Brabus pimps Mercedes Sprinter

BRABUS has taken Mercedes' Sprinter workhorse and turned it in to one of the world's most luxurious vans, with an opulent list of features from wooden floors, a 42-inch LED screen and even a coffee machine.

Due to debut at the Moscow motor show, the Brabus Business Lounge is the only one of its kind, but for an unspecified sum the Mercedes-backed tuner will build more to order.

The Brabus name is better known for squeezing more power from Mercedes engines and high-performance vehicles, but no alteration of the Business Lounge engine has been undertaken.

Instead, Brabus focused on treating the passengers of its latest model and not the driver – the first time it has deviated from its performance mantra in the company's 37 year history.

To create the Business Lounge, the factory-backed tuner started with a standard load-lugging Sprinter and turned the cargo area in to a conference suite with four heated and ventilated leather-trimmed recliner seats, each with its own massage function and fold-away desk.

The four bespoke seats face inwards to enable face to face meetings, but also fully power recline with leg-support to allow rest and sleep on longer journeys.

A console beside each seat provides occupants with USB and 220-volt sockets, and houses a fridge, coffee maker and a shared 10-inch display.

Brabus' Media Centre allows the connection of any multimedia device to the various displays and control interfaces regardless of its operating system, and every on-board system is integrated by a CAN bus network.

Systems are accessed through touch-screens, wireless keyboards and mice at each work-station, and sound is delivered via a 1200-watt tailored speaker system.

When not working, passengers can amuse themselves with full internet access, a Blu-ray player, Playstation 4 console, HDTV or a four-channel surround view of the vehicle.

The ultra-comfortable cabin has privacy-glass complete with power-operated curtains, and the generous space is climate controlled by a 13kW heater and cooler unit – the same power as a Honda CBR125 motorcycle.

Many premium cars have some form of sunroof, but the Brabus Business Lounge has substituted conventional glass panel for a 71-inch LED display, which can display anything from subtle mood-lighting to clouds or starry night sky.

A third row of two more conventional seats is removable to make space for luggage.

The exterior of the Business Lounge has also received a Brabus make-over with flared wheel arches, 18-inch nine-spoke alloy wheels, twin tail-pipes and a more aggressive bodykit, while B-badges replace the three-pointed star.

Drivers of the Business Lounge do not get any preferential treatment with a standard cockpit up-front.

Standard Sprinter engines start at a 70kW/250Nm 2.2-litre four-cylinder diesel, but it is more likely customers of the Business Lounge would request the top of the range 140kW/440Nm 3.0-litre V6 diesel.

In its near four-decade history, Brabus has created numerous high-performance versions of Mercedes vehicles, including modified versions of the Smart ForTwo micro car and Unimog monster off-roader.