Rear-axle steering ensures easy and agile handling even in tight corners on Italian streets Stuttgart/Rome. The route from Stuttgart to Rome, which took two Mercedes‑Benz VLE test vehicles, covered almost 1,100 kilometers – with just two short charging stops of 15 minutes each.
On winding and steep pass roads across the Alps, long freeway sections, busy country roads and in narrow streets, the VLE demonstrated its suitability for everyday use, for example, for travel by families and leisure enthusiasts. Suitability for everyday use with regard to the efficiency of the electric drivetrain as well as recuperation, thermal management and effects of the rear axle steering on vehicle handling.
The test vehicles easily covered the 1,090 ‑ kilometer route from Stuttgart to Rome in flowing traffic in around 13 hours. Charging took only two times for 15 minutes each time on the road. At the start in Stuttgart, the outside temperature was 11 degrees Celsius, while the arrival in Rome took place at 33 degrees. Comfort was not dispensed with, while the interior was air-conditioned to 22 degrees throughout the entire route.
The rear axle steering proved its worth in particular on winding pass roads and in the narrow streets of Italian cities. It will ensure agility and thus stress-free handling in everyday life.
“Our future MPVs have once again impressively demonstrated their suitability for everyday use on the long-distance route. With just two short charging stops from Stuttgart to the Alps to Rome – the Mercedes‑Benz VLE demonstrates impressive efficiency of the new Van Electric Architecture,” said Dr. Andreas Zygan, Head of Development Mercedes-Benz Vans, Mercedes-Benz AG.
Test drives for maturity level validation
Test drives such as the long-distance route from Stuttgart to Rome are part of a comprehensive program for testing the performance of the overall vehicle, which includes numerous climatic zones and route profiles.
In addition to digital validation of the maturity level and tests in state-of-the-art test facilities at the Mercedes‑Benz Vans development campus in Stuttgart/Untertürkheim, the development vehicles are put through their paces in real operation on the road. In order to gain detailed insights into practicality and accelerate the development process to production maturity, the developers and engineers at Mercedes‑Benz carry out numerous development drives. For example, the first technology vehicles of the VLE drove from Stuttgart to the North Cape in Norway just over a year ago, and extensive cold testing was carried out in Sweden in the winter of 2025. This time, the VLE went over the Alps to the south to the Italian capital.
New Era
Starting 2026, Mercedes‑Benz will introduce its newly developed, modular and scalable Van Architecture – and sets the course for a completely new era. This architecture allows for a clear differentiation between privately positioned Grand Limousines and commercial transporters. As added value for customers is key for Mercedes‑Benz, future MPVs and transporters will suit perfectly the customers’ needs and demands, in terms of design, functions and usability.
Grand Limousines
The future models of privately positioned MPVs – also known as Grand Limousines – will be named as Mercedes‑Benz VLE and Mercedes‑Benz VLS. While the VLE with up to 8 seats will range from flexible vehicles for families and leisure active customers to exclusive VIP shuttles, the VLS will define a unique segment of its own that bestows true greatness to automotive luxury. For the first time, Mercedes-Benz will offer all-electric midsize luxury vehicles in the U.S., Canada and China (Grand Limousines).
