Will we have a Mercedes-Benz pick-up at the Paris Motor Show?

For some time now there have been rumours about a new model from the brand with the star, a model that is new to Mercedes.

We are talking about a Mercedes pick-up, a recreational and industrial-style vehicle, which could arrive sooner than we think.

At present, Mercedes’s range of commercial vehicles consists of the Vito, recently refreshed alongside the V-Class, and the Sprinter, a medium van that shares its construction with the Volkswagen Crafter. It is a range that, although very successful, falls somewhat short of the needs of some customers.

Mercedes has never offered a pick-up, a body style that, although not the most popular in Europe, is always a guaranteed success in other regions such as America. Now, thanks to the synergies between Mercedes and the Renault-Nissan group, it seems that the arrival of a Mercedes pick-up is closer than ever.

Almost a year ago, the brand with the star surprised us by announcing that its first pick-up model would arrive before 2020. However, it seems that this announcement fell somewhat short, as the launch of this model could be brought forward, with a presentation that may come within half a year, at the Paris Motor Show 2016.

As we have mentioned before, although Mercedes has no experience in this type of vehicle, the German brand will draw on the know-how of the Renault-Nissan group. Indeed, it is very possible that the German model will be built on the current Nissan Navara, which has just been completely redesigned.

This pick-up will be positioned as the most refined and luxurious on the market

Of course, it will feature a design that is fully Mercedes, with more refinement, while also offering a finish quality far superior to what is usual in this type of vehicle. It will not lack a technological offering that will place it as the most advanced in its segment by a wide margin. There are rumours that this model will be commercially named the X-Class.

Mechanically, the X-Class may well feature, like the Nissan Navara, an advanced chassis with coil-spring suspension instead of leaf springs, exponentially improving comfort and handling compared with leaf-sprung models.

Four- and six-cylinder diesel and petrol engines are expected, some sharing engines with the Navara, while others will be specifically built and used by Mercedes. A selectable four-wheel-drive system will not be lacking, nor will manual and automatic gearboxes.

Source | Autoexpress