Stuttgart - Mercedes is offering the new Sprinter transporter with natural-gas drive, with operating costs 30 per cent lower than comparable diesel-engined versions, the manufacturer has announced.

Fitted with bivalent drive the Sprinter NGT, has a four-cylinder unit with a displacement of 1.8 litres, developing 115 kW/156 hp.

The driver can switch between gas and petrol-drive by pressing a button to the left of the ignition lock. An indicator lamp comes on when in natural-gas mode. A display in the cockpit also lets the driver know how much gas is left in the tank.

The gas tanks are installed under the floor to save space and avoid restricting the cargo load. The 3.5-tonne Sprinter can accommodate up to six tanks holding a maximum of 46 kg or a volume of 294 litres. The range using both modes is listed at 1,200 kilometres. (dpa)