Environmental friendliness, economy and passenger safety are the focus of the developments being made for Mercedes-Benz buses. Five buses for the touring coach and regular service segments plus the innovative, emission-free Citaro FuelCELL Hybrid are just some of the vehicles being presented at the 63rd IAA in Hall 14/15. The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter City 77 for city use will be making its world premiere.

This is a mini taken to the maximum: Mercedes-Benz tops off its urban minibus range with the new Sprinter City 77. The three-axle 8.7 m long urban bus is the same as a conventional Sprinter except for its B-pillar. The bus structure, with a double rear axle and a low-floor design throughout, was developed exclusively for the Sprinter City 77. With capacity for 40 passengers it closes the gap between the Sprinter City 65 and the Citaro K. The new Sprinter City 77 surpasses the City 65, which was the top model up to now, with a length that is around one metre longer and – depending on the equipment – with room for ten additional passengers. The permissible gross vehicle weight of 6.8 t provides the basis for the high passenger handling capacity.

Two double-leaf outward-swinging doors operated by an innovative drive concept, a kneeling function and the smooth low floor throughout the bus guarantee that passengers can enter and exit the vehicle quickly. Depending on the bus configuration a wheelchair bay with ramp is available in the front and in the back. The light-flooded interior with large windows and generously sized glass doors is spacious and attractive.

The Sprinter City 77 has a wheelbase of 4100 + 990 mm. The air-sprung rear axles have single tyres with all-round tyre dimensions of 235/65 R 16 C. The relatively short wheelbase and the slim construction provide welcome manoeuvrability: the width of the independent body structure is only 1.99 m. So even the largest of the Mercedes-Benz minibuses is predestined for narrow city streets. In addition it is also suitable as a shuttle bus for airports or convention centres as well as for use in rural service.

Its platform is provided by a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter equipped with the most powerful version of the four-cylinder diesel engine. Its output of 120 kW (163 hp) and maximum torque of 360 Nm allow for the proper level of performance. As it complies with the EEV emissions standard the Sprinter City 77 is one of the cleanest vehicles around. Power transmission is provided courtesy of a convenient fully automatic 5-speed transmission which comes as standard.