Mercedes made sure to cover all tastes and budgets
with its Frankfurt lineup, bringing from F1-engined monsters to its first
pickup truck on the show floor, the new X-Class. Two months before the official
market launch, the new Mercedes X-Class celebrated its public premiere at
Frankfurt as the first pickup truck created by a premium car maker, whatever
that means.
Mercedes has divided the X-Class range into three
different configurations: Pure, which is the functional ‘workhorse’ version,
Progressive, which adds extra styling and comfort bits and Power, which is the
range-topping version aiming at those looking for a different lifestyle
vehicle.
Despite the shared underpinnings with the Nissan
Navara, Mercedes has done a good job of masking the similarities and adding a
more premium feel to their pickup truck. A payload of up to 1.1 tonnes and a
towing ability of up to 3.5 tonnes also means that the new X-Class means
business too.
Entry-level X220 d models are powered by a 2.3-liter
diesel engine with 163 hp while the biturbo X250 d comes with 190 hp. Rear-wheel
versions are standard as is the six-speed manual gearbox, with all-wheel drive
and a seven-speed automatic as options. Mercedes is planning to add a
range-topping X350 d V6 diesel model in mid-2018, offering 258 hp and all-wheel
drive as standard.
Euro-spec models come with the comfort suspension as
standard, meaning a ground clearance of 202 mm. A 20 mm higher suspension is also
available as an option. Inside the X-Class is the first mid-size pickup truck
to come with an infotainment system that features an integrated SIM card,
enabling it to use all of Mercedes’ connected services, including accessing the
vehicle’s functions via a smartphone.
Mercedes has scheduled a European launch for this
November. The new X-Class will be launched in South Africa, Australia and New
Zealand in early 2018 while Argentina and Brazil will follow in early 2019.
Prices in Germany start from € 37,294 (US$ 44,637).
