Crossover, SUVs, and pickup trucks are becoming more and more popular, and Mercedes has recognized the trend. This is why the German manufacturer wants to enter the pickup truck market, and the company’s first vehicle of this kind will be presented on July 18. Before the official reveal, Mercedes has released a teaser video in which the company introduces the upcoming truck which will be called the X-Class. Once it goes on sale, this pickup will be a posh rival to the Nissan Navara and Mitsubishi L200.
Even though we are going to see the new model in its full glow in about ten days, the teaser video provides a tantalizing glimpse of the truck. It appears that Mercedes stuck to the two X-Class concepts when it comes to the design, so we expect to see the pickup which will be muscular with bulging lines. The front end will be decorated with the trademark front grille that will be sided by LED headlights whereas the beasty skid plate is located underneath. The rear end features two vertical tailings which are located on the flanks of the tailgate.
If you want to secure the truck, you can leave a £1,000 deposit. The official information that the German giant will utilize a platform that is sourced from Renault-Nissan has already been confirmed and here is everything we know about the 2018 Mercedes X-Class.
Concept Details
Mercedes produced two concept models to preview the production X-Class truck. The first one is named the Concept X-Class Powerful Adventurer and it features the off-road focused design while the second one is called the Concept X-Class Stylish Explorer and its focus is on the refinement that distinguishes this pickup from the rest of rivals that are quite rough.
According to Mercedes, the X-Class is the world’s first premium pickup truck, and there are no “direct” premium competitors in this sector, that is becoming popular day in day out all across the world. Mercedes Chairman Dr. Dieter Zetsche said: “With the Mercedes-Benz pick-up, 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.”
The pickup trucks’ sales are on the increase because people want both a passenger and working vehicle at the same time. The officials from Mercedes believe that they can combine the two better than most and they remind us that they blazed the trail in the SUV segment with the M-Class in the early 1990s.
Exterior Design
The Mercedes X-Class is going to be a five-seater double cab model, and one can clearly see the connections to the rivalry Nissan Navara. Even though there are similarities between the two vehicles, Mercedes has incorporated company’s familiar styling cues to make the X-Class unique.
The front end of the concept is aggressive while the narrow headlights give the truck a much-needed sporty appearance. This is something unusual when we talk about this segment, but what is expected and welcomed is the oversized grille with a massive three-pointed star. The concept is also equipped with huge air intakes located below the grille, and they will probably be slightly smaller on the production version.
At the rear end, the unusual oval lighting arrangement is going to be replaced by the more traditional LED light clusters. Furthermore, the X-Class Stylish Explorer sits on the massive 22-inch wheels that are probably going to join the options list.
2018 Mercedes X-Class Interior Design
The exterior of the new 2018 Mercedes X-Class gives us a nice glimpse of what we are to expect in the cabin. It is interior that is really unique, and it gets robust brushed metal and carbon fiber surfaces with black leather upholstery and details which are compatible with the Lemonax yellow metallic paint visible outside. You can also find a fire extinguisher strapped to the dashboard, just in case something goes wrong and catches fire. This is the interior of the Powerful Adventurer, and it extremely differs from the one of the Stylish Explorer which features wood finishes and cream leather.
However, both concepts come with switchgear and technologies with the display that is located at the center of the dashboard. You can use the touchpad interface to control the functions of the truck while there is even an integrated mobile SIM card which allows owners to locate their vehicle using the Mercedes app. Be that is it may, the production version will have to be toned down, and it will not be as luxurious as these concepts. Nevertheless, we still expect an upscale look, and Mercedes representatives stated that most of its materials and technology would be borrowed from the Mercedes-Benz passenger car range. Is the X-Class going to be the most luxurious pickup truck on the market?
Platform, Engines, Safety
Even though we have to wait just until July 18 for the X-Class to be unveiled, details regarding the engines and powertrains are scarce. In spite of that, the X-Class is going to run on the ladder frame chassis from the Navara, and a 4MATIC permanent 4WD configuration with two locking differentials and a low-range gearbox is certain. The range-topping model should come with a V6 diesel engine, whereas it is rumored that the 2.3-liter 4-cylinder diesel from the Navara will be used in the base X-Class model. The V6 will produce 261 bhp and 620 Nm of torque while the output of the 4-cylinder is unknown, but it should be offered with both manual and automatic transmissions.
Head of Mercedes-Benz Vans, Volker Mornhinweg was asked whether we should expect the Mercedes-AMG X Class soon and he said: “So far no, but maybe we will see in the future.” The towing weight of the new pickup will be 3,500kg while the German manufacturer also promises “precise steering, a comfortable ride, and agile cornering.” However, dynamics has always been the problem, and it will be interesting to see what the company will do regarding this. The Mercedes engineers completely overhauled the 5-link independent rear suspension which is taken from the Navara. Mornhinweg said: “We know what has to be done to achieve driving capability and handling. I don’t like the bouncy feel of a pick-up I want a crisp steering feel, and I think we have achieved that.”
When it comes to safety, enhanced driver assistance systems are expected such as Automatic Emergency Braking and a 360-degree reversing camera. These are just some of numerous safety features which will be a part of the new Mercedes X-Class. “Safety is one of the hallmarks of our brand,” says Mornhinweg “You can expect the very highest standards from the production model.”
2018 Mercedes X-Class Pickup Truck Price and Release Date
The introduction date has already been mentioned earlier in the article, and it is July 18. Unfortunately, the pricing of the 2018 Mercedes X-Class is still unknown but don’t expect it to be affordable – it is the upscale pickup truck that we are talking about, and it is assembled by Mercedes. The new X-Class will go against Ford Ranger, the Chevrolet Colorado and the Toyota Tacoma, and the production is supposed to start later in the year. The pickup will hit the market in Europe at the end of 2017 which means that it should arrive in the America at the beginning of 2018.
Are you excited about the 2018 Mercedes X-Class?
