RAC patrol man Ben Wilson won the keys to his new 3.2-tonne gvw van after being crowned Patrol Ambassador of the Year by the motoring organisation.
The RAC has been a Vito operator since 2005, specifying this mid-sized Mercedes for urban area work, where its rear-wheel drive provides towing traction while the roof height enables access to the lowest of city centre and airport multi-storey car parks.
Wilson's New Vito 116 Long – which bears the registration plate P1 RAC – is powered by Mercedes' 163bhp Euro 6 BlueTEC engine, drivings through the 7G-Tronic Plus gearbox – an auto box with torque converter and seven gears.
The vehicle has been racked out by Bri-Stor systems to carry an inventory of 500 tools and parts, as well as fuel and a folding trailer for cars that require towing.
The trailer is stored just inside the roof-hinged tailgate and can be winched in and out.
The roof-mounted flashing lightbar at the rear of the vehicle can also be folded down when the vehicle needs to negotiate low barriers or low-ceilinged car park.
Prior to the model's UK launch at April's CV Show, RAC fleet manager Tim Hartles and fleet engineer David Paisley visited the Mercedes-Benz factory in Vitoria, Spain, to drive some of the first New Vito vehicles.
They are currently reported to be in talks with Mercedes-Benz to replace 42 Vito vehicles.
These will be delivered next year by Dealer Midlands Truck & Van and, in a departure for the RAC, like Ben Wilson's van will all be equipped with automatic transmissions.
"We want to make the working environment as easy and comfortable as possible for our patrols, and I have every confidence that the auto box will prove very popular," states Hartles.
"This will be our third incarnation of the Vito, and it just keeps getting better," adds Paisley. "The New Vito's driving experience is best-in-class without a doubt."