X-Class Mercedes-Benz X-Class Pickup Concept

[tennmb]

The only way this is coming to the US is if it's built here. There is some punitive tax at play for these type of imports that make it unlikely.

If they did, they wouldn't have to change because there is a demand for smaller pick-ups since the big ones have gotten so out of hand with their size. I think they did a great job differentiating the front end. In fact, i'd love to see this tighter look on the GLE and GLC.

 

[fortuner]

I can see it doing really great IN South Africa

 

[Rolf]

It looks great in the front, I will be quite curious how they will style the back lights on the production version. Interior also looks great, much better than any other pick up on the market.

 

[maragulon]

X-class as an AMG by X-Tomi

 

[Serpens]

I don't understand Mercedes' logic with the mirrors. Why do some cars get the S-class style mirrors while others get the old ones?

 

[fortuner]

Looks good in the video will sell crazy in SA if priced wellm

 

[hannaz]

Photo gallery:

 

[hannaz]

Sketches:

 

[MercFan]

Another big mistake by Mercedes...

 

[SDNR]

If they do want to sell it in the US they have to butch it up a lot, to make it look bigger than it really is.

What they have done is a great job on the interior, the Nissan interior is your basic pickup interior with cheap hard plastics and the rest, Mercedes have done a great job, if it looks like this there is noting visually Nissan about it.

As for the exterior to me it looks like the roof and glass are the only carry over Nissan items, it's a pity they haven't changed the back doors to remove the kickup as that really gives the game away.

Mercedes X Class

Renault Alaskan

To me, honestly, the Nissan looks the best.

 

[Human]

From where I come from I can only call it a WINNER! MB is going to sell them by the hundreds of thousands.


My newest:

 

[Sovereign]

X class appears to be a very attractive vehicle and thankfully it does not look anything like the MB SUVs. Its sharp, edgy and classy IMO. And then it is based on a current breed of vehicles from other manufacturer, MB designers have done a good job of creating a vehicle that is not easily recognizable with the donor vehicles. As far as similar greenhouse is concerned, I think most of these types of SUVs are quite similar. Even the Ford Ranger posted above appears to me quite similar in that area. For an average person I think Mercedes has done fine enough job to be considered as a unique vehicle of its own externally.

Never liked the M/GLE, GLC for design, I hope the X design language would be extended to the future GLEs and GLCs as the SUVs appear quite weak in front of their new sibling.

 

[Wolfgang]

Still pondering?

Mercedes ponders U.S. for pickup

Mercedes-Benz last week unveiled two concepts for the X class, a midsize pickup that will go on sale next year and may eventually come to the U.S.

Europe, Latin America, South Africa and Australia will be key markets for the pickup, but Volker Mornhinweg, head of Mercedes-Benz Vans, said in a statement: "We are keeping a close eye on the U.S. market. We are evaluating the conditions for such a move."

The X class will share underpinnings with the Nissan NP300 Navara and Renault Alaskan. It will be built by Nissan in Spain starting next year and by Renault in Argentina in 2018.

Company executives said they are targeting families, outdoor enthusiasts and commercial customers with the truck.

The Mercedes Powerful Adventurer X-class concept has more traditional pickup looks.

The pickup will fill one of the last remaining gaps in Mercedes' product range. Company executives believe midsize pickups are becoming increasingly attractive for private use in addition to their reputation as commercial workhorses.

At an event in Sweden, the company unveiled two concepts previewing the production X class: the SUV-like Stylish Explorer and the Powerful Adventurer with more traditional pickup looks.

Mercedes said that with its high-torque six-cylinder engine and permanent all-wheel drive, the X class will be capable of towing 3.5 tons while carrying a payload of more than 1.1 tons.

Automotive News

 

[martinbo]

Still pondering?

I'm pondering why you are messing about in this matter-less pickup thread @Wolfgang, instead of giving us the low-down in the new engines thread here:
http://www.germancarforum.com/threads/the-new-generation-of-engines-from-mercedes-benz.56327/page-4
So, off you go... scoot scoot...

 

[Laurent T]

Another big mistake by Mercedes...

Why ? If there is a market and they keep the brand standard ?

 

[Yaz]

So, why does M-B need Nissan to make a pick-up truck? It's not like they don't know how to make trucks, commerical or personal.

 

[Centurion]

So, why does M-B need Nissan to make a pick-up truck? It's not like they don't know how to make trucks, commerical or personal.

It's quicker and cheaper to enter the market this way. If the car is a success there could be a business case for Mercedes to develop their own pickup platform.

 

[Merc1]

You better believe that if this is a hit, MB will either go on their own next time (not likely but possible) or work with Nissan from the start on the next generation so they can spin off a true Mercedes-Benz from it, instead of this mild rebadge/warmover.

M

 

[Wolfgang]

Some comments via autonews.


