Mercedes has begun shipping Sprinter vans with all wheel drive to countries outside Europe. They started to arrive in Australia in April, for example.
Mercedes calls its AWD system 4ETS (4-wheel Electronic Traction System). As the name implies, the system electronically monitors for wheel slippage, and routes power to the wheels with traction.
4ETS is an option on passenger vans, cargo vans and cab/chassis models. All Sprinters include Anti-lock Brake System, Electronic Stability Program and Acceleration Skid Control.
The 2009 Sprinter runs in rear wheel drive under normal conditions. When the road gets slippery, the driver can shift to 4ETS while the van is moving. This splits power 35% to front wheels, 65% to rear wheels. When the going gets more severe, select low range in the two speed transfer case. It's about 40% lower than normal range.
Here's what the Sprinter 4ETS looks like from below.
The colored parts of the photo are specific to 4ETS. To add 4ETS, Mercedes adds the transfer case, front drive shaft, front diff and half shafts. The transmission mount and engine subframe are changed.
None of this will come cheap. In Australia, the 4ETS option costs about $18,000 US.
I think the tire size is the same for rear drive and AWD Sprinters. The body of the AWD Sprinter looks to me like it may be lifted a little to allow for greater wheel articulation. Or maybe I'm just wishing it were.
There is no word from Chrysler when, or even if, they will import Sprinters built with 4ETS. It's entirely possible that Fiat may want to stop importing Sprinters, and substitute its Iveco Daily van. The Daily is available in a 4x4 model.
Chip Haven
Mercedes calls its AWD system 4ETS (4-wheel Electronic Traction System). As the name implies, the system electronically monitors for wheel slippage, and routes power to the wheels with traction.
4ETS is an option on passenger vans, cargo vans and cab/chassis models. All Sprinters include Anti-lock Brake System, Electronic Stability Program and Acceleration Skid Control.
The 2009 Sprinter runs in rear wheel drive under normal conditions. When the road gets slippery, the driver can shift to 4ETS while the van is moving. This splits power 35% to front wheels, 65% to rear wheels. When the going gets more severe, select low range in the two speed transfer case. It's about 40% lower than normal range.
Here's what the Sprinter 4ETS looks like from below.
The colored parts of the photo are specific to 4ETS. To add 4ETS, Mercedes adds the transfer case, front drive shaft, front diff and half shafts. The transmission mount and engine subframe are changed.
None of this will come cheap. In Australia, the 4ETS option costs about $18,000 US.
I think the tire size is the same for rear drive and AWD Sprinters. The body of the AWD Sprinter looks to me like it may be lifted a little to allow for greater wheel articulation. Or maybe I'm just wishing it were.
There is no word from Chrysler when, or even if, they will import Sprinters built with 4ETS. It's entirely possible that Fiat may want to stop importing Sprinters, and substitute its Iveco Daily van. The Daily is available in a 4x4 model.
Chip Haven
