On Tuesday, Mercedes-Benz presented new concept images for the upcoming X-Class pickup truck. The German company intends to introduce “the first true premium pickup” in late 2017 to take advantage of a relatively untapped market.
Mercedes-Benz is following through with its pickup announcement earlier this year. The X-Class reveal comes as the automotive industry sees a spike in luxury SUV unveilings, rather than mid-size luxury pickup trucks and off-roads.
Mercedes-Benz X-Class will come in two different models
Most of what people know about the upcoming X-Class truck is purely aesthetic. Mercedes-Benz revealed the concept vehicle during an official event at an art gallery in Stockholm, Sweden.
The Mercedes-Benz X-Class will be available in two different variants: ‘Stylish Explorer’ and ‘Powerful Adventurer.’ The first is perfect for urban environments while the second is a premium off-road vehicle.
The ‘Stylish Explorer’ X-Class concept shows a luxury pickup truck for business people who still want some adventure on the side. The Mercedes-Benz renders show the car in metallic white with sophisticated lines along its body and unique design features.
Both models feature a two-piece front grille with the iconic three-pointed star in the middle. However, only the ‘Powerful Adventurer’ includes some more rugged reinforcements and a front bumper with the lower grille for towing.
The front headlights on the ‘Stylish Explorer’ are elongated and sleek, while the taillights of the pickup are arranged in a single square of LEDs around the tailgate. The ‘Powerful Adventurer’ is, again, more rudimentary in its approach.
Both vehicles are mid-size, four-door pickup trucks capable of sitting up to five people comfortably and weigh at least a ton.
The two Mercedes-Benz cars will have interiors to contrast their outer looks. The ‘Powerful Adventurer’ have all-black leather seats and a lemon-green color in the concept art, while the interior of the ‘Stylish Adventurer’ will come with a brown design.
The future X-Class models will have the latest driving assistance technology, as well as infotainment systems presumably compatible with mobile devices and apps like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Estimated release date
Mercedes-Benz did not give many details about the powertrain on the vehicles. The German automaker only specified the off-road model would count with permanent 4MATIC all-wheel drive options, and that premium trims would have a V6 diesel engine under the hood.
The ‘Powerful Adventurer’ can reportedly carry over a ton of weight in the back cabin and tow up to 3.5 tons. No word on the pickup capabilities of the luxury ‘Stylish Adventurer.’
Mercedes-Benz will manufacture the X-Class models in partnership with Renault-Nissan. The pickup trucks will hit the market in late 2017 in target markets in Latin America, Europe, Australia, and Africa.
Source: Daimler