Mercedes-Benz have shown their first pick-up truck concept in the Concept X-Class. Surprised? Don’t be.
Pick-up trucks are a big deal in the US. The best-selling car is, in fact, a pick-up truck: the Ford F-150. The Concept X-Class from Mercedes-Benz seems to have been created with two major purposes in mind. One, grab a share of the luxury pick-up market in North America, and, two, change the perception of pick-up trucks in the eyes of those who still see them as utility vehicles for farmers, milk distributors and gardeners, just like the ML did for them with compact SUVs back in the day.
The Concept X-Class was actually shown in two guises: stylish explorer and powerful adventurer (The people from Stuttgart used italics). The former is a more luxurious all-road version, complete with 22-inch wheels, while the latter is a more off-road ready version with smaller 19-inch wheels and 35-inch M/T rubber. Underneath, of course, they are the Nissan Navara, thanks to the partnership which sees sharing more than just components. The production version, when it arrives late next year (probably as a GLT-Class, maybe, but X-Class is a cool name!) will be produced at Nissan’s Barcelona facility for the European market, and Renault’s Cordoba facility for the Latin American market.
Dr Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars: “With the Mercedes-Benz pickup, we will close one of the last gaps in our portfolio. Our target: we want to offer customers vehicles matching their specific needs. The X-Class will set new standards in a growing segment.”
“We will open up and change the segment of mid-size pickups – with the world’s first true premium pickup for the modern urban lifestyle”, says Volker Mornhinweg, Head of Mercedes-Benz Vans. “Our future X-Class will be a pickup that knows no compromise. Ladder-type frame, high-torque six-cylinder engine, and permanent all-wheel drive are compulsory for us. As an added value we bring safety, comfort, agility, and expressive design – in other words, everything that distinguishes vehicles bearing the Mercedes star. We will thus appeal to new customers who have not considered owning a pickup before.”
Given the power domes on the bonnet, we expect a V6 turbo-diesel to find its way under there. An X 350 d 4MATIC is a given, with, expectedly 265 PS and 620 Nm. A smaller X 250 d 4MATIC, with the new 1,950-cc turbo-diesel four with an expected 225 PS and 500 Nm should also be offered. We can’t rule out an AMG X 43 4MATIC either now, can we? Something to look forward to in India. The lifestyle pick-up segment could use a pick-me-up. Look out for more on this development in the near future.
Story: Jim Gorde
