The new Mercedes Vito is starting to arrive with customers and none are more pleased with it than a document management firm in Dorset.
Specialist firm Storofile was among the first to order the ground-breaking new Vito and it is now working hard for them.
The firm bought the Vito 119 BlueTEC Long model in the van guise. It will happily sit a driver and five colleagues in safety and comfort and also has a decent sized cargo area.
Under the bonnet is a 2.1 litre diesel engine which produces 190 HP and a range of fuel-saving enhancements including improved underbody aerodynamics.
There’s also start/stop and alternator management to help return 47mpg on the combine cycle.
Engine first for the mid-size van segment
The engine is also the first low emission Euro6 compliant unit in the mid-sized van segment and has been paired with a smooth changing 7G-Tronic gearbox.
Mercedes says this is the world’s only automatic transmission for vans that has a torque converter as well as seven gears.
The storage firm says that a critical factor in choosing a van for its business was one that could cope with weight rather than volume.
That’s why they up-rated their new Mercedes Vito from the standard 3 tonnes to a gross weight of 3.2 tonnes.
They also opted for a long distance 70litre fuel tank rather than the 57litre standard item.
Firm’s new Mercedes Vito is working with a Sprinter
The Mercedes Vito is now working alongside their current 3.5 tonnes Mercedes sprinter which was bought in 2012.
The firm’s owner Jim Sutcliffe said: “The sprinter will carry up to 150 heavy archive boxes at a time on three pallets but the Vito gives us flexibility.
“With the seats in place we can use it to transport six members of staff to premises and with the rear seats removed, which is an easy job, we can carry 100 boxes if we don’t exceed the 1.2 tonnes payload capacity.”
The new Vito also comes with tinted privacy glass, 20-spoke alloy wheels and colour coded bumpers to help make it a real head turner. There’s also satnav, electric mirrors, chrome interior, comfort seats and a leather trimmed steering wheel.
The Vito was launched at this year’s Commercial Vehicle Show and is also available as a panel van or as the passenger carrying Tourer.