2016+ Nissan Navara | Mercedes X-Class | Renault Alaskan

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Nissan Navara/Renault Alaskan based Mercedes-Benz pick up truck concept will be unveiled on Oct. 25th
 
First images of the Mercedes-Benz X-class concept
It will be shown in two trims, the sportier and more premium - Stylish Explorer and the more rugged - Powerful Adventurer.
MB-1.jpg

MB-2.jpg
 
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I can see normal drivers and tradies picking the PA version. That SE should just be a wagon. Would make more sense. Even as a concept, I don't see who will buy that version.

Edit: Now I know who
MERCEDES-BENZ has presented two production-oriented concept vehicles that preview its long-awaited all-new one-tonne pick-up range, which was developed with the Australian market firmly in mind and will arrive Down Under in 2018.

Dubbed the Concept X-Class – pointing to the production-moniker X-Class – Mercedes-Benz Vans claims its fourth model line alongside the V-Class, Sprinter and smaller Citan (not sold in Australia) will see it become “the first premium manufacturer to occupy the promising segment of mid-size pick-ups”.

Volkswagen was the first upmarket brand to enter the segment with its successful Amarok, but the X-Class will position Mercedes as the first fully fledged European prestige/luxury marque to take on the big guns in the segment.

As well as the Amarok, the X-Class will go head-to-head with the segment-leading Toyota HiLux, the high-selling Ford Ranger, Holden’s refreshed Colorado, the Mitsubishi Triton, Mazda BT-50 and Isuzu D-Max – to name a few.

It will also compete with the vehicle on which it is based, Nissan’s NP300 Navara, as well as a third model spun off from the platform, Renault’s Alaskan, which is also expected to launch in Australia in 2018.

As Mercedes said when it announced the pick-up program in March last year, Australia is one of the primary target markets for the vehicle, along with Argentina, Brazil, South Africa and Europe.

The company identified Australia as having the largest share of pick-up sales out of the key markets, with 14.1 per cent of vehicles sold slotting into the light-commercial utility segment. This was followed by Argentina with 11.6 per cent and Brazil on five per cent.

Four-wheel-drive pick-ups make up 12.4 per cent of all sales in Australia, the second-largest segment behind the sub-$40,000 small-car class that makes up 17.7 per cent.

Describing the X-Class as a “true Mercedes” from its design through to comfort, driving dynamics and safety, Mercedes says development costs will have reached close to €1 billion ($A1.4b) by the time the ute comes to market.

Of the two concepts shown in Sweden today, the ‘Stylish Explorer’ version is more in tune with the company’s SUV styling, with an “athletic” design giving it a dynamic appearance.

Mercedes says the front end represents an evolution of the SUV face of the brand, with dramatic headlights that extend into the wings and a huge ‘powerdome’ bonnet.

It also features the brand’s familiar SUV apron, flared wheelarches and a single-louvre grille with the Mercedes star in the middle, mirroring high-end coupes from the passenger-car line-up.

The wide front and rear tracks allow for 22-inch light-alloy wheels (with a chrome finish), while running boards are incorporated into the bodywork.

At the rear of both concepts is a continuous LED light strip on the tailgate, which Mercedes says points to the unique character of the production model, as well as chromed SUV trim at the lower edge.

Inside, the Stylish Explorer features high-end materials such as white Nappa leather, open-pore smoked oak, and brushed and polished aluminium trim.

Also notable is a free-standing high-res central display connected to the central controller and multifunction touchpad, which allows drivers to use gestures or enter letters to search and navigate the system.

The second variant presented in Stockholm, dubbed ‘Powerful Adventurer’, is the more rugged of the two, with 35x11.50 tyres, massive ground clearance (taking overall height to 1900mm), as well as the SUV twin-louvre grille, front and rear under-ride guard, wing claddings and matte carbon wheelarches.

The go-anywhere point is also reinforced by the electric winch prominent at the front end.

The Adventurer’s cabin is not as luxurious as the Stylish Explorer, but is still decked out in matte carbon elements, metallic brushed surfaces and glossy black Nappa leather.

While Australian pricing and specification for the production model are some way off, Mercedes says the X-Class will be positioned in the segment “at an attractive price”.

The X-Class will be built in a manufacturing co-operation with the Renault-Nissan Alliance, and for the Australian, European and South African markets it will be produced in Barcelona, Spain.

Production for those markets will kick off late next year, with a launch in Australia and New Zealand set for 2018.

Production for Latin America will be based in Cordoba, Argentina, and will start in 2018.

