Anyone who dismisses light commercial vehicles as dull and dreary need only glance at this stunning Mercedes-Benz Sprinter to blow that preconception to smithereens.
German high-performance auto tuning house and custom specialist Brabus dropped jaws from 50 paces at the Moscow International Automobile Salon in the Russian capital today when it raised the curtain on its Brabus Business Lounge – a luxury business-class transporter for top-tier executives who demand only the best.
Based on a high-roof, long-wheelbase Sprinter, the Brabus Business Lounge blends opulence and supreme comfort with an office-like level of connectivity. A bulkhead separates the driver from the passenger compartment behind, which in turn features four custom-developed solo seats in a face-to-face arrangement. Featuring lumbar support, a massage function, heating, ventilation and power adjustment, the seats can also be reclined to a full sleeping position if required.
Two more seats are accommodated at the rear, with the centre console sliding away at the push of a button to afford unimpeded access via the centre aisle.
The seating was upholstered in Brabus's dedicated upholstery shop in two-tone Matik leather, while the sides of the seats sport a mixture of Alcantara and high-gloss surfaces, all of which provide a pleasing contrast for the genuine polished wood flooring.
An air-con system developed in conjunction with Eberspacher delivers 10kW of cooling and 13kW of heating, while privacy is assured thanks to dark-tinted windows and power-operated curtains.
The central console has an in-built refrigerator and coffee maker and it's complemented by three power-retractable tables, while the Brabus Media Centre can accommodate multiple devices running on IOS or Android platforms, or a mixture of both. Eight USB ports and three 220-volt power outlets are provided.
Designed in conjunction with Germany's Ruhr West University, the Brabus Media Centre features 5-inch Brabus Touch Control Panels at each seat and gives passengers access to high-speed internet, movies, television and more, which can be displayed on the 42-inch full HD LCD screen on the back of the bulkhead or on individual electronic devices. The audio, meanwhile, is handled by a state-of-the-art Dolby surround-sound system.
Passengers in the third row of seating may also view their media on the 10-inch display on the rear of the centre console.
There's a Blu-Ray player, a Sony PlayStation 4 games console, Apple TV and a massive hard drive – just about every entertainment option is covered, to help jet-lagged execs while away the hours as they slice along the autobahn.
Tired of work, games, or movies? You can always rest your weary gaze upon the head liner, which features a 180cm x 90cm LED display that can be cycled through 12 different animations. A total of 2700 colour LEDs can host themes ranging from clouds drifting across a blue sky, to a starry night sky, fireworks – even a psychedelic backdrop. No, seriously…
Of course the Sprinter's exterior has also received the Brabus touch, the van sporting custom fender flares to accommodate the stylish Brabus monobloc 18-inch, nine-spoke alloy rims. Rest assured it'll look right at home on the apron parked up beside your Gulfstream.
Brabus says each Brabus Business Lounge is built to order in a variety of differing internal formats and colour options. The standard Mercedes-Benz Sprinter engine and driveline is used. While the company has released plenty of information about its latest luxury effort there is one detail that seems to have been missed – the price. Needless to say, if you have to ask…