Mercedes-Benz will plug a gaping hole in its lineup with the addition of a midsize pickup truck, unveiled in twin concepts and slated for production by mid-2017.
Called the X-Class – a name it will retain for production – the double-cab pickup is depicted in two distinct concept forms by the German automaker’s design team.
In Stylish Explorer form, the concept is said to closely preview the initial X-Class model, featuring a largely production-ready steel body, an on-road biased wheel and tire package, moderate ride height and a luxurious leather-lined interior.
A second variant known as the Powerful Adventurer projects a more rugged appearance in a concept that appears ready to storm the desert with generous ground clearance, 4-wheel drive, additional wheel-arch and body-side cladding and off-road wheels shod with traction-enhancing tires.
“With the X-Class, we will close one of the last gaps in our portfolio,” says Dieter Zetsche, Mercedes-Benz chairman. “Our target is to offer customers vehicles matching their specific needs. The pickup will set new standards in a growing segment.”
Among the main markets for the X-Class are Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Europe and South Africa. Production for the Australian, European and South African markets will kick off at an existing Nissan factory in Barcelona, Spain, in 2017. The X-Class for South American markets will roll off assembly lines in Cordoba, Argentina, beginning in 2018.
Mercedes says it is investigating the possibility of X-Class sales in North America.
“Nothing is final just yet,” a company official says. “We have possibilities in NAFTA-based production facilities that would allow us to market the new model in the U.S., but the priority is establishing it in other markets first.”
The truck was developed in a joint venture with the Nissan Navara and Renault Alaskan, alongside which the X-Class will be produced in both Spain and Argentina.
The design of the X-Class remains true to a series of sketches released last year. The overall surfacing treatment and individual design details evident within the body are similar to those adopted by the V-Class van in a move clearly aimed at linking it visually with the rest of Mercedes’ commercial vehicle line.
The front of both concepts feature unmistakable Mercedes-Benz styling touches, including the German automaker’s traditional grille treatment with a prominent, centrally mounted 3-point star along with the company’s latest headlamp design.
A prominent scuff plate integrated into the lower section of the front bumper and a winch on the Powerful Adventurer attempt to convey the go-anywhere appeal of the new pickup, which will be offered in a range of styles to provide it with the broadest possible market reach.
In contrast, the Stylish Explorer gives the X-Class a more athletic touch. It receives a hood power dome and heavily flared front wheel arches to emphasize width while allowing for up to 22-in. rims.
Four conventional front-hinged doors provide entry to the cabin, with front bucket seats and a rear bench seat for three.
The X-Class features a cargo bed similar to those on the Navara and Alaskan, while each of the concepts adopts unique taillamps within the tailgate – the Stylish Explorer flaunting a full-width oval treatment while the Powerful Adventurer adopts conventional vertically stacked units.
Load capacity is 2,425 lbs. (1,200 kg), while the towing capacity for the V-6 diesel model tops out at 7,716 lbs. (3,500 kg).
Upscale Interior, Capable Chassis
Inside, the dashboard and cabin appointments are modeled closely on those of the latest V-Class commercial vehicle, complete with various touches from the C-Class, including a free-standing central monitor as well as a rotary controller with integrated touchpad functions.
Among the features set to appear on the production version of the new Mercedes is a communication module featuring an on-board SIM card that will enable owners to communicate with the infotainment system directly from their smartphone.
Safety features include camera-, radar- and ultrasound-based driver-assistance systems which officials suggest will place it at the top of the pickup class in terms of both standard and optional equipment.
Volker Mornhinweg, head of the Mercedes commercial vehicle division, confirms the first variants will offer seating for five and be pitched as what he describes as an “urban lifestyle and family vehicle” much in the mold of the Stylish Explorer. A range of accessories, including a bed cover, will enable customers to customize the pickup.
A more utilitarian model will follow, with a more rugged appearance and off-road options and features showcased by the Powerful Adventurer concept.
Mornhinweg says the company has identified five different customer groups for its latest model: families, tradespeople, land owners, adventurers and individualists.
“We will thus appeal to new customers who have not considered owning a pickup before,” he says.
Among the engines planned to power the X-Class are 4-cyl. gasoline (Nissan) and diesel (Mercedes) units together with the top-of-the-line V-6 gasoline engine showcased in the concepts.
Rear-wheel drive is standard for lower-end models with 4Matic 4-wheel drive as an option and standard on V-6 models, in combination with a low-range transfer case, on-demand differential locks and electronic traction control.
Underpinning the pickup is a uniquely tuned version of the chassis used beneath the Navara and Alaskan, with a MacPherson strut design at the front and 5-link arrangement at the rear.
With the introduction of the X-Class, Mercedes is muscling its way into a global mid-size pickup market at about 2.3 million units annually. The undisputed market leader is Toyota, which historically sells 700,000 of its Hilux/Tacoma pickups globally each year, while upmarket competition comes from the recently facelifted Volkswagen Amarok.