In presenting the X-Class today, Mercedes highlighted the shift in pick-up ownership globally to private buyers looking for a dual-purpose or solely recreational vehicle and compared it to the change in the off-roader market 20 years ago that saw the German car-maker produce what it says was the first premium SUV – the M-Class.

Customers will be able to customise the exterior and interior of their X-Class by choosing from the various yet-to-be-revealed variants and there will be a special range of accessories on offer, such as bed covers and styling elements.

Benz says the X-Class will offer a “welcome home” feeling that is typical of the brand by including interior components that customers will be familiar with – such as the infotainment system and ergonomic seats – from models as diverse as the V-Class vans to the C-Class mid-size passenger range.

The company claims the X-Class will “set new standards in the segment” for connectivity, with the optional on-board SIM card allowing access to various Mercedes ‘me’ connected services.

Drivers can also connect with the pick-up by smartphone, tablet or PC at any time and from anywhere to perform tasks such as sending navigation destinations to the vehicle or querying where it is parked and how much fuel is in the tank.

Standard services will include accident recovery, maintenance and breakdown management.

The full powertrain line-up is still under wraps, but Mercedes said the flagship variant will use a V6 diesel engine with the 4Matic permanent all-wheel-drive system that combines an electronic traction system, a transfer case with reduction gear and two differential locks.

Benz says that the traction system and the electrically operated on-demand differential locks send power to where the traction is best, while both the rear and inter-axle differentials can be locked in difficult off-road conditions.

As GoAuto has reported, the production X-Class will be offered with a range of six- and four-cylinder turbo-diesel and petrol Daimler engines, in dual-cab body style only.

The ladder-frame chassis allows a payload of more than 1100kg and a towing capacity of up to 3500kg, while the specially constructed suspension with wide axles, a five-link rear suspension with coil springs and a “precisely calibrated” spring and damper set-up will make for “high ride comfort – on the road and off the road”, according to Benz.

While not detailing the exact list of safety features offered in the X-Class, Mercedes says it will be offered with driver assistance systems based on cameras, radars and ultrasound sensors, with some assistance features to be included as standard.

The company says it has identified five different customer groups for the X-Class, depending on the market.

The groups identified as being key to the Australian market include “families with an active lifestyle and an affinity to premium products” and “successful adventurers, who live in an urban environment”, and “business owners … who want to use their pick-up for commercial and private purposes”.

The other two groups not identified as being relevant to Australia include “trend-conscious individualists with an affinity to premium products” and landowners.

Head of Mercedes-Benz Vans Volker Mornhinweg said the X-Class will appeal to buyers that may not have previously considered purchasing a pick-up.

“We will open up and change the segment of mid-size pick-ups – with the world’s first true premium pick-up for the modern urban lifestyle,” he said. “Our future X-Class will be a pick-up that knows no compromise. Ladder-type frame, high-torque six-cylinder engine, and permanent all-wheel drive are compulsory for us.

“As an added value we bring safety, comfort, agility, and expressive design – in other words, everything that distinguishes vehicles bearing the Mercedes star. We will thus appeal to new customers who have not considered owning a pick-up before.”
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coryclifford
No more than the Lincoln truck that failed… high end trucks are dumb.
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Ahh, forgot about those. Thing is, in Australia, that Cadillac EXT(if it were imported) would have warmed the high end segment. A perfect machine to be seen towing boats with. Maybe light camping. Possiby light camping. Thing is, I don't know how many people will trade in their SRT Jeeps for the SE.
 
Hmmm...I was looking forward to this car but at the moment it's my least favourite of the three.
Have to wait and see when the production models start showing up...
 
I think the X-class wasn't necessary, they could have remodelled the G-Wagon to meet the quoted demands above.
 
http://www.autoblog.com/2016/10/25/mercedes-benz-x-class-concept-pickup-official/
Mercedes-Benz unveiled its X-Class Concept, a preview of the German company's upcoming midsize pickup truck. From what we've heard before, Mercedes' first pickup truck shares its platform with the Nissan NP300 Navara and will be powered by a diesel engine. Key markets for the pickup truck include Latin America, Australia, South Africa, and Europe. It doesn't look like there are any plans to bring the vehicle to the US.
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Mercedes was the one that got the 25 year rule ban on grey market imports passed. The chicken tax was pushed through much earlier by the UAW to essentially ban import of Volkswagen busses that were set up for commercial use.
 
