Fascination: The luxury vans of the Chinese
Learjet on wheels
Mercedes V class China luxury van
© press-inform – the press office
Even for most CEOs and CEOs in China, private jets and helicopters are not the preferred means of transport on a day-to-day basis. Longer journeys take a plane – shorter journeys don’t always take a luxury sedan, but more and more often a luxury van.
And in most cases it is a Mercedes V-Class, which is hardly recognizable as such. Because refiners such as Bufite, Kede, AM, Vulcanus or the better-known German companies Lorinser and Brabus offer luxury V-Classes specifically for the Chinese market that the world has not yet seen. Even the external appearance is more than impressive with gigantic rims in AMG or Brabus design with a diameter of 19, 20 or 21 inches. The real show, however, is mostly the mighty chrome radiator designs, which would cause a stir at any barbecue world championship. The grille of the Vulcanus Honor or a Bufite-S scares you with its sheer size even when standing still. Many of the V-Classes have a raised roof to increase the quality of stay, because the seats in the vans are often changed in order not only to rest, but also to be able to take part in video conferences together while driving.
But the big show is when the electric sliding doors open inside, because the Mercedes V-Classes, all painted black, are unrecognizable in the interior. There are powerful comfort seats here, which, with their colorful designs and inlays, do not have to hide in comparison to a Maybach S-Class or a Rolls-Royce Phantom. Side panoramic windows in the raised roof, adjustable ambient lighting, cuddly soft carpets and gigantic screens ensure a correspondingly luxurious atmosphere. These are not only used for entertainment on board, but also for video conferences and presentations. The noble V-Classes are equipped with WiFi and 5G networks for fast data transfer. After all, in metropolises like Shanghai, Beijing or Guangzhou, hour-long shuttle trips between appointments are not uncommon.
Incidentally, the engine power plays a rather subordinate role in the impressively souped-up V-Classes. Most of the vehicles are normal China vans of the Mercedes V 260 L version. Brabus offers a China tuning kit for its luxury V class, which increases the output from 155 kW / 211 hp to 180 kW / 245 hp and 375 Nm. This means that the black business mobile is 190 km/h fast. The prices of the business vans are between 200,000 and 400,000 euros, depending on the manufacturer, level of equipment and special requests. By the way, for once, electric models do not play a role here; but as there are increasing import restrictions for inner cities, interest in electric versions is slowly increasing.
The elegant leather armchairs can not only be adjusted fully electrically, they can often also be rotated, heated, cooled and are equipped with a relaxing massage function. There are also drink holders, work lights, fold-out tables or a scenting function for the two to four rear passengers – just like in a company jet; only on wheels. Some comfort armchairs can even be converted into a bed at the push of a button. Lying down, the LED starry sky based on the Rolls-Royce model can be enjoyed even better. If you want peace and quiet, you can shade the side windows and panoramic roof at the touch of a button. Most of the functions are controlled via your own smartphone or touch modules on the seats and trim panels. And if the Mercedes Sprinter or, in rare cases, the Ford Transit or VW Transporter should not be enough, some refiners still have the significantly larger Mercedes Sprinter.