If you love pickups, but lust after high-end German luxury and engineering, then Mercedes has a solution with the upcoming X-Class. Anticipation for the full reveal of Merc’s first foray into the segment has been building, with an official debut slated for early next week. To add fuel to the fire, we’ve included the most recent spy footage, courtesy of our friends from Motor 1. Hit play, and watch as a pair of camo-clad X-Class’ undergo a little last-minute testing in Spain.
We’ll have to wait a few more days for the official numbers, but for now, the speculation is pretty straightforward. Inside, expect lots of fanciness, with high-end infotainment and extra-plush materials throughout, while the rear will get a decent amount of space for hauling things. Exterior dimensions will be compact, with the bones based on the Nissan Navara and Renault Alaskan. The engine options will include a variety of four-bangers, diesels, and a top-trim 3.0-liter V-6. The drivetrain will be RWD with 4Matic AWD as an available option. Unfortunately, stateside buyers won’t have a shot at ownership, which isn’t all that surprising considering the huge variety of pickups already on offer over here (although Merc has left the door open for future iterations for the U.S. market). Rather, the X-Class will splashdown in Europe, South America, and Asia, with first deliveries going to Europe before the end of 2017. Look for the full reveal on July 18 with a livestream event kicking off at 1:10 PM ET.
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The Story So Far
Concept X-Class
Revealed late last year, the Mercedes-Benz X-Class Concept looks to be surprisingly production ready. According to Merc, the goal with this vehicle is to “close one of the last gaps” in their product portfolio, offering “customers vehicles matching their specific needs.”
The X-Class is what Merc considers to be a “premium” pickup truck, and hopes to open the segment to new customers who previously never would have considered pickup ownership.
Merc dropped two pickup concepts at once last year – the more street-friendly “Stylish Explorer,” and the more off-road-ready “Powerful Adventurer.” Standout features include large, sleek-looking wheels on the Explorer and knobby tires on the Adventurer. LED lighting should be standard, while the characteristic Mercedes fascia is applied in a bigger and bolder fashion. The cabins of both are plush. Towing capacity should be rated at over 7,000 pounds.
If you simply can’t wait to see the new X-Class, check out our review of the X-Class Concepts.
Spy Shots
You don’t test something as newsworthy as the X-Class without the carparazzi hounding your every step. As such, we’ve seen a slew of spy shots depicting camo-clad Merc pickups doing their thing on public roads. It’s hard to pick out the details under all those black and white swirls, but the basics seem to hold true to the original concepts, at least aesthetically.
Check out more spy shots in our speculative review of the Mercedes X-Class.
Teaser Video
The hype is real, folks. You don’t suddenly drop a fresh entry into a completely new segment without building it up a bit, right? As such, Mercedes released the above-featured teaser video about a week ago to get the people talking. Included is the usual auto-themed flash, with abundant references to the forces of nature and quick, slick close-up shots of the X-Class.
But we want know – are you excited for the new X-Class? Dismayed? Uninterested and detached? Let us know in the comments.