Mercedes-Benz Vans gave a glimpse of the future of what a premium pickup should look like with the Concept X-CLASS which displays all the strengths of a classic pickup – tough, functional, strong, and with off-road capability. The Concept X-CLASS stylish explorer goes a step further and shows what will distinguish the pickup bearing the Mercedes star.
The X-Class will be a true Mercedes from the hallmark brand design and comfort to the driving dynamics and safety. This will make Mercedes-Benz the first premium manufacturer to account for the changing customer requirements in the global segment of mid-size pickups, and it will make the tough one-ton pickup with seating for up to five persons the first to be attractive as an urban lifestyle and family vehicle.
With the pickup, Mercedes-Benz Vans will expand its product range with a fourth model series. At the same time, the marque will become the first premium manufacturer to occupy the promising segment of mid-size pickups. Daimler AG will make investments in the high nine figures (euro) in the new model series by the time of the market launch. It will be launched in late 2017 under the name Mercedes-Benz X-Class.
Ladder-type frame, high-torque six-cylinder engine, and permanent all-wheel drive will be compulsory for this vehicle. As an added value safety, comfort, agility, and expressive design will distinguish it thus appealing to new customers who have not considered owning a pickup before.
Some 20 years ago Mercedes-Benz was the first premium manufacturer to launch a sport utility vehicle (SUV), the M-Class, and completely redefined the off-road segment – with lasting success. The Concept X-CLASS design variants interpret the hallmark brand design idiom of their SUVs in a most expressive form, and embody the dichotomy of the brand’s design philosophy making them both hot and cool.
The stylish explorer features an athletic design that lends the concept car a markedly expressive and dynamic appearance. The distinctive front represents an evolution of the hallmark SUV face of the brand – with a more massive power dome on the bonnet and headlamps extending far into the wings.
The Concept X-CLASS powerful adventurer with a lemonax metallic paint finish stages toughness, durability, and off-road capability. As a result, it impressively underscores the fact that the future Mercedes-Benz pickup will combine comfort and style with the basic virtues of this vehicle category. The pickup towers above it all with a height of 1.90 metres. Large tyres of size 35×11.50, huge ground clearance, and the athletic design instill respect even at first glance. The brand’s hallmark SUV radiator grille with two louvres, front and rear under ride guard, wing claddings, and matte carbon wheel arches additionally underscore the superior off-road aesthetics. An electric winch at the front and a metal hook at the rear are further indications of the toughness and power of the future pickup.
As is the norm for Mercedes-Benz, customers of the X-Class will be able to choose from different equipment scopes to customize the exterior and interior. In addition, the premium brand will develop a special range of accessories for the pickup, for example bed covers and various styling elements. Thanks to the tried and proven modular strategy, a host of interior components that customers know and appreciate from the C-Class and V-Class will be found in the X-Class.
Like all Mercedes vehicles, the pickup will be distinguished by exemplary safety. Modern driver assistance systems based on cameras, radar and ultrasound sensors will support and relieve the driver in many situations, and in so doing equally enhance safety and comfort. A host of assistance systems will already come as standard.
