A pickup truck from Mercedes – who would have thought it would find takers. But apparently, there is a market for a workhorse luxury pickup truck, which can haul bales of hay during the day and pull up to a swank casino at night. Mercedes has unveiled the X-Class pickup truck in Cape Town, South Africa, and it will enter other markets later in the year. Read on and you will see why it would work in India too.
This is a proper luxury pickup truck, which can seat five and comes with four-wheel drive to handle the rough stuff too. It comes with a choice of four engine options and 7-speed automatic or 6-speed manual transmissions. Yet, the interiors are swathed in leather, brushed aluminium-finish and looks typically like a Mercedes GLE SUV at first glance.
The dashboard has been cleaned up and looks less busy compared to a GLE. The large infotainment display has four interesting chrome AC vents positioned below it, with retro-rugged vents below it.
The X-Class will be powered by a range of engines, including a 2.3 litre diesel in two states of tune, producing 163 bhp of power and 190 bhp of power. It will also likely get a 2.1-litre petrol engine putting out 165 bhp of power. Mercedes may add a 250 bhp, V6 diesel engine to the line-up later. All the options will come with Mercedes 4Matic four-wheel drive system, with an option of a rear differential lock as well.
Since the X-Class is a luxury, workhorse pickup truck, it is designed to carry loads of up to 1 ton, as well as pull a trailer with up to 3.5 tonnes capacity – just in case you want to haul your boat to the marina.
Mercedes hasn’t said that India is one of the markets the X-Class would be targeting. Traditionally, pickup trucks have not fared well in India, except for niche segments. Only lately, the likes of the Isuzu D-Max V-Cross have been getting some traction in the market, while the Mahindra Scorpio Getaway and Tata Xenon have failed to chalk up large enough numbers.
However, a Mercedes X-Class has the potential to shake things up. Wait, hear me out. It would make for the ideal campaign vehicle for politicians, ferrying them in luxury, with the load bay becoming a makeshift podium as needed. Or, it can carry bodyguards for VIPs. It can be the ideal long-distance expedition vehicle for those who want to go on camping trips. It could double up as a back-up vehicle for well-heeled people who patronise adventure sports. It can find traction with affluent farmers and planters too.
So Mercedes, when are you driving this one to India?
(We all love to express ourselves, but how often do we do it in our mother tongue? Here's your chance! This Independence Day, khul ke bol with BOL – Love your Bhasha. Sing, write, perform, spew poetry – whatever you like – in your mother tongue. Send us your BOL atbol@thequint.com or WhatsApp it to 9910181818.)
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)