X-Class is the Africa’s new Mercedes C-Class

The Mercedes X-Class has finally been revealed after countless renderings and spy shots! The new model has been developed in a close collaboration with Renault-Nissan, partner to Mercedes’ parent company, Daimler, and is set for production in Spain and Argentina alongside the Renault Alaskan and the Nissan Navara.

Five of the key markets that Mercedes-Benz will aim to penetrate with the new X-class are Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Europe and South Africa, with production of the South African units expected to begin in 2017 at an existing Nissan factory in Barcelona, Spain.

Two derivatives of the new model were revealed; a luxury pavement queen that will most likely never be taken off-road and a more hardcore bundu-basher that Chuck Norris would approve of. According to Mercedes-Benz’s commercial vehicle division, they’ve identified the five different customer profiles that the new model will be targeted at, namely families, trades people, land owners, adventurers and individualists.

The concept of the “stylish explorer”, as Mercedes calls it, is expected to be a very close preview of the first actual production X-Class models that the world will see, featuring what appears to be a production ready steel body, a pavement favouring wheel and tyre package, modest ride height and an uber-luxurious leather lined interior.

The second derivative of the pick-up, dubbed the “powerful adventurer”, adds a more rugged element to the Mercedes X-Class concept. This is the no-nonsense version that will do battle with the infamous Ford Ranger Wildtrak and the upcoming Toyota Hilux Dakar Edition. Impressive ground clearance, four-wheel drive, cladded wheel arches and body sides and off-road wheels and tyres make the Benz a formidable opponent in this booming sector.

The front ends of both concepts share unmistakable Mercedes-Benz design genetics, from the traditional grille surrounding the central three-point star emblem to the signature headlamps. A less-than-subtle scuff plate integrated into the lower section of the front bumper echoes the ‘go-anywhere’ energy on the “powerful explorer” concept, whereas the “stylish explorer” brings out a sportier, more athletic appeal to the range with a chiselled bonnet emphasising the lines and flared out wheel arches creating width while allowing the room needed to hold the 22” alloy wheels sported by the more road orientated versions of the new Mercedes X-class.

Notorious for some of the best interiors, Mercedes ensured that the X-Class was no exception with the majority of its styling cues being borrowed from the latest V-class accompanied by subtle touches from the latest C-Class, consisting of a free-standing central monitor and a rotary controller with an integrated touchpad for the infotainment system.

One of the headline features on the new Benz is the so-called “communication module” which is linked to an on-board SIM card that enables owners to interact with the infotainment system straight from their smartphones. Safety has also been taken into consideration with camera, radar and ultrasound sensor based technology being borrowed from the more established models in an effort to place the X-Class right at the top of the pick-up food chain in terms of both standard and optional passive safety equipment.

The engine options that are set to power the new model are currently limited to unspecified four-cylinder petrol and diesel units, with a big, bad petrol V6 engine destined for the range-topper. The optional 4Matic four-wheel drive system paired with adaptive differential locks and electronic traction control provide confidence in the new models abilities off the tarmac. The potential load capacity is expected to sit around the 1100kg mark, while the towing capacity on top-end diesel V6 model is a claimed 3500kg.