posher pick-up: Mercedes X-class gains V6 power

The new six-cylinder X-class arrives in dealers in summer 2018. It's all part of the plan for Mercedes to do for the pick-up what most of us have forgotten it did for the SUV with the original M-class back in 1997.

Which is to say turn a piece of farm equipment into a fashionable family vehicle. Ute bakkie believe it, and so forth. (Sorry.)
X-Class = Mercedes-Benz first pick-up*

Now, some of you will already be arguing that Mercedes is late to the pick-up party. Utes have been the marker of people dangerously into lifestyle for at least two generations now – helped in part by a tax dodge that makes them much cheaper to tax than almost any other more conventional company car (in the UK, at least).

Thing is, every existing pick-up is still basically horrible to drive, especially on the road. Whereas the X-class, we’re told, ‘will drive like a Mercedes.’

The proof of this will actually come in around about October 2017, when we finally get behind the wheel – but as part of the launch event in South Africa we have been promised a passenger ride, which should at least give us some idea about comfort levels. More on this in a separate story later.


Has Mercedes really built a pick-up from scratch?

It’s not every day we get a brand new -class of Merc, is it? Particularly in an all-new market sector for the brand. So you probably won’t be surprised to learn that Mercedes has cheated.

The X-class is not only based on the latest Nissan NP300 Navara, introduced in 2016, it will be built by Nissan for Mercedes in the Navara factory in Spain.

Before you start saddling that high horse, it’s worth a) remembering that Nissan has decades of experience with these kinds of machines (although that’s not always been good news), and b) knowing that Mercedes has made an extensive number of changes that go way deeper than the rather fetching visual reskin.

This includes using its own 254bhp V6 turbodiesel at the top of the range.

Mercedes X-class pickup truck

Plus, if you’re going to build a pick-up with car-like driving characteristics, the Navara is a good place to start, as it’s one of only two competitors in the so-called ‘one-tonne’ segment that gets all-round coil-spring suspension.

All of the others – including the Volkswagen Amarok and Ford Ranger – feature leaf springs at the back.
How similar is the X-class to the Navara really?

While the X-class is strikingly different from the outside at first glance – if somewhat skinny and anaemic-looking compared to the original concepts – stare a little more closely and you’ll see the proportions and things like the windows are largely identical.

That said, the Mercedes’ load area is a slightly longer, and both the bodywork and the wheel track is wider (by up to 62mm, like-for-like) than the Nissan, something that’s said to contribute to the improved road manners, alongside reworked suspension settings.

At launch, however, the X-class will be powered by a pair of 2.3-litre four-cylinder diesels, and both of these are Nissan units. The X220d is a single-turbo version with 161bhp while the X250d is a sequential twin-turbo with 187bhp; both get selectable four-wheel drive, and the option of a seven-speed automatic to replace the standard six-speed gearbox.

Mercedes X-class pickup truck

The X-class V6 will arrive mid-2018, badged X350d and will rumble to the tune of 406lb ft as well as the headline 254bhp – meaning it outguns the top spec 221bhp Amarok V6 for power, but only matches it for muscle.

The V6 gets permanent four-wheel drive, complete with variable centre diff, and a seven-speed auto as standard. This is the car launched at the 2018 Geneva show.
What’s the X-class interior like?

Until we find out exactly how much effort Mercedes has put into retuning the chassis, the cabin is where the biggest difference between the X-class and rival pick-ups lies.

The latest Amarok is good, in a giant Golf kind of way, but you can spec the X-class to be like a proper premium vessel.

The Mercedes parts bin helps – the dials are C-class, elements of the centre console, including the floating screen, come from the V-class; at 8.4 inches across with the optional COMAND Online infotainment system, this is the biggest screen in this mid-size pickup sector (you get a 7.0-inch unit as standard).

Mercedes X-class pickup truck

Mercedes has also gone for it with personalisation. There are six seat fabrics (including two optional leathers with contrast stitching), three interior trim choices and two colours of headlining. The combination of brown finishes looks particularly classy, and remarkably similar to one of the original concepts.

The V6 even gets a Dynamic Select, for a choice of Comfort, Eco, Sport, Manual and Off-road driving modes.
What’s the X-class like for standard equipment?

There are three trim levels: Pure, Progressive and Power.

Pure is the closest the X-class gets to a working pickup, with an unpainted front bumper and steel wheels – almost no-one is expected to buy this in the UK. You do still get luxuries such as air-con, seven airbags and LED lighting for the load area, but these are combined with an easy-clean plastic interior floor.

