Photo: Mercedes-Benz
Pickups were once used exclusively as workhorses. Now, though, certain customers buy pickups instead of SUVs. Some of them use these utilitarian machines as lifestyle vehicles, and it’s no wonder why. Sensing the opportunity brought by this wind of change, Mercedes-Benz will soon launch its own pickup.
The German automaker revealed two concepts in October 2016 that preview the X-Class and, from the outline, Merc has a winner on its hands. And even though it’s based on the Nissan NP300 Navara, the X-Class is heavily awaited.
“Due to phenomenal early demand for the X-Class, which hasn’t even been unveiled yet, Mercedes-Benz Vans has launched a reservation service,” we’re told. In the UK, the reservation fee is set at £1,000, and it’s 100% refundable.
British customers who pony up the £1,000 will be given the opportunity to order the Mercedes-Benz X-Class first. With production slated to start in late 2017, the X-Class will set foot in the UK in 2018. In RHD guise, of course.
According to Mercedes-Benz, the key markets for the X-Class are Argentina, Brazil, Australia and New Zealand, South Africa, and Europe. “Wait, so it’s not coming to the U.S.?” I’m afraid not, at least not in the first instance. Here's hope the three-pointed star can make a case for it sometime in the future.
Not much is known about specifics, but Mercedes did say that the range-topping X-Class will employ a V6 diesel engine. 4Matic permanent all-wheel-drive is on the menu as well, as are a transfer case with reduction gear and two differential locks. Capability-wise, a payload of more than 1.1 tons is in the offing from the luxed-up X-Class, as is a towing capacity of 3.5 tons.
European production will be handled by Nissan at the Japanese automaker’s plant in Barcelona, Spain. The South America-spec X-Class, meanwhile, will be built at Renault’s plant in Cordoba, Argentina. Incidentally, that’s where Renault manufactures the Alaskan, itself based on the Nissan NP300 Navara.
“Due to phenomenal early demand for the X-Class, which hasn’t even been unveiled yet, Mercedes-Benz Vans has launched a reservation service,” we’re told. In the UK, the reservation fee is set at £1,000, and it’s 100% refundable.
British customers who pony up the £1,000 will be given the opportunity to order the Mercedes-Benz X-Class first. With production slated to start in late 2017, the X-Class will set foot in the UK in 2018. In RHD guise, of course.
According to Mercedes-Benz, the key markets for the X-Class are Argentina, Brazil, Australia and New Zealand, South Africa, and Europe. “Wait, so it’s not coming to the U.S.?” I’m afraid not, at least not in the first instance. Here's hope the three-pointed star can make a case for it sometime in the future.
Not much is known about specifics, but Mercedes did say that the range-topping X-Class will employ a V6 diesel engine. 4Matic permanent all-wheel-drive is on the menu as well, as are a transfer case with reduction gear and two differential locks. Capability-wise, a payload of more than 1.1 tons is in the offing from the luxed-up X-Class, as is a towing capacity of 3.5 tons.
European production will be handled by Nissan at the Japanese automaker’s plant in Barcelona, Spain. The South America-spec X-Class, meanwhile, will be built at Renault’s plant in Cordoba, Argentina. Incidentally, that’s where Renault manufactures the Alaskan, itself based on the Nissan NP300 Navara.
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