Mercedes X-class pick-up truck concept revealed

Mercedes has previewed its new pick-up truck in the form of two concepts with the production model expected to make its debut in the latter half of 2017. The first of the two concepts, the so-called stylish explorer closely previews the initial X-class model. It features a largely production-ready steel body, an on-road road-biased wheel and tyre package, moderate ride height and a luxurious leather-lined interior.

The second variant, known as the powerful adventurer, sets out to project a more rugged concept that appears ready to storm the desert with generous ground clearance, four-wheel drive, additional wheel arch and body side cladding, and off-road wheel and tyres. This iteration is expected to enter production at a later stage.

The new Mercedes-Benz has been developed in a three-way joint venture with parent company Daimler’s alliance partner Renault-Nissan. The X-class is based on the same ladder-frame platform as the Nissan Navara and Renault Alaskan and will be produced alongside its sister models at plants in Spain and Argentina.

The front ends of both of the new concepts feature unmistakable Mercedes-Benz styling touches, including the German carmaker’s traditional grille treatment with a prominent centrally mounted three-point star emblem along with the company’s latest headlamp lineage.

A prominent scuff plate integrated into the lower section of the front bumper and winch on the powerful adventurer attempts to convey the go-anywhere appeal of the new pick-up, which will be offered with both in a range of differing styling lines in a bid to provide it with a broader market reach.

By contrast, the stylish explorer sets out to provide the X-class with a more athletic touch, with a power dome within its bonnet and heavily flared front-wheel arches that help to emphasize visual width. The new pick-up also houses wheels up to 22-inch in diameter, as sported by the more road-biased versions of the new X-class concepts. Four conventional front-hinged doors provide entry to the cabin, which features two individual seats up front and a bench seat in the rear capable of accommodating up to three adults in the stylish explorer concept.

Behind its cabin, the X-class features a pick-up bed similar to those featured on the Nissan Navara and Renault Alaskan, while each of the new concepts adopt their own unique tail-lamp treatment within the tailgate section; the stylish explorer flaunting a full width oval-shaped graphic and the powerful adventurer more conventional vertically stacked units on either side. The latter also features rails within the sides of the pick-up bed. Mercedes is claiming a load-bearing capacity of between 1,100kg and 3,500kg depending on variants.

Inside, the dashboard borrows cues from other Mercedes models such as the free-standing infotainment display, circular air-con vents and a rotary and touch-pad controls for the infotainment system. The model also shares some commonalties with its sister models such as the lever-style handbrake, air-con controls and switch gear for some driver assistance systems on the centre console.

Safety has also taken a prominent role in the development of the new pick-up. Mercedes says the vehicle will receive many of its existing cameras, radar and ultrasound sensor-based driver assistance systems in a move officials suggest will place it at the top of the pick-up class in terms of safety equipment.

The X-class will be powered by a range of four-cylinder and six-cylinder petrol and diesel engines with both concepts using petrol V6 motors. Rear-wheel drive will be standard on the four-cylinder offerings with 4Matic four-wheel drive available as an option. The range-topping V6 though will get all-wheel drive as standard.

The key markets targeted by Mercedes-Benz with the new X-class include Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Europe and South Africa. Production of models for Europe and Australia are expected to start in 2017 at Nissan’s facility in Spain with the model for South American countries to enter production at the Argentina facility in 2018.

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