Motoring
Redesigned 2014 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Targets Ford Econoline
MUNICH — The availability of a turbocharged four-cylinder diesel engine and fresh front-end styling that creates a closer resemblance to Mercedes-Benz’s SUV and truck family highlight the product freshening created for the 2014 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter full-sized van. Sales begin this fall.
In addition, the 2014 Sprinter offers several new options including a navigation system and safety systems to help reduce accidents.
The 2014 Sprinter “is the most fuel efficient, safest, greenest and the most comfortable large van that Mercedes-Benz every built,” Claus Tritt told Edmunds.
Tritt, who is general manager of commercial vans for Mercedes-Benz USA, was interviewed during the van’s unveiling in Michigan.
The Sprinter is Mercedes’ full-sized commercial van, an indispensable vehicle for tradesmen and FedEx delivery men. Fifteen percent of sales end up as hotel buses or high-end conversions topping $150,000 that transport executives and celebrities around town.
Over the years the Sprinter has been a small player in the full-sized van market dominated by the Ford Econoline. Ford’s van held nearly 52 percent of the market for the January – April period this year followed by the Chevrolet Express Cargo van with 30 percent, Tritt said. Sprinter had 7.3 percent of the U.S. market during that period.
The Mercedes market share number includes a nearly identical van sold by Freightliner, a subsidiary of Daimler-Benz. The Freightliner Sprinter has a different grille and badging to differentiate it from the Mercedes-Benz brand. In terms of styling changes for the 2014 models, all of the sheet metal from the A-pillar forward is new, as is the grille, front fascia and headlamps.
Last year Mercedes-Benz and Freightliner combined sold 20,929 Sprinters, up from 16,577 the previous year.
For 2014, buyers for the first time have the choice of two turbocharged diesel engines. Added to the line is a 2.1-liter engine that is mated to a seven-speed automatic transmission. The engine is standard in all Sprinter models and rated at 161 horsepower and 265 pound-feet of torque.
The 2013 Sprinter was offered with one engine, a turbocharged 3.0-liter diesel V6 that was mated to a five-speed automatic transmission. The engine produces 188 hp and 325 lb-ft of torque. The V6 is optional for the 2014 model year.
While the mpg numbers for city and highway driving were not released, Mercedes is expecting the four-cylinder engine to provide up to an 18 percent improvement in fuel economy over the V6.
“This is what the engineers are telling us right now,” Tritt said. “It always depends on the driver, right? Lead foot will never achieve 18 percent. But it is a pretty fuel efficient motor.”
In terms of safety, the 2014 Sprinter is available for the first time with blind-spot assist, an optional system that warns the driver if a vehicle is in an adjacent lane. Also optional is a system that uses a camera to monitor the stripes between the lanes on a highway. If the system determines the driver is inattentive or falling asleep, a loud audio signal is activated.
Finally, Highbeam Assist has been added to the option list, a system that uses a camera to automatically activate the high beam headlamps. The system is available with halogen and bi-xenon headlamps.
Prices for the 2014 Sprinter are expected to be released this summer.
Edmunds says: Mercedes-Benz debuts the 2014 Sprinter with hopes that the Ford Econoline will end its hold on this slice of the market.
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has ended contracts with taxi rank and terminal operators due to their failure to meet engagement terms and conditions.
Mr. Ubokutom Nyah, the Mandate Secretary of the Transportation Secretariat, FCTA, made this announcement during a meeting with managers of these terminals and taxi ranks in Abuja.
Nyah clarified that due to the operators’ failure to fulfill their engagement terms, the FCTA had to terminate their contracts.
He instructed them to transfer control of the ranks to the Administration within three months, starting from Nov. 21.
He lamented the presence of unauthorized motor parks in the city and assured the readiness of the Administration to establish proper taxi ranks and terminals in the capital.
He revealed that personally visiting the city’s taxi ranks, terminals, and unauthorized motor parks gave him direct insight into the poor condition of these facilities.
He emphasized that as the federal capital city, Abuja deserves better, highlighting that the poor condition of these facilities attracts various criminal elements.
He said “We must rid Abuja of all these. I have gone round the taxi ranks, and of all the places I visited, not one is worthy to be called even a village motor park.”
The Mandate Secretary stressed that the intention wasn’t punitive; rather, it aimed to revamp the sector, introduce new engagement terms, and modernize taxi ranks and terminals in the federal capital.
He also highlighted the plan to increase the number of terminals and ranks where necessary, which would positively impact the administration’s revenue.
He emphasized that this measure was part of a broader effort to eliminate illegal motor parks in Abuja and curb the associated criminal activities.
In response, Mr. Adebisi Lawal, the Operator of Jahi Taxi Rank, praised the administration’s initiative to modernize the taxi ranks and terminals.
Lawal urged the administration to prioritize current operators’ involvement in the selection of new developers for the modernization of the taxi ranks and terminals.
It was a show of power at the Ojota area of Lagos on Monday as soldiers pummeled an officer of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, (LASTMA).
Eyewitness accounts claim that the ugly scene played out around 8am, and saw about eight soldiers pounce on the yet to identified LASTMA official, while his colleagues took to their heels.
The video of the melodrama has gone viral, where the LASTMA official was appealing to the soldiers, who appeared bent on ‘teaching him a lesson’.
This onslaught comes on the back of a reported assault of a soldier at the same location by LASTMA officials last week.
It would appear that what played out today was the army asserting its authority and defending their khaki as the armed soldiers carried out what looked like a revenge mission.
Eyewitnesses further averred that the victim was rushed to a nearby hospital, after the soldiers left the scene.
It was gathered that the authorities at LASTMA has reported the incident to the military authorities who are said to be looking into the matter.
Meanwhile many members of the public are rejoicing that the soldiers have taught the crude LASTMA official that power is stronger than power, for all their atrocities against motorists on Lagos roads.
The impact of the removal of subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), otherwise known as petrol, has seen the pump prices of the product skyrocket with a corresponding increase in the cost commercial transportation in Nigeria.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), intra-city bus transportation fares across Nigerian cities, measured between May and June 2023, increased from N649.59 to N1,285.41 in June 2023.
This translates to 98 percent growth or N635.82 within the month in view.
The NBS made the data available in its Transport Fare Watch report for June 2023.
In the report, the NBS also shared the breakdown of bus journeys within the cities per drop for constant routes; bus journey intercity (state route); charges per person, amongst others.
On a year-on-year basis, the report has it that bus fares rose by 120.63 percent from N582.61 paid by commuters in June 2022.
The average fare paid by commuters for bus journey intercity per drop rose to N5,686.49 in June 2023 compared to N4,002.16 in May 2023 indicating an increase of 42.09 percent, month-on-month.
The report read, “The average fare paid by commuters for bus journeys within the city per drop increased by 97.88 per cent from N649.59 in May 2023 to N1,285.41 in June 2023.
On a year-on-year basis, it rose by 120.63 per cent from N582.61 in June 2022.
“In another category, the average fare paid by commuters for bus journey intercity per drop rose to N5,686.49 in June 2023, indicating an increase of 42.09 on a month-on-month basis compared to N4,002.16 in May 2023.
“On a year-on-year basis, the fare rose by 55.25 per cent from N3,662.87 in June 2022.”
Biztellers reported that the twin forces of forex pressure and increasing price of Brent in the global market would likely see the pump prices of petrol, increased again in no distant time in Nigeria.
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