Mercedes-Benz X-Class
Overview
ManufacturerDaimler AG
Nissan
ProductionNovember 2017 – May 2020[1]
AssemblySpain: Barcelona (Nissan Motor Ibérica)
DesignerWini Camacho[2]
Body and chassis
ClassMid-size luxury pickup truck
Layout
PlatformNissan F-Alpha platform
RelatedNissan Navara
Renault Alaskan
Powertrain
Engine
Transmission6-speed manual (X220d and X250d)
7-speed automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase3,150 mm (124.0 in)
Length5,340 mm (210.2 in)
Width1,920 mm (75.6 in)
Height1,819 mm (71.6 in)
Chronology
PredecessorMercedes-Benz Musso[3]

The Mercedes-Benz X-Class (W470) was a luxury pickup truck sold by the German automaker Mercedes-Benz, a division of German multinational company Daimler AG. Unveiled at a world premiere in Cape Town, South Africa in July 2017, the pickup took its chassis from the Nissan Navara and employed many Mercedes-specific features and technologies, including some engines not shared with the Navara. It first went on sale in late 2017.[4][5]

Development

Rear view

In 2015, Mercedes-Benz announced that development of a pickup truck was in the works.[6] The new vehicle, developed in conjunction with the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance, was to be assembled at Nissan and Renault plants in Europe and South America.

On 25 October 2016, Mercedes-Benz announced a concept class called the X-Class Concept. Dieter Zetsche, Daimler Chairman and head of Mercedes-Benz cars, said it would help a growing segment. It was slated to be only available in Australia, New Zealand, Europe, Latin America, and Africa. The top-of-the-range engine is a turbocharged diesel V6 paired with a 4Matic permanent all-wheel-drive system.

Production started in 2017 at the Nissan factory in Spain.[7] Plans to produce the pickup at the Renault plant in Santa Isabel, Argentina were cancelled due to alleged contractual disputes between executives from both marques.[8]

According to Mercedes, the X-Class would be the world's first true "premium" pick-up truck, followed by the failed Lincoln Blackwood and Lincoln Mark LT, two upmarket versions of the Ford F-150, along with the also-failed Cadillac Escalade EXT, an upmarket version of the Chevrolet Avalanche that turns out to be a short-bed version of the Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban, and in other words, a pickup variant of the full-size luxury SUV. Of these, the X-Class only managed to last longer on the market than the Lincoln Blackwood.

Global sales of the X-Class in 2018, its first full year on the market, were just 16,700 in Europe, New Zealand, Australia, South America, and South Africa.[9] It further decreased to around 15,300 in 2019,[10] with 2,186 sold in Australia alone.[11] Production of the X-Class was halted in May 2020 due to slow sales.[12] The slow sales are primarily attributed to a negative perception of the vehicle's platform. It was argued that many customers expected an entirely new vehicle designed and built by Mercedes and were disappointed when it was instead presented as a joint-venture with Nissan/Renault. This issue was further compounded with the use of Nissan/Renault engines in lower end trim levels. Despite the X350 sharing the same V6 diesel engine platform as the G-Class and other Mercedes models, public perception was that the X-Class was an expensive rebrand of a Nissan Navara, an image it struggled to shake throughout its short production run.[13]

Promotion

On 19 July 2017, the promotional video/advertising spot "Mercedes-Benz X-Class: Pickup Meets Lifestyle – Trailer" was released, with "We Are Young" song by Blues Saraceno as soundtrack.

Models

The X-class launched with three trim levels: Pure, Progressive and Power.[14][15]

Engines

Petrol engines[16]
ModelYearsType/codePower at rpm, Torque at rpm Transmissions
X2002018– 20201,991 cc (121.5 cu in) I4 turbo M274122 kW (166 PS; 164 hp) at 6,000, 238 N⋅m (176 lbf⋅ft) at 4,000 6-speed manual

7-speed automatic

Diesel engines[16][17]
ModelYearsType/codePower at rpm, Torque at rpm Transmissions
X220d2018–20202,298 cc (140.2 cu in) I4 turbo OM699 DE23 LA R120 kW (163 PS; 161 hp) at 3,750, 403 N⋅m (297 lbf⋅ft) at 1,500–2,500 6-speed manual
X250d2018–20202,298 cc (140.2 cu in) I4 turbo OM699 DE23 LA140 kW (190 PS; 188 hp) at 3,750, 450 N⋅m (332 lbf⋅ft) at 1,500–2,500 6-speed manual

7-speed automatic

X350d2018–20202,998 cc (182.9 cu in) V6 turbo Diesel OM642190 kW (258 PS; 255 hp) at 3,600, 550 N⋅m (406 lbf⋅ft) at 1,600 7-speed automatic

References

  1. ↑ "Goodbye, X-Class - You saved me in Albania, but couldn't save yourself". Wheels. 4 May 2020. Retrieved 1 June 2020.
  2. ↑ Pornelos, Vince (15 November 2016). "7 questions with Filipino Mercedes-Benz designer Wini Camacho". Autoindustriya. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
  3. ↑ "Terrible cars you should not buy. Volume 1: SsangYong Musso".
  4. ↑ "2018 Mercedes-Benz X-Class First Ride". Autoblog. 21 July 2017. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
  5. ↑ Padeanu, Adrian (31 January 2020). "Mercedes X-Class Production To End In May: Official". Motor1.com. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  6. ↑ "Mercedes Pickup Truck Concept: Here it Is". Road & Track. 25 October 2016. Retrieved 27 October 2016.
  7. ↑ "The Mercedes-Benz pickup truck is here — and it's called the X-Class". Business Insider. Retrieved 27 October 2016.
  8. ↑ "It is over: Mercedes-Benz confirms end of X-Class by May this year". The Citizen. 31 January 2020. Retrieved 27 April 2022.
  9. ↑ "Mercedes to end production of X-class pickup". Automotive News Europe. 31 January 2020. Retrieved 27 April 2022.
  10. ↑ "Mercedes-Benz releases global sales figures for X-Class for 2019…". CAR Magazine. 10 January 2020. Retrieved 27 April 2022.
  11. ↑ "CONFIRMED: Mercedes-Benz axes the X-Class dual-cab as premium ute experiment fails". CarsGuide. Retrieved 27 April 2022.
  12. ↑ Mercedes-Benz's Nissan-Based X-Class Pickup Truck Dies a Predictable Death - Motor Trend (02/16/2021)
  13. ↑ "Mercedes-Benz X-Class Pickup Truck Discontinued After Slow Sales". MotorTrend. 3 February 2020. Retrieved 28 April 2022.
  14. ↑ "Mercedes-Benz X-Class 2018 pricing and spec confirmed". CarsGuide. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  15. ↑ "Mercedes-Benz X-Class". Top Gear. 1 February 2018. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  16. 1 2 "Engine and transmission: High-torque, enjoyable performance with four and six cylinders". Daimler Global Media Site (Press release). 18 July 2017. Archived from the original on 21 July 2017. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
  17. ↑ "Mercedes X-Class Technical Data". Daimler Global Media Site (Press release). 18 July 2017. Archived from the original on 21 July 2017. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
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