Mercedes Unveils X-Class Pickup Truck

Daimler AG’s Mercedes-Benz unit on Tuesday night took the wraps off its first pickup truck, the midsize X-Class, at an event in Cape Town, South Africa.

Mercedes will launch the X-Class this autumn in Germany, then roll it out to other European markets, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa in 2018 and to Latin America the following year. There are no plans to sell the truck in the U.S.

The production model, which shares a rear-drive body-on-frame platform with the Nissan NP300/Navara and Renault Alaskan trucks, combines elements of a pair of concept models displayed last year. The exterior picks up Mercedes’ latest styling cues with a twin-slat grille and bullet-shaped LED headlights up front and thin vertical taillights in the rear.

Touted as the world's first true premium pickup, the new X-Class gets a well-appointed interior with leather seats, oak trim, an 8.4-inch infotainment screen and a host of other luxury goodies. Three trim levels will be available along with numerous options and accessories, including soft and hard tonneau covers, a skid plate and several pickup bed configurations.

The base engine is an evolution of Nissan's 2.3-liter 4-cylinder turbodiesel that makes 163 hp and 175 lb-ft of torque. A higher output version of the diesel four-banger adds a second turbocharger to hike output to 190 hp and 332 lb-ft of torque. A 160-hp 4-cylinder gasoline engine also will be available.

The engines are mated with a 6-speed manual transmission, and a 7-speed automatic gearbox is optional with the twin-turbo diesel. Buyers also may specify four-wheel drive with low-range gearing.

A V-6 diesel capable of 406 lb-ft of torque will be added in mid-2018. Some versions of the truck will be able to haul more than 2,200 lbs and tow more than 7,500 lbs, according to the carmaker.

Pricing in Germany will start at €37,300 ($43,100). Vehicles for Europe will be assembled at Nissan’s plant in Barcelona. Models for Latin America will be built by Renault in Cordoba, Argentina.