► Mercedes teases posh new VLE MPV
► Four-wheel steering available
► And it’ll have a massive battery
Mercedes has announced new details about its posh new MPV, the VLE, including that it will be available with four-wheel steering, making it one of the first van-based models to get the innovation.
The VLE is the replacement for the EQV and V-Class, the long-respected choice for celebrities looking to sneak around under the radar and for posh airport transfers, with Mercedes borrowing lots of tech from its passenger cars for this new van-based people carrier.
One of the top innovations is its rear-axle steering, with the back wheels able to turn by seven degrees. It reduces the kerb-to-kerb turning circle to 10.9m, matching that of a Mercedes CLA and smaller than a Volkswagen Golf. A more direct steering ratio on the front axle also means fewer steering wheel turns for manoeuvres – something we’ve been able to put to the test by driving a prototype VLE around a car park. It’s impressive, squeezing in gaps where you’d never expect something of this size to be able to go.
It’s the latest development in the build up to the VLE’s reveal next month, and Mercedes has really been putting it through its paces.
Last year it demonstrated the VLE’s impressive electric range and charging speeds by driving across the Alps from Stuttgart to Rome. Nothing particularly unusual in that when there’s a prototype to validate. But what’s notable here is Mercedes’ claim that the journey was completed with just two 15-minute charging stops.
To save you looking at Google Maps, it’s 1090km (677 miles) from Stuttgart to Rome, with long stretches of motorways and mountain passes. Mercedes produces some of the longest-range EVs on the market, the top-grade EQS having a WLTP range of up to 481 miles.
The results of this test suggest the VLE will have best-in-sector range by some margin – the current Mercedes EQV manages 222 miles, the Ford E-Tourneo Custom runs out at 190 miles. Mercedes has also now confirmed the electric VLE will be equipped with a huge 115kWh battery, which we expect to give it a range of around 400 miles based on the German firm’s push to make considerably more efficient EVs in recent years.
The VLE is based on Mercedes’ modular Van Architecture electric platform and there will be two MPVs spun off from it, which Mercedes has dubbed Grand Limousines. The VLE seen here is the more everyday option with seats for up to eight people, aimed at families and airport shuttle services. There will also be the VLS, an ultra-luxe version that will probably be mostly used by VIPs who prefer getting into the back of a vehicle through sliding doors.
Undisguised, the VLE/VLS will likely look like a toned-down version of the Vision V concept (pictured above) that was unveiled in April 2025. The images of the prototype suggest its front end is a similar shape, but the sides appear less rounded. We haven’t seen any images of the VLE’s interior yet, but will update this story as we know more.
Graham King is a Senior Staff Writer on the Bauer Automotive Digital Hub, working across CAR and Parkers
With contributions from
Ted Welford New Cars Editor
By Graham King and Ted Welford
