Valente

In March 2012, Mercedes-Benz introduced a new commercial vehicle-based people-mover, dubbed the Valente, and repositioned the related Vito and Viano wagons in order to boost the luxury marque’s sales in the low-volume segment.

The Valente was fitted with an upgraded twin-turbocharged version of the Euro 5 emissions-compliant 2.1-litre four-cylinder common-rail diesel engine powering the (single-turbo) Vito Wagon, producing 120kW (up 20kW) and 360Nm (up 50Nm).

Fitted with a revised five-speed automatic transmission – with different mapping to match the power upgrade, according to Mercedes – the Valente had combined-cycle fuel economy of 8.2L/100km and CO2 emissions of 216g/km. This was the same consumption and emissions listed for the 113 CDI powering the Vito Wagon.

Other equipment that separated Valente from Vito – which essentially raided the optional equipment list on the base wagon – included the standard fitment of 17-inch alloy wheels on 225/55 R17 tyres (up from 16s), Parktronic front and rear parking sensors, tinted windows, Thermotronic dual-zone climate-control air-conditioning, a light and rain sensor, thorax airbags, front window airbags, upgraded stereo with CD changer and multimedia interface, an auto-dipping rearview mirror, leather-clad steering wheel and gearshifter, carpet flooring and ‘soft-touch’ cockpit trim.