More Details Emerge on Mercedes-Benz ‘X-Class’ Pickup Truck

Boldride
January 28, 2016


Mercedes Benz Pickup

A Mercedes-Benz pickup truck. No, that is not a typo. We’ve heard rumors before about such a perplexing vehicle, however new sources suggests this could be for real. But what possible shape could a ‘Merc Truck’ take? We’re pretty sure it won’t look like the renderings we’ve seen in the past.

This news comes from CarAdvice.com.au, an Australian car news site, claiming to have access to a design forum, it which it was possibly announced that the truck would be called X-Class or Z-Class. We’ve known since early last year that the truck would be based on the Nissan Navara pickup, but the Aussies have some more info.

RELATED: The New Mercedes Pickup Won’t Be a ‘Fat Cowboy Truck’


00-nissan-navara

According to the report, the truck will be a crew-cab, with four doors, and have two engines from which to choose. The base engine is is claimed to be a 2.3-liter diesel inline-4 and a larger six-cylinder diesel. No gas engines were apparently discussed, but this could be initial rollout information, while a gas engine would join the lineup if it were ever sold in the U.S., but as of right now, the truck is planned to be sold everywhere but the good ole’ U.S. of A.

RELATED: See images of the Mercedes-Benz G63 6X6 Pickup

The report claims the truck will be available in one of three variants; work-truck, mid-range, and luxury. Pricing would range from $42,000 to $56,000. Considering Mercedes sells utilitarian vehicles as well as luxury cars all over the world (like the Sprinter), the X-Class runs the gamut from utility to luxury on the top end.

To get an X-Class/Z-Class here in the ‘States, they would likely need to offer a gas engine option (thanks, #Dieselgate). And with the Chicken Tax still around, the price would probably be more than the aforementioned estimates. In short, a Mercedes truck is on the way, but probably not in the land of the F-150.

RELATED: The Chicken Tax, Why We Don’t Have More Light Trucks

Land Rover takes its page in the history books

8 hours ago Relaxnews

Last of the Current Land Rover Defenders is Built in Solihull

On Friday, the final current generation Land Rover Defender ran off the production line in Solihull, Birmingham, the site where the iconic SUV was born and has been built for 68 years.
To mark the occasion, some 700 current and former Land Rover employees were invited to say goodbye to the original Land Rover and to be thanked for the role they have played in turning what was seen as a more practical alternative to a tractor into the world's first true ‘go-anywhere' car.
Dr Ralf Speth, CEO of Jaguar Land Rover, said: "Today we celebrate what generations of men and women have done since the outline for the Land Rover was originally drawn in the sand. The Series Land Rover, now Defender, is the origin of our legendary capability, a vehicle that makes the world a better place, often in some of the most extreme circumstances."
Jaguar Land Rover is remaining quiet on what exactly is coming to replace the Defender and when exactly the vehicle will make its debut. It looks very unlikely that a new SUV will be unveiled before 2017. There have been suggestions the company is struggling with the task, but Nick Rogers, Group Engineering Director at Jaguar Land Rover, is very optimistic: "Creating the Defender of tomorrow, a dream for any engineer or designer, is the next exciting chapter and we are looking forward to taking on that challenge," he said.
What is certain is that the company believes the Defender is set to become a serious collectors' car. The Solihull facility is being converted into a dedicated center for restoring, maintaining and reselling concourse condition Land Rovers.

Tim Hannig Jaguar Land Rover Heritage Director said: "Land Rover Heritage will be offering cars, services, parts and experiences for all owners and fans around the world. Our new restoration service and the sale of expertly restored Series I vehicles is just the start of making sure that classic Land Rovers are not only part of our past but part of our future."

As for the car's 2 million current and former owners and its many more fans, Land Rover wants to help them preserve their memories of the off-roading icon with a digital scrapbook. Also announced on Friday, "Defender Journeys" will let users upload information, images and routes about their favorite trips in a Defender or Series Land Rover and attach them to a digital world map.