Mercedes-Benz X-Class Pickup Concepts
Mercedes unveiled not one, but two pickup truck
concepts previewing the regular production version of the X-Class. Each of the two new concepts represents a
different character, with the Stylish Explorer offering a premium and sporty
experience while the Powerful Adventurer is the rugged hardcore off-roader.
The Stylish Explorer is set to preview most
accurately the regular production double-cab X-Class model, with a plush
interior, sporty bumpers and a set of big, 22-inch alloy wheels. The Powerful
Adventurer on the other hand boasts a huge ground clearance, extra body
cladding complete with wider wheel arches and off-road wheels and tires.
Entry-level models will be offered with RWD as
standard, with the all-wheel drive system offered as an option. The engine
range will include four-pot petrol and diesel units without providing more
information, with the show cars being powered by a V6 diesel engine which is
expected to sit at the top of the range. The AWD V6-equipped X-Class can carry
more than 1.1 ton, with a towing capacity of up to 3.5 tons.
This models will also come with low-range
gearing, locking differentials and an advanced traction control to aid in the
most extreme of off-road situations. The body-on-frame steel chassis might be
shared with the Nissan Navara and Renault Alaskan but Mercedes has retuned both
the McPherson strut suspension up front and the five-link setup at the rear.
Mercedes also delivers on their promise to offer a
cabin that’s unique to their models, with a unique dashboard design using
styling cues from the company’s other models, including the round air vents and
the infotainment system with the central touchpad to control it. In fact, the
only common component with its Nissan-Renault siblings is the traditional
hand-brake.
Mercedes says that they will launch the new X-Class
pickup truck in Europe in late 2017. Production for the European, Australian
and South African markets will take place at the Nissan plant in Barcelona,
Spain while the Latin American models will be built at the Renault plant in
Cordoba, Argentina in 2018.