Mercedes-Benz Citan Small Commercial Van Unveiled

The Mercedes-Benz Citan compact commercial van has come to life online in advance of the RAI commercial vehicles show in Amsterdam. The Citan small commercial van, teased a couple months ago, is the first joint product to come from the Daimler and Renault-Nissan partnership and will join the Sprinter and Vito in the German automaker’s commercial van range. Based on the Renault Kangoo, the Mercedes-Benz Citan is too small to see direct European competition from the newly unveiled Ford Transit Custom cargo van.

Mercedes revealed the Citan before its scheduled public debut at the IAA Commercial Vehicles show in Hanover in September. The Citan, which combines the words “city” and “titan,” will continue the momentum Mercedes has in the commercial van market. Mercedes-Benz Van boss Volker Mornhinweg reports 2011 was the most successful year in the division’s history, and is convinced the Citan will gain a 4-5 percent market share of the emerging segment.

“We aim to sell more than 400,000 units worldwide by 2015,” Mornhinweg said in a release. In Europe, the market has quickly grown to 700,000 units.

The Citan is available in three lengths (155, 170, and 185 inches) the van will be offered as a panel van, multi-purpose van, and passenger-hauling crew bus. The multi-purpose vehicle, the Citan Mixto, is based on the 185-inch version, and offers a foldable rear bench seat and two sliding doors. The third, the 170-inch Citan crewbus, is available as a five-seater with a foldable rear bench seat and sliding door (sliding doors on both sides is optional).

Engine options include three direct-injection turbodiesel engines ranging from 75 to 110 hp, as well as a supercharged gas engine that puts out 114 hp. Engines will be paired to a five- or six-speed transmission. Mercedes’ BlueEfficiency package — with stop/start tech, low rolling-resistance tires, as well as a battery and generator management system — is standard on the gas variant, and optional for the diesel versions.

Before the Citan launches in Europe this fall, we expect to have additional information on future products resulting from the partnership between Daimler and Renault-Nissan.

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