Curbside Capsule: 1995-2004 Mercedes-Benz MB100/MB140 – Kim Chi Sauerkraut
( first post 8/18/2015 ) With Mercedes ’ recent footprint downmarket indium north america, there accept be talk about whether they be sacrifice their prestige in the search for capital bulk and market share. european would be very conversant with Mercedes-Benz vehicle use adenine taxis and evanesce fomite, ampere well vitamin a their truck and van model. The sprinter, for exemplar, cost angstrom high-quality and popular offer that hour angle recently be make inroad in the union american marketplace. From 1995 until 2004, Mercedes sell a less compelling van offer indiana Asia-Pacific, african and caribbean market. This be the Mercedes-Benz MB100/MB140, adenine front-wheel-drive, forward-control van wear deoxyadenosine monophosphate Mercedes badge and powered aside Mercedes engine. This washington no Mercedes, though. information technology be a Korean-built Ssangyong .
besides know equally the Ssangyong Istana – malaysian for “ palace ” – the Mercedes MB100/140 compete with early forward-control asian van like the toyota Hiace and Mitsubishi express. passenger adaptation cost available indium asian and caribbean market, seat up to fifteen.
top : 1981-95 MB100 ( photograph courtesy of Rudolf Stricker ). bottomland : 1996-2003 Vito
discover information on these van prove to be difficult. bewilderingly, Mercedes exploited the same name on associate in nursing wholly different line of front-wheel-drive avant-garde build aside Mercedes-Benz España. These boxlike vanguard be derived from the erstwhile DKW Schnellaster, which date back to 1949. The spanish MB100 be sell indiana europe until 1995 earlier embody replace aside Mercedes ’ Vito, which be develop from scratch merely besides manufacture indium spain.Read more : 2021 Mercedes-Benz S450 4Matic review
Mercedes-Benz ’ sulfur relationship with Ssangyong often seem peculiar to those unfamiliar with the korean post. Their strategic partnership constitute form in 1991 : Ssangyong welcome Mercedes locomotive for their sport utility, and Mercedes meet light commercial vehicle. Daewoo acquired Ssangyong in 1998, merely Mercedes keep information technology agreement. Daewoo would finally sell Ssangyong inch 2000, and information technology own trade hand angstrom pair of time since .
Because of the Daewoo joining, the MB100/140 be besides briefly market angstrom the Daewoo Istana. The Mercedes, Daewoo and Ssangyong-badged van receive a option of Mercedes-sourced 2.2 four-cylinder gasoline oregon 2.9 five-cylinder diesel engine. The 2.2 grow one hundred thirty horsepower and 134 ft-lbs while the diesel accept like torsion number merely more grunt available down low. The only infection available be a five-speed manual of arms .
The general consensus washington these van be entirely adequate and no regretful than their headman rival. They offer angstrom budget entry to the Mercedes-Benz commercial range and help expand the brand ’ sulfur presence in the segment throughout the world, merely they exist not associate in nursing authentic Mercedes like the Vito. calm, should the Mercedes name hold equal affix to angstrom van no good than a Mitsubishi express ? Should the point headliner have ever be place on ampere Korean-built Ssangyong ?
