We're pretty sure that the Nissan Navara cannot bend backward and turn itself into a V8 drag racing machine. But you never know what Mercedes engineers are capable of doing.
Every time Mercedes enter a new segment it does so with a preview concept, just to make sure people will like it. The only false positive they ever got was the CLS Shooting Brake, which will be phased out. But from compact hatchbacks to SUVs with sloping rooves, it's all been awesome.
The X-Class is no exception. Last night, Mercedes kept its word and revealed a preview, two of them, in fact. One shows the luxury side of things, and the other offered a glimpse into the trail capabilities of the first Merc.
To call this, the first pickup in Mercedes history would be bad on so many levels. Neither can we pretend that it will be offered with a twin-turbo V8 packing sufficient power to merit the AMG badge.
But just because it's based on the Navara doesn't mean it will handle the same. Just look at the Porsche Macan, an SUV that's based on the old Audi Q5 yet handles nothing like it.
"With the X-Class, we will close one of the last gaps in our portfolio. Our target is to offer customers vehicles matching their specific needs. The pick-up will set new standards in a growing segment," says the mustache man himself.
Well, Dr. Dieter Zetsche, what if your customers demand the X 63 AMG in this rendering, made by X-Tomi Design. We have about six more months until the production X-Class debuts, plenty of time to re-consider offering a performance pickup. It might sound like total nonsense, but so is combining a leather-covered dashboard with 3.5 tons of towing capacity. But heck, if the idea catches on, maybe the X-Class will turn into an entire lineup of trucks, putting everybody from Cadillac to the Ford Raptor on notice.
The X-Class is no exception. Last night, Mercedes kept its word and revealed a preview, two of them, in fact. One shows the luxury side of things, and the other offered a glimpse into the trail capabilities of the first Merc.
To call this, the first pickup in Mercedes history would be bad on so many levels. Neither can we pretend that it will be offered with a twin-turbo V8 packing sufficient power to merit the AMG badge.
But just because it's based on the Navara doesn't mean it will handle the same. Just look at the Porsche Macan, an SUV that's based on the old Audi Q5 yet handles nothing like it.
"With the X-Class, we will close one of the last gaps in our portfolio. Our target is to offer customers vehicles matching their specific needs. The pick-up will set new standards in a growing segment," says the mustache man himself.
Well, Dr. Dieter Zetsche, what if your customers demand the X 63 AMG in this rendering, made by X-Tomi Design. We have about six more months until the production X-Class debuts, plenty of time to re-consider offering a performance pickup. It might sound like total nonsense, but so is combining a leather-covered dashboard with 3.5 tons of towing capacity. But heck, if the idea catches on, maybe the X-Class will turn into an entire lineup of trucks, putting everybody from Cadillac to the Ford Raptor on notice.