The new Mercedes-Benz pick-up “X-Class” Screengrab from Mercedes-Benz official website
The Mercedes-Benz brand has always been associated with luxurious sedans and SUVs.
The popular global automotive manufacturer, however, is marking a new shift by introducing its first premium pickup truck, X-Class.
The sleek and stylish midsize truck, which is set to make its debut in Europe and South America sometime next year, boasts an all-wheel drive and high-torque V6 engines.
According to a report from The Verge, the Germany-based company will release two versions of the new truck—one for off-road use and the other highlighting premium styling.
“With the Mercedes-Benz pickup we will close one of the last gaps in our portfolio,” Mercedes-Benz Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche said in a press statement. “The X-Class will set new standards in a growing segment.”
The X-Class variants will reportedly retain some of the brand’s iconic features with differential features.
The new Mercedes-Benz pick-up “X-Class” Screengrab from Mercedes-Benz official website
The off-road model, labeled as the “Powerful Adventurer,” will feature a higher ride-height and much-improved ground clearance.
It will also have extra protection on the wheel arches, an electric winch at the front and a metal hook at the back.
Its counterpart, the “Stylish Explorer,” will have the typical SUV feel to it, with cleaner running lines, flared wheel arches, and 22-inch light-alloy wheels.
Both models, meanwhile, will contain technological extras, including a central touchscreen display “similar to a smartphone” and “modern driver assistance.”
The company expects a bit of an adjustment period for consumers to get used to their new automobile, but they are heavily relying on the expanding popularity of the pickup truck sector to drive sales.
The company also hopes to address both ”private and commercial use” with the new pickup and bridge the gap between urban and city use.
After its release on selected markets next year, Mercedes-Benz will make it available to Latin American markets in 2018.
As of this writing, the company said “the pickup is under consideration for the US market at some point, but no timeline is available for a decision to be made.” Khristian Ibarrola