The Citan is due to be unveiled at the IAA Commercial Vehicles show in Hanover this September, and features the brand’s new family face previewed by the A-Class concept car. Mercedes-Benz said it aims to satisfy the full spectrum of trade users by combining compact dimensions, high quality and fuel economy with a large, practical load area.

Inside, the van features a high quality cabin which can be equipped as a panel van, crewbus or Mixto in various weight categories. In addition to its planned electric drivetrain, it will be launched with a choice of low-CO2 diesel and petrol engines.

The vehicle follows an extensive road-testing programme by Mercedes-Benz. In its 12-month trial of the Vito E-CELL, the carmaker has gathered real-world data from over 650,000 miles of daily use. Among its findings, it said most users of the pure-electric van were not exploiting its full battery range.

European buyers will be able to order the first Citan models from autumn 2012. No pricing has been announced as yet.