Mercedes vans join the pickup party

Mercedes is to reveal a new pick-up truck concept later this year in a move that will create even more competition in the sector, following similar announcements from Fiat, Peugeot and Citroen.

Based on the new Nissan NP300 Navara, the new pick-up from Mercedes vans will accommodate five people. As yet there is no information on body style availability, but considering that the Nissan offers a choice of Double or King Cab variants it's a safe bet that the Mercedes will follow suit. The new vehicle is yet to be named, although industry rumours suggest either 'GLT' or 'X-class'.

Volker Mornhinweg, Mercedes CEO, has confirmed that the new X-Class will launch before the end of next year. A concept image has already been released, showing a modern-looking vehicle with a three-bar grille, sweeping headlights and curvy, yet sharp, lines.

New pickup truck

While the new pickup will have the look and feel of the Nissan Navara, it will share design elements with the Mercedes SUV range. Mercedes wants to ensure the pickup feels like the vehicles in its passenger car range, so you can expect modern technology and luxury features. It's likely that Mercedes' new vehicle will offer four or six-cylinder, petrol or diesel engines with a choice of manual or automatic transmission.

The new Mercedes pickup will sit alongside the current range of commercial vans, including the Citan, Vito and Sprinter. It's believed that Mercedes will offer two versions of their pickup, each targeting the commercial and passenger car sectors. It's a move that resembles that of Volkswagen's when launching the Amarok six years ago. The Amarok really shook up the pickup sector and Mercedes will be hoping to emulate that by producing a vehicle with a focus on comfort and luxury but maintains it's working capabilities.

The Mercedes X-Class is still a long way from going on sale. If you're looking for a pickup, check out our quality range here. See something you like? Call us on 0845 021 0444 or enquire online