Document management and archive storage specialist Storofile knows all about records – now the family firm has created one of its own, by becoming the first customer in Dorset for a ground-breaking new van model from Mercedes-Benz.
Supplied by south coast Dealer Pentagon Commercials, the eye-catching New Vito 119 BlueTEC Long crew van seats a driver and up to five colleagues in comfort and safety, while also providing a practical cargo area.
Storofile’s new van is powered by an advanced 2.1-litre engine with range-topping 190 hp output. However, thanks to a series of fuel-saving enhancements including alternator management, improved underbody aerodynamics and the ECO start/stop function, it also offers outstanding economy of up to 47.1 mpg in the combined cycle.
The first low-emission Euro 6 engine in the mid-sized van class is paired with a standard-fit, smooth-changing 7G-Tronic Plus transmission, the world’s only automatic gearbox for vans with a torque converter and seven gears. Uniquely in this segment, New Vito customers can now choose from variants with front- or, as on Storofile’s 119 BlueTEC, rear-wheel wheel drive configurations.
Storofile was founded in 1991 by Managing Director Jim Sutcliffe, who has since been joined in the business by daughter Coleen and son James. The company operates from headquarters in Wimborne and provides a comprehensive portfolio of document management, storage, scanning and shredding services to customers throughout southern England and the Home Counties, as well as London.
As weight rather than volume is the critical factor in terms of carrying capacity, Storofile elected to uprate its new Vito from the standard 3.05 tonnes to a gross weight of 3.2 tonnes, as well as specifying a long distance, 70-litre fuel tank, in place of the standard 57-litre item. The new arrival is now working alongside the company’s other Mercedes-Benz van, a 3.5-tonne Sprinter purchased in 2012.
“It’s all about ‘horses for courses’,” explained Jim Sutcliffe. “Paper is very heavy and our archive boxes typically weigh between 10 and 20 kilos apiece. The Sprinter will carry up to 150 at a time on three pallets but the New Vito gives us a lot of extra flexibility. With the seats in place we can use the van to transport up to six members of staff to a customer’s premises. However, if we remove the rear seats, which is an easy job, there’s enough room to carry up to 100 boxes, provided we don’t exceed the very competitive 1.2-tonne payload capacity.”
A real head-turner in its metallic black paintwork with colour-coded bumpers, 20-spoke alloy wheels and tinted privacy glass, Storofile’s van is also fitted with a satellite navigation system, Comfort seats, electric mirrors, a leather-trimmed steering wheel and a chrome interior package.
Launched at the 2015 Commercial Vehicle Show in April, New Vito comes in three lengths and at three gross weights, and is also available as a panel van or passenger-carrying Tourer. As well as raising the bar in terms of performance, efficiency and all-round quality, it sets new standards for safety – standard equipment includes Adaptive ESP®, Adaptive Brake Lights, Crosswind Assist, driver and co-driver airbags, Hill-Start Assist, daytime running lights, Rescue Assist QR codes and a Tyre Pressure Monitoring System.
Mr Sutcliffe is an automotive enthusiast who also runs a wedding car business and has owned several high-end models bearing three-pointed stars, as well as a dynamic, V6-engined Vito Sport-X van. He continued: “I have always liked the Mercedes-Benz brand and choose its vans for their reliability, cost of operation and image. We’re delighted with our latest Vito – the restyled front end is very smart and I’m looking forward to benefiting from its improved fuel efficiency.”
Pentagon Commercials hosted James Sutcliffe and a colleague at the recent Mercedes-Benz VanExperience LIVE event, which was staged at the Millbrook Proving Ground in Bedfordshire. The Dealer took back Storofile’s previous, three-year-old Vito in part-exchange and will be maintaining the new van at its Poole workshop under a Mercedes-Benz Complete Care Service Contract.
“This is the fifth Vito we have purchased in the last 12 years from Pentagon’s Van Sales Executive James Walters, who has also sold us two Sprinters and provides a first-class service,” added Mr Sutcliffe. “I was happy with the deal on our previous vehicle, while the maintenance package is cost-effective and minimises any hassle for us.”
