Rumors about whether the upcoming 2020 Mercedes-Benz pickup truck would be a utilitarian workhorse or a luxurious status symbol have their first semi-official bit of direction. In speaking to members of the Australian automotive media, Daimler board member Thomas Weber said the truck would be the “first pickup from a premium manufacturer.” Media members in attendance have taken that to mean the yet-unnamed truck will steer toward leather rather than vinyl.
This whiff of direction could mean Mercedes->ke187 is paying serious consideration to bringing the luxo-truck to the U.S., where high-end trucks and SUVs->ke145 sell extremely well. Though the U.S. doesn’t have a direct competitor for a midsized->ke1695 Mercedes truck, vehicles like the 2016 Ford F-150 Limited, 2016 Ram 1500 Laramie Limited, and 2014 GMC Sierra 1500 Denali would be its prime rivals.
Mercedes will likely have plenty of time and funds for developing its truck, which is said to be set for the 2018 model year. That’s because the truck will share much of its chassis and structural design with the Nissan Navara. Though the two will share many components, Weber says the two trucks will look completely different. “We are sure we can do a real Mercedes, starting with the design.”
The Mercedes truck is also expected to come with its own Mercedes powerplant and transmission. The automaker already has several choices that are U.S. emissions legal, including the potent 3.0-liter biturbo V-6 and the torque-rich 2.1-liter turbodiesel.
Whether or not Mercedes will bring its upcoming pickup to the State is still unknown, but for those areas of the world already tapped for sales, the new truck will likely be the most luxurious option on the market.
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Why it matters
Mercedes will undoubtedly make a great midsize truck that will be highly competitive. It all comes down to what market segment the truck will compete in. Mercedes already has a respectable lineup of commercial vehicles geared toward fleets and businesses. Introducing a luxury truck that slots beside its SUVs and sedans will be completely new territory for the company, but will likely prove profitable. And since BMW->ke178 has firmly said it will not enter the truck market, Mercedes would have the premium luxury truck segment all to itself – or that is until Audi->ke14 steps up or BMW changes its mind.
2020 Mercedes-Benz Pickup Truck
You can read our speculative review here.