Not all car makers can come up with a successful pickup, regardless of the size and whether it is a unibody or a body-on-frame proposal, with the former being more suitable for urban hauling and the latter being capable of taking on some arduous tracks off the beaten path.
Nevertheless, such vehicles have become more popular in recent years, alongside the ever-increasing demand for crossovers and SUVs. More and more companies have become involved in this game. Some have vast knowledge of how to make a pickup, like Ford and its new Maverick, whereas others have simply tested the waters and met immediate success, like Hyundai with the Santa Cruz.
However, not everyone can succeed in the pickup game, as others, such as Mercedes, will always be remembered for their failure. You see, the three-pointed star believed that by taking the Nissan Navara and rebadging it, only to sell it as a premium compact for a lot of money, it would be successful in this segment. However, its price and reliability issues eventually sealed the fate of the X-Class, which stayed in production for less than three years until 2020.
Mercedes' spectacular failure in the pickup game has made some companies reconsider their plans, as premium trucks with open-bed designs are hard to swallow, regardless of the logos decorating them. But could others be successful where the Stuttgart brand failed? Probably, if they keep the costs in check and make a visually appealing and reliable product.
Photo: Screenshot Youtube | Digimods Design
This story is dedicated to one special Infiniti, which doesn't exist in the real world. We called it the QX T, with the suffix standing for truck and the prefix pointing to its new QX80-inspired face. Yep, it was the company's latest high-rider that virtually lent it its front-end design, and Digimods on YouTube adapted it to fit the new proportions.
But what model served as an almost blank canvas? If you really know your pickups, then it's easy to spot the Ford influences from the front pillars to the taillamps, as it was none other than the F-150 Lightning. The electric workhorse retains everything, including the socket's placement, side mirrors, windows, door handles, rear quarter panels, bed, and even the rear lighting units.
As a result, a hypothetical Infiniti QX T would be nothing more than a rebadged Ford F-150 Lightning if it follows this recipe, which it won't. First, Nissan's premium car marque does not intend to enter the pickup game, and second, if it did, then it wouldn't team up with Ford or any other company to make it happen, as it already has the right tools for such a ride.
Nevertheless, the rendered Infiniti QX T is one interesting-looking vehicle, isn't it?
After a series of unfortunate events put an end to Cristian's dream of entering a custom built & tuned old-school Dacia into a rally competition, he moved on to drive press cars and write for a living. He's worked for several automotive online journals and now he's back at autoevolution after his first tour in the mid-2000s. Full profile
Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?
Google News