Mercedes To Build New Luxury Bread Van
Sweden's Teknikens Varld reports that Mercedes is upgrading its [s]delivery van[/s] Viano to create a newish MPV: the X-Clusive. After failing with their hearse-themed R-Class, after winning few hearts and minds with the panel-van based Vito (including the Brabus-wheeled "Sport-X" variant), Mercedes is hoping its bigger, blingier luxo-box– complete with that's-so-Chrysler rear facing middle seats– will catch both the executive taxi and desperate football Mom crowd. The X-Clusive will offer customers' a choice of 15.5 or 16.5 foot long bodies and blend luxury, "excessive comfort" and, uh, performance. X-Clusive buyers can have any color they like as long as its silver or black, and any engine they desire as long as it's a six (including a 204-horse 3.0-liter V6 CDI). No word on plans to import the X-Clusive stateside. Nor is any expected.
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It's an airport shuttle - "X-Clusive" or not...
Got a nice little airport ride in a Viano in Rome this summer. Sort of comfortable. Sort of. Really huge. Definitely un-Mercedes like.
I had a rental Vito (cargo version of the Viano) last week. It did a pretty good work of hauling my furniture, me and a friend in comfort. I liked it.
there is somthing distinctly wrong with Mercedes making a van (mini or not). it has no place in the world. minivans are supposed to be economical. well suited to transporting kids to and from football practice, ballet, and the beach. hauling "stuff" to and from costco. can you picture the plastic surgery ridden, bleach blonde, diamond studded "soccer mom" telling her son to wipe off his cleats before getting in? can you see her yelling at the kids to get their shoes off the leather seats? we need luxury minivans like we need V8 "hybrid" sportscars. (listening Lexus?)