Mercedes-Benz has simply pulled the veil off of its all-new VLE, an all-electric luxurious van that may seat as much as eight individuals. With this new mannequin, Mercedes doesn’t simply need to make an electrical van—but in addition to carve out a brand new area of interest of electrical automobiles which are all about rear-seat consolation, luxurious, and leisure.
This is not some Europe-only government shuttle, both. The VLE is coming to the U.S., and Mercedes says it can promote a bunch of various variations: “from automobiles for households and leisure-active prospects to unique shuttles.” Minivans was the household car of alternative within the U.S. Can this swanky people-carrier persuade some People to surrender their SUVs and check out one thing totally different? It might be a troublesome promote.
What the VLE has going for it’s super-fast charging, loads of vary, and a snug cabin brimming with tech.
The VLE boasts over 435 miles (700 km) of WLTP vary due to a giant 115-kilowatt-hour (usable capability) nickel manganese cobalt battery pack. Its slippery physique helps too. It has a drag coefficient of simply 0.25, outstanding for a tall and boxy car like this. On the stricter EPA testing cycle, that can equate to properly over 300 miles.
It’s 75.8 inches (1.925 meters) tall and simply shy of 78.8 inches (2 m) extensive, and it’s out there in commonplace and long-wheelbase variants—the U.S. solely will get the latter.
Photograph by: Mercedes-Benz
The brand new 800-volt Van Electrical Structure (VAN.EA) on which it’s constructed permits for charging at 315 kilowatts, and Mercedes says the VLE can add 154 miles (248 km) in 10 minutes or 221 miles (355 km) of vary in quarter-hour. The ten-80% charging sprint takes 25 minutes.
Just like the CLA sedan, the van requires an (elective) DC converter to cost at 400-volt charging stations.
The VLE 300 is front-wheel-drive, powered by a single 268 hp motor that accelerates the car to 62 mph (100 km/h) in 9.5 seconds and as much as 112 mph (180 km/h). The all-wheel-drive VLE 400 4Matic provides a rear drive unit that may be mechanically decoupled to avoid wasting vitality. Collectively, the 2 motors make a mixed 409 hp, permitting it to dash to 60 mph in 6.4 seconds.
Photograph by: Mercedes-Benz
The twin-motor variant has a decrease WLTP vary ranking of as much as 391 miles (630 km), which Mercedes factors out is only a provisional determine that might change earlier than the car launches. Mercedes will launch a smaller battery model someday in 2027.
Air suspension is elective, however Mercedes made it sound like a should for the VLE. It permits a ride-height change of as much as 1.5 inches, and rear steering turns the wheels to show as much as 7 levels, making this car way more maneuverable than a comparable van with out rear-wheel steering. The curb-to-curb turning circle for the short-wheelbase mannequin is simply 35.75 ft (10.9 meters), which is analogous to a compact car.
Photograph by: Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes is pitching the VLE as a long-distance luxurious shuttle for between 5 and eight individuals, so it must have loads of passenger room and toys. It comes with three forms of rear seats culminating with what Mercedes calls the Grand Consolation Seat, which has a therapeutic massage operate, lumbar assist, an extra pillow, and an electrically extending calf assist to actually take the pressure out of lengthy journeys. Much more luxurious seat choices are deliberate sooner or later.
If the car has elective electrical rear seats, they are often moved through both the infotainment display screen or the app. Mercedes describes this as being “virtually like choreographing a ballet.”
You may get the VLE with as much as three screens within the entrance. The driving force will get a ten.25-inch show, complemented by a 14-inch central display screen and an extra 14-inch display screen for the entrance passenger. There’s additionally a fold-down 31.3-inch 8K show out there for rear passengers, which helps a split-screen operate. When paired with the 22-speaker Burmester sound system that helps Dolby Atmos, it ought to flip the VLE right into a cell mini cinema.
Photograph by: Mercedes-Benz
The VLE runs the brand new Mercedes working system, MB.OS, which makes use of Google Maps for navigation and contains an AI-powered digital assistant that may reply advanced questions. The system helps over-the-air updates and over 40 apps, in line with Mercedes.
Photograph by: Mercedes-Benz
The VLE’s aspect home windows roll down electrically, making it really feel much less such as you’re touring in a passenger van and extra like a standard automobile, which is what Mercedes goes for. Like right this moment’s V-Class, it can function sliding rear doorways that may be operated electrically.
All of this sounds good, however whether or not the VLE proves profitable within the U.S., the place Mercedes hopes it can draw consumers away from large SUVs, stays to be seen. In Europe, the VLE appears to be like just like the most secure wager as a result of consumers there already perceive premium vans and shuttle-style MPVs in a approach People typically don’t.
Within the U.S., it’s tougher to see it grow to be a giant vendor. Simply take a look at the previous Metris, which by no means actually caught on with mainstream consumers, and the individuals who nonetheless need a minivan have a tendency to stay with extra acquainted, sensible choices like the Chrysler Pacifica.
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Supply: Mercedes-Benz
China will be the largest alternative, as a complete class of comparable automobiles like the Zeekr Combine already sells properly there. However that additionally means it’s going to be a troublesome struggle in a market the place consumers are more and more preferring native manufacturers over Western marques.
The platform additionally helps electrified combustion powertrains, and in a roundtable discuss on Tuesday, Mercedes representatives talked about that not even diesel is out of the query for the VLE. Mercedes will preserve the V-Class on sale alongside the VLE, believing the 2 automobiles are sufficiently distinct to coexist.
U.S. pricing or the precise launch timeframe haven’t been introduced but, however in Europe, the VLE will begin at round €79,000 ($92,000 at right this moment’s trade fee).
