2018 Mercedes-Benz X-Class: High Performances Pickup Truck In The Works?

Nov 30, 2016 08:38 AM EST | Matthew Cruz

Mercedes-Benz made waves when it revealed its X-Class concept late last month, a sleek pickup truck with two versions dubbed the "stylish explorer" and "powerful adventurer." Soon after, rumors began to pick up that Mercedes-AMG had a high-performance version of the X-Class cooking under its hood. According to Motoring, however, AMG announced that it would not be tuning the Mercedes pickup, without abandoning the idea completely.

A representative from Mercedes-Benz, according to Autoblog, said AMG would sit tight first to see how well the X-Class performs in the marketplace before considering a high-performance version. This leaves the pickup with a Mercedes diesel V6 engine and 4MATIC all-wheel drive, while its range carries Nissan's four-cylinder powertrains.

It was Mercedes-AMG head Tobias Moers that denied the rumors to Motoring, putting to bed the growing buzz surrounding the tuning division since the launch of the X-Class in Sweden last October. AMG has previously been quick to work its magic on Mercedes-Benz vehicles, accounting for big boosts in the company's worldwide production. This includes even less traditional cars, like the G-Class wagen.

The Mercedes-Benz X-Class, however, is an offering unlike any the German company has put forward. This is principally because it carries many of the same elements present in the Nissan Navara (like its 5-link rear suspension and chassis), and in fact, will be produced in a Nissan factory. But the biggest factor in AMG's hesitation to take on the X-Class was a lack of volume, according to Moers.

This means that, at least for the meantime, Mercedes drivers will have to make do with the standard X-Class models. Its two versions come in two different colors, white and matte yellow, on the Explorer and Adventurer, respectively. The two classy pickups will be sold primarily in Latin America, Europe, Australia and South Africa, while the US market was noticeably absent from Mercedes' plans. 

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