Progressive gets painted bumpers, 17-inch alloys, eight-speakers, aluminium door sill finishers, etc, etc, and starts to look like a Mercedes you can park outside your house. Most buyers will likely opt for Power, however, which looks like a Mercedes you could park outside the office.

Mercedes X-class pickup truck

The X-class Power gets 18s as standard, chrome underbody panelling at the front, a chrome bumper at the rear and Artico artificial leather on the inside. There’s a more powerful infotainment system, climate control, keyless go and electrically adjustable seats. Plus full-LED headlights. It’s practically civilised.

Just don’t expect reach adjustment for the steering wheel. This is one limitation of the Navara chassis Mercedes wasn’t able to overcome; the wheel is height-adjustable only.

Obviously Mercedes is keen to sell you options, and these range from a substantial selection of in-house designed truck accessories, such as pseudo roll bars (two versions labelled Style and Sport), three choices of tonneau cover, a paint-protecting bedliner and a waterproof storage box, to 19-inch alloys, an electrically operated opening rear window on the back of the cab, and a 360-degree parking camera.

A Mercedes-designed hardtop canopy for the load bed helps the X-class do its best impression of an SUV, too.
Will it off-road?

More rugged types will be pleased to note you can delete the rear bumper (allowing the tailgate to open 180 degrees while improving the departure angle) and adapt the X-class for harder work off-road.

A locking rear-diff, 20mm higher off-road suspension and proper underbody cladding made from 2-3mm stainless steel are all available. Every X-class sold in Europe will come with the lower Comfort suspension as standard.

It’ll still wade to depths of 600mm, either way. Maximum payload is rated to 1042kg, and it’ll tow up to 3.5 tonnes, matching the best in class.

Mercedes X-class pickup truck
How much does the Mercedes X-class cost and when does it go on sale?

The X-class went on UK sale around the end of 2017 – after some 600 or so especially keen customers started making reservations at the beginning of the year, and only these prescient soles are likely to actually get their pick-ups before Christmas. General dealer supply won’t start until early 2018.

In the UK, the Mercedes X-class costs from £34,147.

Mercedes-Benz X-Class Pickup Truck

Last October, Mercedes-Benz previewed its long-awaited X-Class pickup truck in concept form, promising a production version to come in the future. At an event in South Africa today, the X-Class midsize pickup made its official debut, but sadly, Mercedes didn't confirm it was coming to the US.

Previously, we'd heard that the X-Class wouldn't come to North America, but we reported earlier this year that there's actually a chance that it could make it here. Either way, it's still a fascinating truck. Here, the X-Class would compete with the Chevrolet Colorado/GMC Canyon, the Toyota Tacoma, the Honda Ridgeline, and the upcoming Ford Ranger. There's obviously a market for upscale full-size pickups in the US, but Mercedes isn't sure if the same is true for mid-sizers.


Mercedes is offering the X-Class with four engines, two four-cylinder diesels, a four-cylinder gas engine, and a V6 diesel. It'll be offered in both rear- and all-wheel drive form, and either with a six-speed manual transmission or a seven-speed automatic. At launch, the X-Class will come with switchable 4Matic all-wheel drive with a low-range gearbox, while a permanent all-wheel drive system will arrive later.


As you'd expect, Mercedes also promises that the X-Class will be better on road than other pickups. The German automaker claims that the X-Class' dynamics are "on a par with passenger cars." Mercedes is also offering the X-Class with its safety tech like lane-keep assist, and autonomous emergency braking.



The X-Class is based on the non-US market Nissan Navara, though its styling is pure Mercedes—the front Facia looks quite a lot like the GLS SUV. Inside, the X-Class gets some of its own design touches, and you'll recognize a lot of switchgear from elsewhere in the Mercedes range. Most obvious is the 8.4-inch "Comand" touch screen that's offered in the C-Class and other Mercedes cars. The X-Class will be offered in three forms—the work-truck-esque "Pure" (pictured at the top of this post), the more luxurious "Progressive," and the stylish "Power."




Depending on drivetrain options, the X-Class offers a maximum towing capacity of 7716 lbs, but every X-Class offers 2230 lbs of payload capacity. European-market X-Classes get a comfort suspension as standard, but there's an optional, 20mm higher off-road suspension too. In markets outside Europe, the off-road suspension is standard.



The X-Class will start at €37,294 ($43,106 USD) when it goes on sale in Germany in November. Prices for other markets haven't been announced yet.

Mercedes-Benz X-class Pickup

Expectations could hardly be higher than when Mercedes-Benz, the brand with the motto “The best or nothing,” sets out to enter a market segment. After years of choosing “nothing” as it regards vehicles with a cargo bed at the back, and following years of intensive market research, soul searching, and development, the new X-class pickup truck has arrived.


