Mercedes teases new T-Class compact city van for 2022 ~ station of gear

Mercedes has teased an all-new model called T-Class: a vehicle it calls a “compact city van for families, active leisure enthusiasts and work”.

In reality, the T-Class will be a passenger version of the next-generation Citan small commercial vehicle, and will present itself as a more upmarket alternative to the Citroen Berlingo, Renault Kangoo and Volkswagen Caddy.

SEE MORE New Mercedes eVito 2020 review

Due to hit showrooms in the first half of 2022, the new model will “achieve a fusion of functionality and desirability” according to Gorden Wagener, the Chief Design Officer of Daimler Group. Just one teaser image has been released so far: a sketch showing the silhouette of the new model.

While the van-like profile is clear from the image, the extra touches of light along the car’s flanks suggest that the T-Class will sport more defined shoulder line and wheelaches than is traditional for slab-sided vans. This goes some way to confirming the brand’s claim that, despite the van shape, it’ll be instantly recognisable as a Mercedes.

Though not shown in the image, Mercedes has confirmed that the T-Class will present access to the rear of the cabin through sliding doors on both sides. While no information about the interior has been revealed, Mercedes states that the T-Class will, in terms of safety and connectivity, “bear the DNA of Mercedes-Benz.”

The T-Class is being developed in cooperation with the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance, so this model, like its commercial-based predecessor, will likely form the basis of both the next Renault Kangoo and the Nissan NV range, too.

The alliance also shares petrol and diesel engines - the 1.5-litre diesel and the 1.3-litre turbocharged petrol appear in the likes of the Mercedes A-Class, Renault Kadjar and Nissan Qashqai - so it is likely that those units will also feature in the T-Class. These combustion units will also be joined by a fully electric option.

Check out the best small vans to buy now...

Thank you for reading the article about Mercedes teases new T-Class compact city van for 2022 in blog station of gear If this article was helpful please bookmark this page in your web browser by pressing Ctrl + D on your keyboard keys.