The Sprinter is a light commercial vehicle that is manufactured by the world famous Daimler AG Company. The production of the Sprinter commenced in 1995 and continues to this day. The current version of the vehicle is its second generation. The Sprinter can be used as a van, minibus, pickup truck and chassis cab and is currently one of the most sought and praised light commercial vehicles in the world.
A total of seven automotive factories from all over the world have been involved into the production of the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter. The main factory is located in the German city of Dusseldorf. The other assembly lines are situated in Buenos Aires, Argentine which is presently the main manufacturing facility of the second generation Sprinter, Juiz de Fore, Brazil, Tehran, Iran, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, Tai`an, China and Ladson, South Carolina, USA. Note that the Russian factory was involved only in the manufacturing of the Sprinter’s first generation.
The vehicles has a basic layout with a front engine and rear wheel drive and is made with four doors (two side doors for the drivers cabin, one sliding side door to provide access to the cargo section and one two winged back door). Only the pickup version of the Sprinter is produced with two doors. At the moment the van is one of Daimler’s best selling automobiles not only in Europe but the entire world.
A total of seven automotive factories from all over the world have been involved into the production of the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter. The main factory is located in the German city of Dusseldorf. The other assembly lines are situated in Buenos Aires, Argentine which is presently the main manufacturing facility of the second generation Sprinter, Juiz de Fore, Brazil, Tehran, Iran, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, Tai`an, China and Ladson, South Carolina, USA. Note that the Russian factory was involved only in the manufacturing of the Sprinter’s first generation.
The vehicles has a basic layout with a front engine and rear wheel drive and is made with four doors (two side doors for the drivers cabin, one sliding side door to provide access to the cargo section and one two winged back door). Only the pickup version of the Sprinter is produced with two doors. At the moment the van is one of Daimler’s best selling automobiles not only in Europe but the entire world.
The first generation of Sprinter was officially presented to the public in 1995. The goal of the vehicle was to replace the famed but outdated Mercedes-Benz TN light commercial vehicle which dated back to the late 1970s. The van was such a big hit on the market that is was voted International Van of the Year in 1995.
The Sprinter was introduced to the North American market in 2001 and was branded as Freightliner Sprinter in the US and Canada. Later the van changed its brand and became known as Dodge Sprinter. In Mexico however the van has always been branded as a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter. The vehicle was also made avilable to the Japanese market but wasn’t known as Sprinter. Instead the van carried the name Transporter T1N as the Toyota Company had an upgraded Corolla version that was branded Sprinter.
While Daimler ceased the production of the first generation Sprinter in 2006, it is still manufactured in Iran under the name Iran Khodro Diesel. However very few of the produced units are sold on the open market as most of the vehicles are converted into ambulance cars to provide health services to the Iranian population.
The first generation of Mercedes-Benz Sprinter came with the following engines.
While Daimler ceased the production of the first generation Sprinter in 2006, it is still manufactured in Iran under the name Iran Khodro Diesel. However very few of the produced units are sold on the open market as most of the vehicles are converted into ambulance cars to provide health services to the Iranian population.
The first generation of Mercedes-Benz Sprinter came with the following engines.
Two types of transmission were used on the vehicle, 5 speed manual transmission and 5 speed automatic transmission.
The second generation Sprinter was introduced in 2006 and was even more successful than its predecessor as it waste voted Van of the Year in 2007 and 2008. Also known as the NCV3 short for New Concept Van 3 it arrived on the North American market one year after its official introduction in 2007.
The second generation Sprinter was introduced in 2006 and was even more successful than its predecessor as it waste voted Van of the Year in 2007 and 2008. Also known as the NCV3 short for New Concept Van 3 it arrived on the North American market one year after its official introduction in 2007.
The second generation Sprinter is manufactured as mentioned above in the Buenos Aires facility and is produced only for export markets- except the Mercosur market (Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay). However since 2011 the van has been made available for the Mercosure market as well. Today the NCV3 is sold in over 40 countries from around the globe and is one of the best selling light commercial vehicles in automotive history.
At the moment the second generation Sprinter has a wide variety of engines from which one can choose. Check the table from down below or check the data of Sprinters van engines at London Man and Van, who provided us with detailed info.
The vehicle is also sold with three different types of transmissions which are:
- 6 speed manual transmission
- 5 speed automatic transmission
- 7 speed automatic transmission
The Sprinter is being currently used for a multitude of purpose despite the fact that Daimler designed it as a business vehicle. Nowadays you can see NCV3 that have been converted into mini-buses, ambulances, police vehicles, all terrain automobiles, commercial cars and so on.
- 6 speed manual transmission
- 5 speed automatic transmission
- 7 speed automatic transmission
The Sprinter is being currently used for a multitude of purpose despite the fact that Daimler designed it as a business vehicle. Nowadays you can see NCV3 that have been converted into mini-buses, ambulances, police vehicles, all terrain automobiles, commercial cars and so on.
The van is so famous throughout the world that is has been used in numerous television and movies productions. For example Mike and Frank from American Pickers used a Sprinter 2500 from 2010 to 2014. Joss Whedon used a Dodge Sprinter in his science fiction television production Dollhouse, while in Disney-Pixar’s computer animated film Cars 2 a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter can be spotted in the background.