Mercedes—whose corporate parent Daimler has a rich history as a maker of commercial trucks—didn’t try to reinvent the wheel in creating its first ever pickup, nor did its engineers take a GLE-class SUV and add a pickup bed. Instead, they drew from business partner Nissan and its Europe-built Navara—the successor to the Frontier that Nissan still sells in the United States. The Nissan pickup has a reputation for toughness and reliability, and the latest Navara replaced the traditional leaf springs for the rear axle with coil springs. That was key to enabling the kind of handling and ride comfort that Daimler had in mind. The mid-size X-class needs to be a tough workhorse just as much as a comfortable long-distance cruiser.


 The finished X-class shares its ladder frame and a number of nonvisible parts with the Nissan, but hunting for obvious similarities turned out to be frustrating (or encouraging, depending on how you look at it). The X-class is a very different vehicle from the Navara, but it won’t be offered in the U.S., the world’s most competitive pickup-truck market.
 
Wider and Higher

If it looks more substantial than the Nissan, that’s because Daimler has widened the track—and the bodywork—by a full 2.8 inches. The two trucks will be built on the same assembly lines, but no exterior sheetmetal or glass is interchangeable. The door geometry—the hinges, latches, and their locations—is the same, but the panels are all brand specific.

The X-class looks good, with a front end dominated by the large three-pointed star and an overall design similar to Benz’s SUV models. The rear end with its slim vertical taillights reminds us of a concept car, especially when fitted with the LED front and rear lighting that comes with upper trim levels.



 The widened body allows more generous interior space than the Navara offers. Mercedes has raised the rear-seat bottom to deliver more comfort—in the back seat of the crew-cab Nissan, the only cab style available in the X-class, you can feel like a half-folded pocketknife—although tall adults will lack for headroom. There is a lot more sound insulation than in the Nissan, and the Germans have added structural elements to the frame in order to reduce noise, vibrations, and harshness.

The interior is dominated by a concave dashboard; the instruments, central screen, HVAC controls, and the optional, touch-sensitive COMAND infotainment system come straight from the Mercedes-Benz passenger-car parts bin. In the standard trim, called Pure, the look is somewhat frugal with a lot of hard plastic, but most of the electronic goodies are aboard, including the latest driver-assistance safety systems. The mid-level Progressive trim brings a bit more fabric to the cabin and also exterior niceties such as body-color bumpers. But it takes the top-of-the-line Power trim to give the X-class the appearance of an upmarket vehicle, with stitched faux leather applied to the dashboard and the inner door panels. 

Aluminum and wood trim are options.
The X-class falls short of its premium aspirations when carryover parts from Nissan are used. These include the dome light, the switches for the seat heaters, and, we suspect, the automatic gear selector that sprouts from the console. The X-class also needs far more stowage space in the cabin, where only the door pockets are sufficiently large—the center-console bin, the cupholders, and the glovebox are all tiny.

Pickup Truck Accidents

If you have been in an accident involving a pickup truck, then it is very important to follow the right course of action. This is a traumatic and frightening experience, but keeping a level head and taking the right steps can improve your chances of avoiding further injury and compensation, if you’re entitled to it.


Pickup Truck Accidents

Commercial pickup trucks are vehicles used by businesses in a number of industries. These are small vans or trucks that have low sides, and open backs. This makes it possible for items to be placed in the cargo area without the restrictions that come from van doors and enclosed spaces. The vehicles are therefore commonly used in a number of trades and for transporting a wide range of goods.

These vehicles are becoming increasingly common on the road, and pickup truck accidents are also becoming more frequent. If cargo has been loaded poorly, then it can fall onto the road or obstruct the vision of the driver, or other drivers! The extra weight can also make pickup trucks harder to maneuver and slower to come to a halt.

What to do in a Pickup Truck Accident

Should you find yourself in an accident involving a pickup truck, you should call the police and an ambulance if necessary. Calling the police is always recommended, no matter the severity of the incident. If there’s any kind of debris on the road, that will require someone to come and clean up so it can be drivable for other passengers. Finally, you may also need the services of a body shop to come and tow and repair your car.

If there is another party involved in the accident, then you will need to exchange insurance details. Try to be as civil as possible as there’s no reason to cause additional distress. You don’t necessarily have to establish blame at this point, but they might freely admit to being at fault. Make sure that you do not use language that implicates you.

Now if you do think there might be a dispute, and even if they say there won’t, it’s a good idea to go around and collect some evidence from the scene. First and foremost, this means getting the contact information of witnesses who can describe what they saw happened. Meanwhile, you should also take a couple of photos, things like tire marks on the road and the location of the damage on each car can prove very useful. Finally taking photos can also help you to make any insurance claims.

