The 2018 Mercedes-Benz X-Class pickup was recently spotted testing their first ever pickup truck in the cold wilderness of Scandinavia. It will bear the X-Class name and is expected to be unveiled later this year.
The X-Class pickup truck was undergoing cold weather endurance testing. This is done to make sure that a tested vehicle will be able to start even when the temperature plummets. The new pickup truck was tested in Arjeplog, northern Sweden.
The history of the Mercedes-Benz X-Class pickup was reported by Auto Blog to begin back in March 2015. The German automotive company first announced that it would enter the midsize truck market by the end of the decade. In April of the same year, the German luxury automobile manufacturer announced a collaboration with Nissan-Renault for the new pickup. The pickup was also announced to have a four-door double cab with a Nissan Navarra NP300 base.
In January of 2016, there was a report that the new Mercedes pickup will be powered by Nissan's four-cylinder engines. Additionally, it will also offer a V6 all-wheel drive. The price range was pegged between $39,000 to $57,000.
In July of the same year, a leaked product roadmap from the German automobile manufacturer was revealed. It shows an array of upcoming new models including the then unnamed pickup truck. A tentative production date was set in 2017.
In October of 2016, Mercedes finally revealed the X-Class concept cats. They showed two versions of the pickup: a street-friendly model called the "stylish explorer" and an off-road oriented model called the "powerful adventurer."
Auto Evolution further noted that the while the X-class will share similar features with the NP300 Navarra, it will be very different on the inside. The new pickup will have its interior and under the hood will be a different engine as well. A turbocharged, 3.0-liter V6 or a 2.0-liter four-cylinder like the one in the E-Class W213 was reported as engine choices.
The 2018 Mercedes-Benz X-Class pickup truck will be launched in the second half of the year. Unfortunately, it won't be offered in the United States yet. Stay tuned for more news about its availability.
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