The Mercedes-Benz Concept X-Class may very well be the world’s first true premium pickup truck — or at the very least, a luxury truck bearing the three-pointed star. With this round, bubbly concept, Mercedes-Benz is giving us an idea of what their future X-Class mid-size pickup will look like.
Mid-size trucks on the rise
Designed for adventure while providing all the capability and strength you’d expect from a pickup truck, the X-Class is entering a new territory that’s gaining popularity: the mid-size truck. With the likes of the Chevy Colorado, GMC Canyon, and now with news of the Ford Ranger comeback, the X-Class is clearly hoping to satisfy a segment with something a little more premium in a more compact form, opposed to stepping up to the full-size pickup.
Features: V6 Diesel Engine and Premium C-Class Cabin
Powered by a V6 diesel and matted to a 4MATIC permanent all-wheel drive, the X-Class seeks to conquer extreme conditions with a rear differential and inter-axle differential that can be locked when needed; along with a powerful drive system and the tough ladder-type frame will make a payload of more than 1.1 tonnes and a towing capacity of up to 3.5 tonnes possible.
Interior
The cabin of the Concept X-Class and likely the production version sees components from the Mercedes-Benz C-Class and V-Class, including ergonomic seats and an overall high-quality look and feel you’d expect from Mercedes.
We’d be interested to see how the truck crowd responds to the Mercedes-Benz X-Class when production is firmed up. Right now, there are two versions of this concept (the Stylish Explorer and the Powerful Adventurer), and we’d definitely opt the Adventurer model with the big beefy wheels and more rugged accessories.
Availability?
The X-Class market launch is slated for late 2017 with key markets being Europe, Latin America, South Africa, and Australia. Two versions will be available, as mentioned above.
