Genuinely considered one of my favourite issues about touring to Europe is attending to experience in Mercedes-Benz V-Class vans. The V-Class is the passenger model of the Metris business van we get within the U.S., and they’re critically luxurious. Some variations have a rear-facing second row of seats that makes conversing with your folks simple whereas others have fancy captain’s chairs, and the V-Class has all the posh options you’d anticipate from a Benz. They’re method higher to experience in than one thing like an Escalade or a typical luxurious sedan, particularly should you’re with a gaggle of individuals. Fortunately, the U.S. will lastly get the V-Class with the absolutely electrical next-generation mannequin, which Mercedes is now teasing for the primary time.
The subsequent V-Class will use Mercedes’ new VAN.EA platform, a modular electrical structure that can underpin each new Mercedes van, each business and passenger fashions. The V-Class would be the first one to debut in 2026, although its Metris (or Vito in Europe) sibling will probably be revealed alongside it or comply with quickly after. Because the VAN.EA platform is “versatile and scalable,” it’ll be used for the smaller Citan and T-Class and the big and vastly well-liked Sprinter fashions, too. Each front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive will likely be provided.
Mercedes launched a handful of images of a camouflaged V-Class prototype, and it appears like, effectively, a van, albeit a sleeker and brisker one. The window glazing appears extra flush than the present V-Class, and it has different options like an built-in spoiler, pop-out door handles and clean underbody to eke out probably the most vary. We are able to see that the V-Class can have an enormous grille like the just lately facelifted V-Class and EQV, and hopefully it’ll be provided with Mercedes’ standing star hood decoration like these fashions too.
The VAN.EA platform will “permit for a transparent distinction between privately positioned vans within the luxurious section and business vans throughout the premium section,” in line with Mercedes, with the previous class together with “VIP shuttles to luxurious and spacious limousines tailor-made for patrons with the best calls for.” Not solely will there nonetheless be an expensive V-Class mannequin that’s completely suited to be a high-end taxi, resort shuttle or household car, however Mercedes will lastly be making a Maybach mannequin from the manufacturing unit.
Aftermarket fake Maybach conversions for Metrises and V-Courses have changing into more and more well-liked lately, particularly within the U.S., and Mercedes is trying to money in on that demand. Hell, Kim Kardashian owns one! Earlier this 12 months on the eSprinter drive occasion I chatted with an exec from Benz’s vans division who mentioned the purpose isn’t to take advantage of luxurious van potential, however probably the most luxurious car, interval. The van form will permit designers and engineers to essentially maximize the quantity of lounge area, much more so than what you get in a Maybach S-Class or GLS. Such ultra-luxury vans have turn into mega well-liked in China, the place some even have partitions with large TV screens and lodging that rival the very best non-public jets.
Earlier this summer season Mercedes took a specifically constructed prototype from Stuttgart to the North Cape to check the VAN.EA’s battery, chassis and powertrain. Present highway testing is specializing in “the interplay of all parts throughout the car,” and subsequent up will likely be winter testing in Sweden. Mercedes hasn’t mentioned precisely when the V-Class will debut, solely that will probably be popping out in 2026, so a reveal might occur in some unspecified time in the future subsequent 12 months.
