DOKA is Sprinter terminology (German) for DOppel KAbine, double cab, or crew cab.
Mini Unimog, indeed the first Unimogs by Boehringer (before MB took over the project) were using passenger car diesels that MB later also used in the commercial van they got out of a Hanomag-Henschel take over. The current Unimogs are real trucks with the 7.2 liter 300hp diesel. That would put them up against the International CXT, yet more work truck, less show truck.
Mercedes also builds 4x4 versions of the Sprinter with DOppel KAbine and 4wd.
I wasnt aware that the Sprinter rewrote the rules of the industry so much, yet i allways wondered why a van should have a smallblock V8 just to haul its own weight, and eight passengers.
To be a market changer, they wont do that with a 4x4 crew cab van. The problem in the American market is that everybody thinks he needs a half ton pickup weighing 2.5 ton, with 500kg load capacity in the bed. The half ton truck is the most inefficient means of transportation in cargo weight vs. GVW. Here in Europe we have vans like the Fiat Doblo or VW Caddy that have a load capacity of 500kg and weigh less than a midsize family car, and are extremely fuel efficient.
I see that as a bigger market potential. As personal transportation people will keep buying half tonnes for bragging rights, but large fleetowners have accountants that are very good at calculating the lowest cost of ownership for their service van fleets. And then a Euro crossover van cuts the fuel consumption in half.
Here Fiat, because they own Chrysler these vehicles might be the next ones to go on the US market
Doblò Cargo | Fiat Professional (have a look at those payloads !! it puts a 3/4 ton pickup truck to shame !! if you dont tow, its a perfect fleet vehicle)
Scudo Goods Transport | Fiat Professional
And here Volkswagen: Their Crafter is a sibling of the Sprinter, just with VW engines and badges. VW is already widely known in the US market
https://www.volkswagen-vans.co.uk/range/crafter/
https://www.volkswagen-vans.co.uk/range/caddy/caddy-panel-van/ The Caddy also has 800kg load capacity. I dont know the capacity of the Caddy Maxi
Then VW has the Transporter in goods transport version, yet they are quite expensive (the only Euro van that is built in Germany, resales prices are high)
https://www.volkswagen-vans.co.uk/range/transporter/
I see the VW Caddy as having the biggest potential because of the 2 liter TDI. For US conditions it will have to be detuned to 120hp because a flatter torque curve with less top end hp invites drivers to drive at economical rpm yet it has enough torque to cruise comfortably without feeling underpowered.
I hear many Americans complain about fuel prices, and when fuel prices rise towards a Euro level, the need for an economical Euro style service van rises too. It will start with the large fleetowners at e.g. electrical or phone providers, where accountants insensitive to American motoring traditions will do the math, once the general public will start accepting it because of its presence in the streets, family owned companies will do the math too.
