Mercedes-Benz VLE-Class goes official as an 8-seater luxury minivan
What's the story
Mercedes-Benz has unveiled its latest passenger van, the VLE-Class. The new model comes as an electric vehicle (EV) with two variants: a single-motor VLE300 and a dual-motor VLE400. The company has been selling vans in North America for years, but this is its first purpose-designed passenger van for the US market.
Luxury features
The vehicle can accommodate up to 8 passengers
The VLE-Class is being marketed as a "grand limousine," a term Mercedes prefers over "minivan." The vehicle comes with several interior configurations, accommodating up to eight passengers. The middle row can be a three-person bench, two individual seats that can face forward/flip to face backward or two Grand Comfort individual seats. The rear-most row can be two individual seats, a 60/40 split three-person bench or a power-operated three-person bench.
Tech specs
It features a dash-spanning superscreen with 3 displays
The VLE-Class comes with a choice of center consoles, one of which allows walk-through to the rear. It also offers a refrigerated or heated compartment and a scent atomizer. The vehicle features Mercedes's latest MBUX operating system with an AI-powered digital assistant. An optional dash-spanning Superscreen includes three displays: one for the driver (10.3-inch), one central unit (14-inch), and another for the front passenger (14-inch).
Modular design
It has an 800V architecture and a 115-kWh battery
The VLE-Class is built on Mercedes-Benz's new modular Van.EA architecture. A related Van. CA variant will underpin the combustion models that will follow, with 70% shared parts between the two. The electric VLE features an 800V architecture and a 115-kWh battery. It can be charged at up to 300kW on a DC fast-charger or at 11kW on an AC charger.
Performance
It offers a range of around 700km
The VLE300 variant of the VLE-Class comes with a front-mounted single motor, while the dual-motor VLE400 packs a punch with 409hp. The WLTP range estimate for the VLE300 is 700km, which should translate to around 595km in EPA methodology. The platform's sophisticated chassis includes air springs that can vary ride height by up to 1.5-inch and rear-wheel steering (up to seven degrees).