The Mercedes Benz R Class will not move to the next generation as sales of the luxury MPV have been pretty abysmal. Mercedes has already pulled the plug on the R Class in places like India and Australia owing to lack of demand.
To fill the small gap opened by its retirement will be the job of the next generation Mercedes Viano which is due to be shown sometime next year.
The design that you see here is reportedly a leak. A render based on this design sketch was also shown to our readers early this month.
Diane Torr of Mercedes Benz Australia's Van Division told Motoring.com.au that the next gen van would feature a range of "passenger car-oriented systems and technologies". Further details about the Viano could be revealed at the Frankfurt Motor Show next month.
While it maybe a surprise for a van such as the Viano to replace a car like the R-Class, Mercedes has ensured that the Viano is perceived as a luxury product by offering special editions such as the Grand Edition which gets equipment like 19-inch alloy wheels, sports suspension, leather upholstery, bi-xenon headlights, ambient lighting and walnut-look interior. Further, the Viano is being sold through Mercedes' passenger car showrooms and not through their van dealer network.
[Source - Motoring.com.au]
