Mercedes-Benz Viano design sketches leaked

First published by German blog site Mercedes-Benz Passion, and touted as coming directly from parent company Daimler, the sketches reveal a sharper exterior design than the current Viano (pictured bottom).

Narrower headlights flank a new twin-blade grille, helping to bring the Viano's front end into line with Mercedes-Benz's current family face, while a sleeker canopy sits above a new character line running the length of the van.

The interior styling has also been lifted and modernised with a swooping dash, SLS AMG-style air vents and a 'floating' display screen for the infotainment system.

Reportedly due to launch next year, the new Viano is said to offer three variants of a four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine, all tied to a seven-speed 7G-Tronic automatic transmission. The current model’s 165kW/440Nm 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel unit will not be carried over.

The new-look Mercedes-Benz Viano should be unveiled in full on September 12 at the Frankfurt motor show.

The second-generation Viano has been on sale in Australia since 2005, receiving a facelift in 2010.