Mercedes-Benz Enters Pickup Truck Market with All-New Mercedes-Benz X-Class

Mercedes-Benz has officially entered the premium pickup truck market with the launch of its Mercedes-Benz X-Class line of pickup trucks. Although primarily known as a manufacturer of luxury vehicles, Mercedes-Benz is banking on its experience developing various kinds of vehicles over the years--commercial off-road vehicles like the Unimog and G-Class, vehicles that are suitable for both work and pleasure like the V-Class and Vito, and passenger cars "that uniquely stand for modern luxury and driving pleasure around the world." At launch, the Mercedes-Benz X-Class is available in three trims: Pure is the basic variant ideal for rugged use; Progressive is for those who want an equal mix of ruggedness and comfort; and Power for "whom styling, performance and comfort are paramount." For the engine, two 2.3-liter diesel-powered mills are available at launch--the 163 hp, single-turbo X220 d and the 190 hp, biturbo x250 d in either left- or right-hand drive and with either rear-wheel drive or engageable all-wheel drive--while, due to very specific market requirements, the 165 hp, gasoline-fed X200 is only available in left-hand drive with a rear-wheel drivetrain. A range-topping 258 hp, 550 Nm V6 X350 d diesel will be made available by 2018. The standard transmission for the X-Class is a six-speed manual though a seven-speed automatic with five drive programs is available for the X 250 d rear-wheel drive and 4Matic all-wheel drive models. Up front, the X-Class is unmistakably a Mercedes-Benz with the centrally positioned star, twin-louver radiator grille, sculpted hood, and headlamps that extend into the front quarter panels. As for the rear, the bumper has an integrated step to make loading and unloading cargo convenient. With its ladder-type frame, rear multi-link solid axle, front independent wheel suspension and coil springs on both axles, the X-Class is a workhorse that is both capable off-road without sacrificing on-road dynamics and driving comfort. To prove its off-roading prowess, the X-Class has a fording depth of 600 mm and a ground clearance of 202 mm (221 mm for the raised suspension option). The Mercedes-Benz  X-Class officially goes on sale in Europe starting at €37,294  (around P2.19 million) in November 2017, with South Africa and Australia following in 2018 save for Argentina and Brazil which begins in 2019.