Then you should find a lawyer. A lawyer can ensure that you receive the compensation that you are entitled to, and it’s very important that you look for someone with experience that is specialized in commercial pickup truck accidents. That means a lawyer that has dealt with commercial pickup truck accidents, and who will understand the specifics of the law as they pertain to these types of vehicle.

Mercedes-Benz EQC

Mercedes-Benz’s electrified future starts with the EQC, the first model in the new EQ sub-brand. An 80.0-kWh battery is said to provide up to 200 miles of driving range per charge; two electric motors offer all-wheel drive and a claimed 4.9-second zero-to-60-mph time. Although it boasts its own interior and exterior styling, the EQC shares its platform with the GLC-class crossover, so spacious passenger and cargo areas are all but a sure thing. Look for the EQC in Benz dealerships sometime in 2020.

The switch from the internal-combustion engine to the electric motor is not something the German auto industry was particularly keen on. Granted, there have been a number of EV concept cars and prototypes, but the main effort was invested in perfecting conventional powertrains.

Now comes the first indication that times may be changing. Although it's still not clear whether a comprehensive switch is feasible or even desirable, if it happens, Germany will be prepared. At Daimler, Mercedes-Benz's EQ sub-brand has been created for the purpose of developing and marketing a lineup of fully electric cars. The first one is the Mercedes-Benz EQC, unveiled today at an event in Stockholm.

The EQC is based on the Mercedes-Benz GLC, but the design team under Gorden Wagener has succeeded in creating a highly original and forward-looking styling language. There is an EQ-specific grille, with the headlights connected by a central LED strip at the top of the grille. The rear end, similarly, is dominated by a wide horizontal light bar that will be a signature of every future Mercedes-Benz EQ model. The three-pointed star on the grille is illuminated, and on the liftgate the badge incorporates the handle release and the backup camera. The wheels range from 19 to 21 inches, and some versions feature blue accents. There is even an optional AMG Line appearance package with package-specific bumpers, grille, and other styling bits.


Built at the same Daimler plant in Bremen, Germany, the new model shares many interior features with the GLC as well. But unlike the current GLC, this cockpit is fitted with the new MBUX user interface, an industry-leading system that includes cutting-edge infotainment and telematics functions, housed within two 10.3-inch display screens. Rose-gold accents on parts of the interior including the stitching and the slats in the HVAC vents are an exclusive EQ touch.

We've ridden in a late prototype and were duly impressed by the quietness and straight-line performance of the new model. The EQC400's powertrain, fed by an 80.0-kWh Accumotive lithium-ion battery pack, consists of two induction motors, one coupled to the front axle and one to the rear. Total output is 402 horsepower delivered to all four wheels. (Coincidentally, that is exactly the same as the iconic W140-series 600SEL that launched in 1990.) With 564 lb-ft of torque available at launch, it accelerates even faster than that V-12 S-class of yore: Zero to 60 mph is said to take just 4.9 seconds. Top speed, on the other hand, is far less impressive, with the EQC electronically governed at 112 mph. Five driving modes are offered: Comfort, Eco, Max Range, Sport, and Individual. There also are five levels of regenerative braking, selectable via steering-wheel paddles, the most aggressive of which allows for one-pedal driving.



Mercedes-Benz claims a range of up to 200 miles. Using the standard DC fast charging, refilling the battery from 10 to 80 percent will take an estimated 40 minutes. Of course, the range comes with a penalty: The batteries alone weigh a whopping 1433 pounds. Total weight of the vehicle is estimated to be around 5350 pounds. The EQC400 moniker hints that there may be further versions to come, whether more powerful or less.


The fact that this car is based on the GLC platform means that it doesn't fully take advantage of the theoretical benefits of an electric-only architecture, making for an interesting situation. The GLC is now offered with gasoline, diesel, gasoline plug-in hybrid, and hydrogen fuel-cell powertrains. Together with the EQC, that makes five different powertrain concepts. Never before have the merits of so many different propulsion systems been so directly comparable. Most buyers, though, will be comparing the new EQC to the Tesla models and the Jaguar I-Pace. Pricing is yet to be announced, and production starts in 2019 with the model going on sale in the United States in 2020.

BMW x7

The 2019 BMW x7

 A new full-size BMW SUV has seemed like an inevitability for more than a decade. Now, the new X7 is finally making its debut in its final production form after having been previewed in concept form last year. The X7 slots in above the X5 in nearly every measurement, and its size is its chief virtue, as it promises better third-row accommodations and more cargo space—along with a higher luxury quotient to go with its larger price tag.

