Swiss Army Sprinter is an off-road capable MPV, making use of solar power

Aditya Chatterjee Published: July 15, 2019, 07:09 PM IST

When we say MPV or multi-purpose vehicle, the specimens that come to our mind instantly are Maruti Suzuki Ertiga, Toyota Innova and the Mercedes-Benz V-Class, the three popular choices that cater to the different types of customers in India. The primary role of an MPV is to seat multiple occupants, offer a comfortable ride and have an efficient powertrain. Most of the life of these MPVs are spent on good roads. That's how it should be, right? Benchmark Vehicles, an Oregon based van customizer, might disagree to that. Take a look at their portfolio to be equally surprised. Their latest creation is the Swiss Army Sprinter that can literally go places, thanks to its off-road capability, carry five occupants in comfort and can haul loads of cargo.

No prices for guessing, this MPV is basically a Sprinter 4x4 that has been given a boost in the powertrain department as well as in the suspension setup. The MPV features AgileOff Road RIP suspension upgrade with tuned Fox Racing shock, Roambuilt beadlock wheels, BFGoodrich T/A KO2 265/75/17 all-terrain tires and stage one diesel tune. The gear list of the Swiss Army Sprinter includes a snorkel, Sportsmobile pop-top, flared wheel arches, roof rails, off-road light bar.

The inside of this MPV consists of bamboo flooring, raised bed, multiple loading options using tie-downs and slide-outs. The driver can seats can swivel whereas a second bed is offered in the pop-up roof. The only bits that are missed in the adventure-ready MPV are bathroom and kitchen. Underneath the bed is an ARB fridge/freezer. The spare tyre of the MPV has been replaced by a 95-liter water tank with high-pressure pump. The spare tyre has been repositioned onto a carrier on the driver-side rear door.

There is a jerry can holder that takes care of emergency fuel with 20-litre storage. One can use this for fuel or water. The electrical and the plumbing equipment are properly concealed in bamboo boxes that have been placed inside the load area. Powering the fridge, smartphones and action cameras on the go are dual AGM batteries, 300 watts of flexible ZAMP solar panels positioned on the pop-top, Victron solar controller and a ZAMP 1,000-watt sine inverter. Taking care of entertainment is an upgraded Alpine audio system with 10-in subwoofer.

The Swiss Army Sprinter off-road MPV is priced at US$160,000 (approximately Rs 1.09 Crore, excluding duty and taxes). At this price, this is an expensive offering but then one can customize the MPV according to one's own preferences.Benchmark Vehicles is known for its attention to the individual tastes, working through concepts before finally making that Van/MPV and delivering it to the customer. The company also suggests the individuals which Van/MPV to purchase before it starts working on them.