dirk Hipp, the project's chief engineer explains to me: “in the first generation we started working on the Citan when the Renault was already finished, but now it was a joint development, which allowed us to implement more and earlier our technical definitions and equipment. And that made all the difference for us to have a better Citan and, above all, more Mercedes-Benz”.
This was the case for the implementation of the dashboard and infotainment system, but also the suspension (MacPherson structure with lower triangles at the front and torsion bar at the back), whose adjustments were made in accordance with the “specifications” of the German brand.
Van, Tourer, Mixto, long wheelbase…
As in the first generation, the compact MPV will have a commercial version (Panel Van or Van in Portugal) and a passenger version (Tourer), the latter with sliding rear side doors as standard (optional on the Van) to make access easier. of people or loading volumes, even in the tightest of spaces.
In the van, it is possible to have rear doors and a glass-free rear window, and a Mixto version is expected to be launched, which combines attributes of the commercial and the passenger version.
The side doors provide an opening of 615 mm on both sides and the boot opening is 1059 mm. The floor of the Van is 59 cm from the ground and the two sections of the rear doors can be locked at an angle of 90º and can even be moved 180º on the sides of the vehicle. The doors are asymmetrical, so the one on the left is wider and has to be opened first.
Electric version within one year
The bodywork with a wheelbase of 2,716 m will be joined by extended wheelbase versions and also a significant 100% electric variant, which will reach the market within a year and which will be called eCitan (joining eVito and eSprinter in the electric commercials catalog of the German brand).
The autonomy promised by the 48 kWh battery (44 kWh usable) is 285 km, which can replenish its charge from 10% to 80% in fast stations in about 40 minutes, if charging at 22 kW (optional , being 11 kW as standard). If charging with a weaker current, it may take between two to 4.5 hours for the same charge.
Important is the fact that this version has the same load volume as the versions with combustion engines, the same being true for all comfort and safety equipment, or functionality, as in the case of the trailer coupling with which the eCitan can be equipped . Front-wheel drive, maximum output is 75 kW (102 hp) and 245 Nm and maximum speed is limited to 130 km/h.
More Mercedes-Benz than before
In the Tourer version, the three rear seat occupants have more space than the predecessor, plus a completely unobstructed footwell.
The rear seat backs can be folded asymmetrically (in a single movement that also lowers the seats) to significantly increase the load volume (in the Van it can reach 2.9 m3, which is quite a lot in a vehicle with a total length of 4 .5 m, but about 1.80 m in width and height).
Optionally, it is possible to equip the Mercedes-Benz Citan with the MBUX infotainment system that greatly facilitates the control of navigation, audio, connectivity, etc., even by accepting vocal instructions (in 28 different languages).
In a vehicle with these characteristics, the existence of many storage spaces is essential. Between the front seats there are two cup holders that can hold cups or bottles with a volume of up to 0.75 liters, while the Citan Tourer features tables that fold out from the back of the front seats, providing rear passengers with adequate space to write. or have a snack.
Finally, the roof can even be used to carry more luggage thanks to the optional aluminum bars.
Suitable for cooking or spending the night...
To show that the Mercedes-Benz Citan can perform unusual functions in a car, the German brand has prepared two very special versions in partnership with the company VanEssa, which prepares vehicles for camping: a mobile camping kitchenette and a sleeping system.
In the first case there is a compact kitchen installed at the rear, comprising a built-in gas stove and a dishwasher with a 13 liter water tank, crockery, pots and pans and supplies stored in drawers. The complete module weighs around 60 kg and can be installed or removed in minutes to make room, for example, on a bed in a few easy steps.
When traveling, the system is located in the trunk above the mobile kitchen and the rear seats can be used to the full. The sleeping module is 115 cm wide and 189 cm long, providing sleeping space for two people.
When arrives?
Sales of the new Mercedes-Benz Citan in Portugal begin on September 13 and deliveries are scheduled for November, of the following versions:
- 108 CDI van (the best seller in our country in the previous generation) — Diesel, 1.5 l, 4 cylinders, 75 hp;
- 110 CDI Van — Diesel, 1.5 l, 4 cylinders, 95 hp;
- 112 CDI Van — Diesel, 1.5 l, 4 cylinders, 116 hp;
- 110 van — gasoline, 1.3 l, 4 cylinders, 102 hp;
- 113 van — gasoline, 1.3 l, 4 cylinders, 131 hp;
- Tourer 110 CDI — Diesel, 1.5 l, 4 cylinders, 95 hp;
- Tourer 110 — gasoline, 1.3 l, 4 cylinders, 102 hp;
- Tourer 113 — gasoline, 1.3 l, 4 cylinders, 131 hp.
