Mercedes-Benz took the wraps off of two mid-size pickup-truck concepts that preview the forthcoming Nissan Navara–based X-class, which is officially dubbed the Concept X-class. Mercedes further christened each concept with surnames sure to make the marketing executives at Mattel jealous: Stylish Explorer and Powerful Adventurer.
As its name implies, the Stylish Explorer is the Brian Fantana of the duo. Painted in white, the Stylish Explorer favors being in vogue over carrying heavy payloads. Not that it can’t, of course, as all production X-class pickups will utilize body-on-frame construction that Mercedes claims will allow the truck to carry as much as 2200 pounds in its bed and tow up to 7000 pounds. Meanwhile, the top-of-the-line X-class will be available with both a torquey six-cylinder engine and a four-wheel-drive system with a transfer case and two differential locks. Still, the Stylish Explorer’s front clip that mimics the style of Mercedes-Benz’s SUVs, its big 22-inch wheels, and an LED taillight strip would seem to make this truck better suited for making a statement at the country club as opposed to showing up to help build the country club.
Mercedes-Benz, though, knows that pickup trucks can make more than just one kind of style statement, which is why the brand also showed off the Concept X-class Powerful Adventurer. Sporting a more rugged-looking front-end design that incorporates a winch, as well as a set of chunky black fender flares, knobby 35-inch tires, and a raised suspension, the nearly 75-inch-tall Powerful Adventurer plays the yin the Stylish Explorer’s yang.
Inside, each truck’s interior wears hues that denote the two vehicles’ respective missions of style and adventure. But the concept cabins also reveal components that appear to have been sourced directly from the brand’s parts bin, such as the steering wheel, HVAC vents, COMAND controller, and multimedia screen.
Mercedes-Benz notes that the production X-class will launch late next year in Europe, South Africa, and Australia, with the truck reaching Latin American markets in 2018. We’re told that the truck is still under consideration for the U.S. market, although there’s no internal timeline regarding when a decision will be made.
If the X-class does make it to the States, expect it to follow the footsteps of the Metris, a vehicle that is based on the workaday Mercedes-Benz Vito and not the more luxurious Mercedes-Benz V-class. In other words, don’t get too attached to the Concept X-class Stylish Explorer, because we’re more likely to see an X-class in the vein of the Powerful Adventurer—that is, if we see an X-class at all.
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