Mercedes-Benz introduces the X-Class Truck Concept
Luxury brands and pick-up trucks are two sectors of the automotive world that have pointedly not intersected over the years. In fact, the so called “luxury pick-ups” on the market right now are well-optioned versions of the same trucks making their homes on construction sites. When they have intersected, it has often been awkward – see the failures that were the Lincoln Blackwood and Mark LT trucks, or the concepts and renderings put forth for Acura and Range Rover. And even then, the Lincoln models were built off of the Ford F-series platform.
Mercedes-Benz Innovative Track Record
It makes sense that the first luxury brand to put out a true luxury truck would be Mercedes-Benz. As one of the oldest car makers on the planet, Mercedes-Benz has constantly been innovating. In addition to that, while not known to many S-Class and GLC owners, Mercedes-Benz has built one of the most successful cargo, commercial, and heavy-duty vehicle programs in the world. The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van is one of the most popular commercial vans in the world, and it is this platform that helped give birth to the Mercedes-Benz X-Class Truck.
A mid-size truck with a five-passenger cabin, the X-Class will be powered by a six-cylinder diesel engine. Combined with 4MATIC® permanent all-wheel drive, this will allow for impressive, sporty driving dynamics both on the road and off. It will also provide for impressive towing and hauling capabilities – thanks to combining the drivetrain with a ladder-type frame, the X-Class is expected to be able to carry a payload up to 1.1 tons and tow up to 3.5 tons.
X-Class Suspension
On top of this, the specially-designed suspension will feature wide axles and a precisely calibrated spring and damper set-up to provide high ride comfort while allowing for the precise steering and agile cornering expected out of any Mercedes-Benz vehicle. For off-road enthusiasts, the all-wheel drive system will include a locking rear differential and a locking inter-axle differential, making it easier to conquer difficult obstacles.
Two distinct design and experience concepts have been provided for the new X-Class, the powerful adventurer and the stylish explorer. Made for specific purposes, they come equipped with appropriate trappings:
X-Class Adventurer
Shows off the off-road capabilities, along with durability and toughness, that Mercedes-Benz has embraced as the values at the core of the truck segment. Sporting oversized tires for improved ground clearance, an electric winch to the front, and a metal hook in the rear, all set against brawny yet refined aesthetics, this demonstrates that the X-Class will not be a truck for show, but one that will be able to compete with and dominate other trucks of its size.
X-Class Explorer
The Explorer,meanwhile, makes it clear that regardless of what class it is in, a Mercedes-Benz should still offer supreme luxury and comfort. Blending clever design, extra-large wheels, LED light strips, and varying finishes such as anthracite chrome and carbon fiber, the X-Class will certainly be striking. Running boards, often looked at as a tacked-on option, are integrated seamlessly into the body work. Inside, warm colors surround passengers, wrapping them in nubuck and nappa leather, along with open-pore wood and aluminum trim elements.
The bad news is that the Mercedes-Benz X-Class will not, initially, be available in the United States. When it debuts in 2017, the X-Class will be available in Europe, South America, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. That’s not to say that it won’t make its way to America eventually – we know just how much pick-up trucks mean to our country. Come by Mercedes-Benz of Loveland and show your interest in acquiring a new X-Class truck, we can keep in touch for the future day when it comes to the United States, and you can take a look at the other members of the Mercedes-Benz family to see if one of them piques your interest.