Matej
I think the X-class wasn't necessary, they could have remodelled the G-Wagon to meet the quoted demands above.
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The G-wagon is massively, massively outdated by now, and absolutely terrible to drive. I also doubt it would appeal to as broad a range of potential customers as the X-class will.
 
homeforsummer
The G-wagon is massively, massively outdated by now, and absolutely terrible to drive. I also doubt it would appeal to as broad a range of potential customers as the X-class will.
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I dunno. How many blind people are really in the market for a truck?
 
I take it back about the SE. If the final version is close to the concept, these things will freakin' sell.
 
No single cab version. I guess this makes sense. It's like the first A-Class. That was a car for people to say they own a Mercedes.
MERCEDES-BENZ has no plans to build a single-cab version of its forthcoming X-Class one-tonne utility – set to launch in Australia in 2018 – and will steer away from promoting it as a rugged workhorse for tradespeople or off-road enthusiasts.

While private buyers looking for a ‘lifestyle’ vehicle are the prime audience, the German prestige manufacturer has revealed that the X-Class – shown in near-production concept form in Sweden overnight – will be offered in various model grades, including entry-level variants that should see it align with higher-end versions of volume-selling mainstream rivals such as the Toyota HiLux, Ford Ranger, Volkswagen Amarok and the Nissan Navara on which it is based.

Speaking with Australian journalists at the unveiling in Stockholm, head of Mercedes-Benz Vans Volker Mornhinweg said the shift in the market from offering durable workhorses to focusing on more car-like attributes had meant there was little point in offering a single-cab body style.

“In the past the pick-up trucks were seen really as a workhorse – rough and tough off-road challengers,” he said.

“As we saw in research, also in Australia for example, there is a move in the direction for a modern lifestyle private-use product.

“And that opens up for us now the opportunity. We don’t want to just step into the segment, we want to expand it (with) that modern lifestyle vehicle. Mercedes-Benz can do it when it comes to comfort, safety, connectivity, all these things you find in passenger cars.”

The X-Class was presented in two luxurious concept themes this week, however Mr Mornhinweg confirmed a broad range of trim levels would be offered in the marketplace.

“For sure, we will have lines within our portfolio. There will be maybe more entry-level (variants), but also the high-end versions,” he said.

“But it will be at a reasonable price and quite attractive in that pick-up segment.”

Head of global marketing for Mercedes-Benz Vans Marion Friese reiterated that the X-Class would not be priced well above its competitors in the ultra-competitive segment.

“You can imagine we would like to have competitive pricing,” she said. “We are the new kid on the block, we need to conquer, so we will have competitive pricing for the vehicle we are offering.”

Mr Mornhinweg announced that all variants would be rolled out at the same time.

As previously reported, the Australian-spec versions will be sourced from a Renault-Nissan Alliance factory in Barcelona, Spain, while an expansion of production to Thailand – where Nissan Australia sources its popular Navara – has been ruled out for now.

In terms of powertrains, Mercedes has confirmed that two Nissan-Renault four-cylinder engines – one diesel and one petrol – will be offered, helping position it among mainstream rivals.

Details for these remain under wraps, although a manual transmission and 4x2 driveline are confirmed as being part of the mix.

At the top end, a Mercedes-sourced V6 turbo-diesel with the 4Matic permanent four-wheel-drive system will be used.

While Mercedes-Benz passenger vehicles continue to shift to electrification, Daimler chairman and head of Mercedes-Benz Cars Dieter Zetsche this week ruled out a plug-in hybrid version of the X-Class.

“Pick-up is obviously on the heavy side of the range of cars,” he said.

“This combo of weight and long range is not the perfect starting point for electrification.”

The two concepts shown in Sweden presented a luxurious variant known as the ‘Stylish Explorer’ and a far more rugged and wild-looking example dubbed ‘Powerful Adventurer’.

There will, however, not be two dramatically different versions when the production model starts to roll out late next year. GoAuto understands that the ‘Stylish Explorer’ is closer to the mark in terms of the final version.

That said, Mr Mornhinweg told GoAuto that the final design of the production models would differ slightly from the sleek concepts.

“Especially in the interior, it’s quite close (to production). The exterior, some sections are changed. But overall, the cabin is more or less there,” he said.
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coryclifford
No more than the Lincoln truck that failed… high end trucks are dumb.
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Ford, Chevy, GMC and Dodge may not be premium brands, but they all have one or more very premium trim levels available on all of their trucks. If they can move trucks with $60-$70k pricetags, then its possible for Mercedes if they wanted to here in the US.

But it wouldnt happen unless they got serious about trucks (maybe even working closer together with Nissan).
 
