The Mercedes Class X will be the official vehicle of the Titan Desert by Garmin

Pick-up trucks are carving out a significant niche in our market, and manufacturers are aware of this , and several already offer one of these vehicles in their range. We can see this with brands such as Toyota or Mitsubishi, which are somewhat more established than others. But Mercedes-Benz wanted to take the step, and did so in collaboration with Nissan. This is how the Class X was born.

Today, however, we bring you a very significant development for the star brand. Despite the short time the Class X has been in production, it has been named the official vehicle of the Titan Desert by Garmin, one of the toughest competitions in the world of cycling. The Class X was chosen not only for its performance, but also for its off-road capabilities.

This is because the competition takes place in the desert, and the Mercedes pick-up is the ideal candidate to fulfil this task. The Class X will play a key role in the Titan Desert, as it will be responsible for scouting the six stages that make up the championship and will have to mark the route before the competition begins.

Two Class X vehicles will travel to South Africa to set the pace of the race. At the same time, at the base camps — which cover 20,000 square metres — the pick-ups from the German brand will host an exhibition of the winning bicycle from each stage. But their duties will not stop there.

“The Class X is perfectly aligned with MTB and the Titan Desert, a sport with which it shares numerous synergies and the same core principles of strength, technique, performance, leisure and lifestyle.” said Andrés Orejón, President of Mercedes-Benz Vans Spain.

More Mercedes-Benz vehicles will attend the event to provide logistical support for the organisation of the Titan Desert. They will also act as sweep vehicles, providing assistance to any cyclist who suffers an injury or problem during the competition. But fulfilling this role also requires a mechanical set-up up to the task.

The Class X is offered with two diesel engines of 163 and 190 CV, which are capable of carrying more than 1,000 kg of load and towing up to 3,500 kg. These capabilities are ideal for coping with the harshness of the desert and serving as a support vehicle in any situation.