“The Concept X-Class is not one, but two different midsize truck concepts. Powerful Adventurer appeals to the tough, rugged truck buyers, whereas Stylish Explorer is meant more for the person that wants to look like a truck buyer without getting their white party pants dirty.

“Both concepts are unmistakably Mercedes-Benz, with headlights and a pair of grilles that look plucked from any number of current M-B vehicles. The rear end is a bit more intense, with a single, wraparound LED design on the Stylish Explorer and a more rugged, two-light setup on the Powerful Adventurer. The fancy truck's tailgate barely looks like it opens, which is a pretty good metaphor for people who buy trucks as a lifestyle enhancer.”

-- Andrew Krok, Roadshow by CNET

“The vibe is supposed to be ‘do-it-all drive to the dunes Sunday drive to the office Monday.’ To have a little more fun expressing that, Mercedes broke the X-Class concept into two concepts.

“After spending most of this morning looking at it, I still like the styling. Kind of feels like the result of sticking an AMG GT, G-Wagon and Toyota Tacoma into a washing machine.”

-- Andrew P. Collins, Jalopnik

Photo credit: REUTERS

“Mercedes isn’t gunning for the rough and tumble truckers of the world who are hauling heavy payloads on a daily basis, but rather those who prefer to use their trucks like crossover SUVs, those who want to feel large and in charge but more likely to use the rear bed for transporting groceries than worksite supplies. And, not for nothing, the lifestyle-oriented GMC Sierra is the fourth best-selling truck line out there, so there is a market.”

-- Kyle Campbell, New York Daily News

“As if the Loch Ness monster were netted and dragged ashore in front of a swarm of cameras, the mythological Mercedes-Benz pickup truck crossed from rumor to reality today when the Three-Pointed Star pulled the cover off this matte green off-road bruiser, dubbed the X-Class.

“The vehicle shown is a concept, as evidenced by its cartoonishly knobby tires and winch, but Mercedes said that the production model will reach dealers by the end of 2017. Those won't be U.S. dealers however.”

-- Dan Carney, Maxim

“Let’s start with the ‘Stylish Explorer.’ It embodies Mercedes’ belief that it can sway buyers and pick-up philosophy by adding more car-like features and creature comforts to a normally grubby and utilitarian arm of motoring.

“As you can see, it’s very swanky. The front end is stylized with a bulbous ‘power dome’ bonnet, huge air intakes and muscular wheel arches. It wears the same face as Mercedes SUVs, but the single-louver grille with the three-pointed star smack bang in the middle is a nod to the coupe road cars. And check out the back: there’s an illuminated taillight that runs the whole perimeter of the tailgate. Very nice. Although the bling 22-inch alloys look rather tremendous, they’ll be more suited to Bicester Village than the backcountry.”

-- Rowan Horncastle, Top Gear

Photo credit: REUTERS

“Looking like a Snapchat face swap between a Mercedes-AMG GT and a Nissan Navara, the X-Class concept is the result of a partnership between Benz and Nissan. The truck is based on Nissan’s Navara, but Benz was responsible for the powertrain, styling and amenities.”

-- Erick Ayapana, Motor Trend

“Mercedes-Benz took the wraps off two mid-size pickup-truck concepts that preview the forthcoming Nissan Navara-based X-class, which is officially dubbed the Concept X-class. Mercedes further christened each concept with surnames sure to make the marketing executives at Mattel jealous: Stylish Explorer and Powerful Adventurer. As its name implies, the Stylish Explorer is the Brian Fantana of the duo.”

-- Greg Fink, Car and Driver

 

[Rainer271]

Mercedes says X-Class Concept is almost production-ready

Mercedes-Benz says the designs of the X-Class concepts revealed last month are almost production-ready.

While speaking with Motoring, Mercedes-Benz head of design Gorden Wagener said that most of the elements of the white, 'Stylish Explorer' concept will see the light of day, including the angular headlights, flared wheel arches and potentially, even the wrap-around LED taillight.

“The overall design, proportions, this is pretty much production. We put on bigger tyres and stuff and little details like the winch and some jewellery for the show car, but pretty much it’s what you’ll get,” Wagener said.

It's believed that the bold, X-Class 'Powerful Adventurer' concept which really had people talking won't reach production. Instead, many of its accessories, such as the underbody protection, may be offered as optional extras, allowing customers to make more slightly rugged X-Class models.

Wagener also said the the luscious interiors of the concepts will hit the production line with very few changes.

“The interior is almost complete production. You’ve never seen a pickup with this kind of value and quality inside. We basically treat it like our passenger cars. It’s above everything in the competition, aiming to deliver ambience far above everything else out there.”

The X-Class will initially be launched in Europe next year and then reach the shores of Australia, South Africa and Latin America.

Source: Carscoops