Snaeper
Ford, Chevy, GMC and Dodge may not be premium brands, but they all have one or more very premium trim levels available on all of their trucks. If they can move trucks with $60-$70k pricetags, then its possible for Mercedes if they wanted to here in the US.

But it wouldnt happen unless they got serious about trucks (maybe even working closer together with Nissan).
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Most likely not going to happen. Umfortinately, the X is going to be for those that want the 3-pointed star on the grill, just because.
MERCEDES-BENZ has revealed it has used the Australian-engineered Ford Ranger as a benchmark in the development of its inaugural X-Class one-tonne mid-size utility, along with the segment-leading Toyota HiLux and Volkswagen’s more upmarket Amarok.

Production begins next year for the X-Class – previewed with two concepts unveiled in Sweden this week – after five years of extensive development, with an Australian launch set down for 2018.

Speaking with Australian journalists at the unveiling, head of Mercedes-Benz Vans Volker Mornhinweg said the Victorian-developed Ford Ranger was a key benchmark for the German manufacturer’s all-new ute, which is based on the current Nissan Navara.

“As we see, the first indication of maybe a change of OEMs in the pick-up segment was Volkswagen with Amarok,” he said. “A move to a product that is more car-like; rough and tough capability as well, but when it comes to this topic they made this first one.

“Then Ford Ranger has gone even further into that direction. Therefore, for sure, we benchmarked these products.

“We also looked very precisely at the Toyota HiLux, which is the market-leader in that segment. This is what we had done and we are sure with our approach we will be quite successful against this competition.”

Mercedes executives said that planning for the pick-up kicked off in 2010 but development of the model itself did not start until early 2012.

The German car-maker said that despite the X-Class sharing its platform with the Nissan Navara, it would be a Mercedes through and through, with its own unique exterior styling, a recognisably Mercedes cabin and componentry under the skin not found in the Japanese donor vehicle.

Daimler chairman and head of Mercedes-Benz Cars Dieter Zetsche told Australian journalists that the co-operation with the Renault-Nissan Alliance has so far been a success, and that an ongoing collaboration for the next-generation pick-up was likely.

“After seven years, more than two handfuls of projects, mostly being in the market, I would say that the co-operation is successful for all three sides,” he said.

“I don’t know about many other examples of this kind of co-operation that have produced this kind of positive result.

“We are very happy that with much less initial funding, we can enter the segment and have the chance to be, in the first get go, pretty profitable, and if that goes well I wouldn’t know why we should forego these benefits especially for production synergies.

“We will see. But at that point of time I would see it as much more likely that we would continue into the next generation rather than going our separate ways.”

Mercedes is using Renault-Nissan Alliance production facilities to build the X-Class, with the Australian, European and South African-spec models coming from Barcelona, Spain, while Latin American markets will source their pick-ups from Cordoba, Argentina.

One market that will not be getting the X-Class is the United States, with Mercedes executives citing slowing sales in the mid-size pick-up segment and a strong preference for larger pick-up trucks as reasons to bypass the market.

Dr Zetsche also ruled out producing a full-fat AMG version of the X-Class – for now, at least.

“Obviously not. There is no plan. You never know, we will see how the market goes and see how this product goes in the marketplace,” he said.

Dr Zetsche also said that Mercedes would not follow Nissan’s lead in producing an off-road-capable SUV based on the Navara.

“We have a pretty broad, full-line portfolio with SUVs with the different classes (where) we basically cover the more cute and the more rugged positions and I think there is no white space,” he said.
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I thought the Ridgeline was one of the first of the car like pick ups.
 
Navara suspension update
NISSAN has conducted Australian testing to develop improved suspension for dual-cab versions of its Navara ute and introduced a new SL variant as part of a Series II update featuring tweaks based on customer and dealer feedback.

The unique five-link, coil-sprung rear suspension setup fitted to dual-cab Navaras was met with mixed reviews, and the Series II update gains new front and rear shock absorbers plus revised rear springs and rebound dampers.

Nissan Australia says the “extensive” local testing has resulted in “more refined ride and handling, with improved lateral stability as well as enhanced handling when carrying loads”.

A new SL dual-cab 4x4 variant aimed at tradies and fleet customers is available from $43,990 plus on-road costs and is essentially a cut-down version of the second-top ST trim level.

It features a reversing camera, NissanConnect smartphone app functionality, vinyl flooring, 16-inch steel wheels and flared wheel-arches.

