MERCEDES REVELAED ITS FIRST PICKUP CONCEPT

4x4magazine | 26/10/2016 | 0 Comments

Mercedes-Benz gave a concrete outlook on its new pickup, the X-Class, with two design variants of the concept car in Stockholm last night.

The powerful adventurer illustrates that the future X-Class will possess all the strengths of a classic pickup – tough, functional, strong, and with off-road capability. The stylish explorer goes a step further and shows what will distinguish the pickup bearing the Mercedes star. This will make Mercedes-Benz the first premium manufacturer to account for the changing customer requirements in the global segment of mid-size pickups.

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.”

Thanks to the tried and proven modular strategy, a host of interior components that customers know and appreciate from the C-Class and V-Class will be found in the X-Class – from the high-quality materials and the infotainment system to the ergonomic seating comfort. As a result, the pickup will offer the “welcome home” feeling typical of the brand, and define a new level of comfort and value appeal in the segment of mid-size pickups. The X-Class will also set new standards in the segment with regard to connected life.

The top-of-the-line model will be powered by a V6 diesel in combination with 4MATIC permanent all-wheel drive. The all-wheel-drive system will combine an electronic traction system, a transfer case with reduction gear, and two differential locks. Under extreme off-road conditions, the rear differential and the inter-axle differential can be locked.

The powerful drive system and the tough ladder-type frame will make a payload of more than 1.1 ton and a towing capacity of up to 3.5 tons possible. At the same time, the specially constructed suspension with wide axles, a five-link rear axle with coil springs, and a precisely calibrated spring/damper set-up will ensure a high ride comfort – on the road and off the road.

It will be launched in late 2017 under the name Mercedes-Benz X-Class. The key markets will be Argentina, Brazil, South Africa, Australia with New Zealand, and Europe. With the X-Class, Daimler AG and the Renault-Nissan Alliance expand their strategic cooperation which began six years ago. The pickup will be manufactured in a production cooperation with the Renault-Nissan Alliance for the European, Australian and South African markets at the Nissan plant in Barcelona. For the Latin American market will roll off the assembly lines at the Renault plant in Cordoba, Argentina, starting in 2018.