X-Class revealed in full

Mercedes-Benz has finally announced details and specifications for its upcoming X-Class pickup. The imposing appearance of the concept  has been carried over largely unchanged. Standing proud out front is the current Mercedes-Benz corporate face, while three trim variants will be available (Pure, Progressive and Power), with changes in terms of bumper colour and chrome trim marking each individual line.

The load bed can take a Euro-pallet between the wheel arches, with a maximum payload capacity of 1,042kg. A 180-degree opening tailgate is an option over the standard 90-degree version, while maximum towing weight is 3.5 tonnes. Usefully, the LEDs of the third brake light can be switched to illuminate the whole load bed, and a range of options including tonneau covers, canopy and load dividers can be specified.

A brace of 2.3-litre, four-cylinder diesel engines will be available from launch, in single-turbo 163hp and biturbo 190hp guises. Rear-wheel-drive or engageable all-wheel-drive transmissions can be picked, with a six-speed manual gearbox standard with the 163hp engine. A seven-speed auto is optional for the 190hp version, and a V6 turbodiesel with 268hp and 550Nm of torque is set to come on the market from the middle of 2018.

Traction on- and off-road is aided by the fitment of coil spring suspension all round, which utilises double wishbones on the front axle and a multi-link setup for the rear. Ground clearance is 202mm, although an extra 20mm can be specified. Permanent all-wheel drive will be offered as an option (in conjunction with the V6 engine only) from mid-2018 onwards.

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