Riding on a stretched version of the X5's rear-wheel-drive-based platform, the X7 is 9.0 inches longer overall with a 5.1-inch greater wheelbase, and it's also a few inches taller than its little brother. That makes the X7 slightly bigger than its chief rival, the Mercedes-Benz GLS-class. Like the Benz, the BMW seats seven occupants with a standard three-place second-row bench and a two-place third row. Unlike in the GLS-class, though, there is an option for second-row captain's chairs that reduce seating capacity to six—and the X7's individual chairs are quite sumptuous, with power adjustments and plush headrest cushions.

The entirety of the X7's interior, in fact, looks rich, especially in the optional two-tone blue-and-white leather color scheme pictured here. The latest version of BMW's iDrive software is on hand, as is the company's new digital gauge cluster. On the outside, the X7 looks nearly identical to the concept version, with enormous kidney grilles up front and a squared-off greenhouse in the rear that seems purpose-built to maximize third-row headroom.


Two versions of the X7 will be offered in the U.S. at launch, the six-cylinder xDrive40i and the V-8 xDrive50i, both with standard all-wheel drive. The powerplants are identical to the like-named variants of the X5, with the 40i using a turbocharged inline-six with 335 horsepower and 330 lb-ft of torque and the 50i powered by a twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V-8 boasting 456 ponies and 479 lb-ft. An eight-speed automatic is the sole transmission choice. We suspect that a plug-in-hybrid version will become available down the road, too. Both models are rated to tow up to 7500 pounds when equipped with an optional factory hitch.

Adaptive dampers and air springs are standard, and the X7 offers a variety of driving modes that alter the ride height and powertrain tuning and, in Sport mode, can even change the all-wheel-drive system to be more rear biased. BMW is offering a number of chassis performance upgrades, including a Dynamic Handling package that adds an electronically controlled rear differential, rear-wheel steering, and upgraded brakes. Huge 21-inch wheels are standard equipment, and there are optional 22-inchers.



As you'd expect of a range-topping luxury SUV, the X7's price is steep, with the six-cylinder starting at $74,895 and the V-8 opening at $93,595. Buyers are invited to inflate those figures with all manner of extravagant options, such as a Cold Weather package with five-zone automatic climate control, a panoramic sunroof with LED lights embedded in it, and a wide range of exterior and interior color and trim combinations.

Officially on sale in March 2019, the X7 will also be available for preorder on BMW's website. By selecting a dealership and putting down a deposit, interested buyers can customize their personal X7 and stake their claim to one of the very first examples of BMW's biggest ever luxury SUV.

Mercedes-Maybach

Mercedes-Maybach

 Introduction
A Mercedes-Maybach expands the pleasures of motoring to new dimensions. Its lengthened wheelbase heightens your comfort. Exquisite appointments reach beyond accommodating. And with distinctive new details, it's travel in one of its most distinguished forms.


 
design

A Mercedes-Maybach carries itself as elegantly as it carries its passengers. It's not merely stretched but artfully, and aerodynamically, sculpted to command the eye as well as the road. And exclusive styling envelops a cabin at the pinnacle of luxury.


Unmistakable presence. With an eye to the future.
What makes tomorrow's classic is how captivating it is today. A new, bespoke grille cascades with fine chrome vanes. And rich new paintwork can drape its sweeping yet majestic body in impossibly deep gloss or dramatic new two-tones.



Unmatched comfort. From precisely matched elements

Industry-first Energizing Comfort Control can rejuvenate your senses and relax your body with a symphony of climate, fragrance, ambient lighting and music. Even the massaging seats are included in the range of treatments you can select.



Unparalleled accommodations. In a choice of configurations.

The Mercedes-Maybach rear cabin raises first-class travel to great heights without leaving the ground. Heated, ventilated, massaging and power-reclining Executive rear seats are standard. Individual power seats with calf rests and folding tables are available.


 Unique appointments. Tailored to suit you.

Diamond-quilted, button-tufted Exclusive Nappa or designo semi-aniline leather is hand-fitted to each seat, with new color offerings and matching throw pillows. Exotic, hand-finished wood, satin aluminum and more Nappa leather cover nearly every other surface


 In tune with your desires. And your devices.

Apple CarPlay™ and Android Auto expand your choices in entertainment and navigation. Their unique interfaces work like your phone because they integrate with it, even its voice controls. You can even charge your phone wirelessly.



Adapts to the road. Responds to the driver.

Fully active MAGIC BODY CONTROL suspension generates its own forces at each wheel to take corners and bumps in stride. It continually scans the road ahead with a camera, to counteract bumps and dips proactively. It can even lean into curves much like a slaloming skier does.