Like the ST, the SL uses a 2.3-litre twin-turbo diesel engine producing 140kW of power and 450Nm of torque, with a choice of six-speed manual or seven-speed automatic transmission and a class-leading official combined-cycle fuel consumption figure of 6.5 litres per 100km for the manual.

Existing variants receive specification tweaks, including the RX single- and dual-cab switching from carpet to vinyl flooring, the introduction of automatic transmission availability on the RX dual-cab-chassis and a sunroof becoming a $1000 option on ST-X dual-cabs.

Pricing has increased by $1000 on ST king- and dual-cab Navaras, with the latter gaining standard satellite navigation in ST trim.

Fold-out floor-level cupholders have been deleted from all dual-cab Navaras.

To the end of September, Nissan has achieved a 6.1 per cent share of the 4x2 ute market with 2060 sales, behind the Toyota HiLux (8303 sales and 24.6 per cent share) Ford Ranger (4502/13.3 per cent), Mazda BT-50 (3935/11.7 per cent), Isuzu D-Max (3742/11.1 per cent) and Holden Ute (3719/11.0 per cent).

In 4x4 guise the Navara has a 9.7 per cent share with 10,673 sales compared with the top-selling HiLux and Ranger (22,524 and 22,438 sales respectively). It is also less popular than the Mitsubishi Triton (12,885 sold) and Holden Colorado (12,885).

2016 Nissan Navara pricing*

Single Cab
DX 4x2 petrol cab chassis $19,490
RX 4x2 diesel cab chassis $25,990
DX 4x4 diesel cab chassis $31,990
RX 4x4 diesel cab chassis $32,990
RX 4x4 diesel cab chassis (a) $35,490
King cab
RX 4x2 diesel cab chassis $28,490
RX 4x4 diesel cab chassis $35,490
RX 4x4 diesel pick-up $36,990
ST 4x4 diesel pick-up $43,990
ST 4x4 diesel pick-up (a) $46,490
ST-X 4x4 4x4 diesel pick-up $49,990
ST-X 4x4 diesel pick-up (a) $52,490
Dual cab
DX 4x2 petrol pick-up $26,490
DX 4x2 petrol pick-up (a) $28,990
RX 4x2 diesel pick-up $32,990
RX 4x2 diesel pick-up (a) $35,490
RX 4x2 diesel cab chassis $38,490
ST 4x2 diesel pick-up $39,990
RX 4x4 diesel pick-up $39,990
RX 4x2 diesel cab chassis (a) $40,990
ST 4x2 diesel pick-up (a) $42,490
RX 4x4 diesel pick-up (a) $42,490
SL 4x4 diesel pick-up $43,990
ST-X 4x2 diesel pick-up $44,990
ST-X 4x2 diesel pick-up w/ sunroof $45,990
SL 4x4 diesel pick-up (a) $46,490
ST 4x4 diesel pick-up $46,990
ST-X 4x2 diesel pick-up (a) $47,490
ST-X 4x2 diesel pick-up w/ sunroof (a) $48,490
ST 4x4 diesel pick-up (a) $48,490
ST-X 4x4 diesel pick-up $51,990
ST-X 4x4 diesel pick-up w/ sunroof $52,990
ST-X 4x4 diesel pick-up (a) $54,490
ST-X 4x4 diesel pick-up w/ sunroof (a) $55,490
*Excludes on-road costs



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homeforsummer
The G-wagon is massively, massively outdated by now, and absolutely terrible to drive. I also doubt it would appeal to as broad a range of potential customers as the X-class will.
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Merc is already developing a new G Wagon. IIRC 2017/2018 launch date
And the current one is not massively outdated if you compare it to current mid size trucks (Ranger/Amarok/Hillux).

Not a fan of the x class though. I hope MB learned their lesson from the Citan and uses some of their Unimog/G Wagon expertise.
 
I can see the Merc Truck failing miserably here if it's as Expensive as it looks.

if it's priced more towards what their commercial range is priced and not the cars then it will sell like crazy.
 
The X-Class doesn't even look like a Mercedes-Benz, that is the first problem to start with. Unlike the G-Class it doesn't have any heritage to rely on either. I'm sure it would be cheaper to remodel the G-Class from the bottom than investing into this project.

I'm sure the G-Class would appeal to wide range of customers if only MB would decide to fix the price range and fit in some weaker engines for casual buyers. The cheapest new G-Class in Croatia costs around €130k, for crying out loud!

It is a shame, the G-Class could really be what it's supposed to be. The X-Class wouldn't be necessary then.
 

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