The Mercedes-Benz X-Class Pickup

Mercedes-Benz took the industry by surprise when it recently unveiled its very first pickup truck. One would think that the auto maker is too late to the party considering the long history of pickup trucks, right? However, like many other of Mercedes-Benz’s revolutionary creations, the Mercedes-Benz X-Class pickup truck has many new things to offer; in fact, Mercedes-Benz has confidently labeled it ‘the first ever premium pickup truck’. As you may imagine, it packs all the comfort, opulence, and power associated with Mercedes-Benz vehicles, and more. Here is everything you need to know about the upcoming Mercedes- Benz X-Class pickup truck.

The World’s First ‘Premium’ Pickup Truck?

Considering that car makers such as Ford and Toyota have some pretty impressive pickup trucks in their lineups, it seems almost insulting for Mercedes-Benz to label this truck the ‘first-ever premium truck’. However, the truck is truly exceptional, and offers a little of everything. To start with, its production cost alone is jaw-dropping. According to Dr. Dieter Zetsche, the head of the Mercedes-Benz Cars, the Mercedes-Benz X-Class pickup truck cost over $1 billion to design and produce; expectedly, its price tag reflects that of the exclusive high-end luxury trucks. To this end, the body, interior, and mechanics under the metal are extensive.

Additionally, this pickup truck is designed for both urban and off-road use. Its sleek body and flashy appearance makes it an eye-catcher in the urban setting; it can even double up as a luxury personal vehicle for drivers who fancy trucks. What’s more, its powerful engine makes it ideal for typical pickup utilities such as carrying heavy loads. It is so powerful that it can carry up to 3.5 tons without a glitch. Its traction system, coupled with the all-drive system and huge spiked wheels, make it the perfect vehicle for off-road driving. Besides, the Mercedes-Benz brand alone is renowned for its state-of-the-art vehicles. These factors combined, may justify its ‘premium’ label, but only time will tell as it is yet to be released.

Visual Appeal

The Mercedes-Benz X-Class Pickup is not exactly a monster truck, but it is every bit as imposing. It has the feel of a SUV with a sleek and compact body, which gives away the power and speed it packs under the hood. The body also features a wide track and flared arches that give it a chunky appearance in some parts, and this goes a long way in giving it the compact feel and appearance that it deserves. This pickup sits on two pairs of huge tires that further add to its monstrous appeal; the tires measure 35 inches in diameter and feature spiked trends that give it excellent capability for off-road driving. It is also tall, standing at 1.90 meters. The front grill is sleek and flashy; Mercedes-Benz adopted the two-louvre design synonymous with its range of SUV vehicles.

The pickup truck features matte carbon wheel arch extensions to add to its aesthetic appeal while the underbody is protected for off-road driving. The engineering and mechanical work under the metal is very detailed and extensive. Specifically, the five-link rear suspension coupled with the ladder-frame chassis gives it great stability to ensure high-ride comfort both on-road and off-road. In fact, the damper set-up, which is essentially a precisely calibrated spring, makes riding the Mercedes-Benz X-Class pickup enjoyable for the adventurous consumer. To give it that complete truck look and capability, the Mercedes-Benz X- Class pickup is fitted with a strong tow hook at the rear as well as an electric winch at the front.

Interior Design

The Mercedes-Benz X-Class pickup is not your typical pickup truck, at least as far as interior design is concerned. It features much of the opulence associated with Mercedes-Benz vehicles, and is primarily designed for maximum comfort. Mercedes-Benz retained most of its typical features including a blend of nubuck brown leather trim and nappa leather. It also features open-pore smoked-oak wood trim with accents of brushed and polished silver accents, which combine to give it an exotic appeal and feel.

The central media comes in a tablet-style and features a rotary dial controller coupled with a touchpad. For safety, the Mercedes-Benz X-Class pickup comes fitted with modern drive systems comprising of ultrasound sensors, radars, and cameras that help the driver maintain a 3600 view of the road. To this end, the pickup truck comes with capabilities such as blind-spot monitoring, forward collision warning, rear parking sensors, and radar cruise control, among others.

Performance

Mercedes-Benz has invested just as much in the Mercedes-Benz X-Class Pickup’s performance as it has done in its sleek appearance. To this end, this pickup truck is designed not only for appeal but also hard- duty tasks such as towing and carrying heavy loads; it may be sleek, but it is still a pickup truck. This truck features a V-6 diesel high-torque engine that has incredible horsepower and torque outputs. It comes coupled with a 4MATIC permanent all-wheel drive system that makes it easy to maneuver in rough terrain. It also features two differential locks which, coupled with the other factors, make this pickup truck capable of towing up to 3.5 tons of load, which if far above what most other pickup trucks in its category are capable of.

The Mercedes-Benz X-Class pickup truck also features an electronic traction system and a transfer case with a reduction gear. What’s more, the electronically operated on-demand differential locks automatically and instantly transfer power to where traction is best. Considering that the wheels feature spike-like trends, this pickup truck guarantees flawless maneuverability on all roads and all weathers, including snowy roads.

Production and Release Date

According to Dr. Dieter Zetsche, the Mercedes-Benz X-Class pickup truck will be an important extension of the company’s range of vehicles that will be instrumental in driving sales. However, the company does not intend to sell this truck in the U.S. market, which is the largest pick-up truck market. Instead, this truck will be sold only in South Africa, Europe, Australia, Brazil, and Argentina. The Mercedes-Benz X-Class pickup truck will be released in 2017 for all the aforementioned markets except Australia. The Australian market’s units will be due in the first-half of 2018.