Mercedes Reveals The X-Class Pickup - Could It Establish a New Market If It Came To The US?

We'll soon discover how many people will pay Mercedes prices for a restyled Nissan Navara.

I guess anything is possible..but its basically going to be a $60,000 Nissan I imagine.

Plus, for premium pickups, bigger and badder is better. This looks kind of wimpy and small to me. It probably won't play in Texas or the West.

What was that Lincoln pickup from 10 years ago? The Blackwood? The Mark LT? Those didn't do too well.

There is a bit of cognitive dissonance here - example - Cadillac could easily market an Escalade pickup but it would not make sense from a brand perspective, nor would people likely buy it because, among other things, it lacks authenticity, it is not loyal to the brand.

Mercedes should price it cheaply and market it initially at a low trim level, along with the Metris van and Sprinter. If it does well, then tart it up.

"What was that Lincoln pickup from 10 years ago? The Blackwood? The Mark LT? Those didn't do too well."

More like 20 years. A 2WD, overpriced pick-up with a non-removable cover over it's carpeted bed marketed by a brand that was circling the drain. So not sure that was a fair test of a "premium branded" pick up.

There are other pictures of it elsewhere that prove that its a Navara with Mercedes emblems tacked on and nothing else. The premium pickup market has had more than its share of entrants that were not serious. The Blackwood, Mark LT, and the Cadillac EXT crass executions. The X Class is an embarrassment. I actually think the first real attempt at a premium pickup was the Hummer H3T. Even though it was a Chevy Colorado at heart, it looked bespoke. Unfortunately, GM flushed the Hummer brand to appease Obama Bin Barack. The coming Jeep Gladiator--if executed well--has the potential to be the first successful premium pickup.

I think Hummers were just terrible cars so probably a good idea to end the brand for that reason alone. Impractically large, terrible fuel economy, and interior plastics that a small Hyuandai would dismiss.

What I find interesting is that you recently said that we're still feeling the effects of Obama's economic legacy, that included bailing out American auto manufacturers. Now it's also his fault that brands died out after the bail out?

You can use low brow political ideology to try and make yourself feel better but if you want to play sides then there's no denying how much the GOP and its candidates suck on the teat of Saudi Arabia. So if anyone needs a "Bin" added to their name it's anyone with the last name Bush. New teats are appearing and this time the animal is Russia.

@Firewombat, I see you took time off from going to your next Antifa terrorist event and collecting $$ form Soros.

Obama bailed out GM and Chrysler.

The Obama Administration forced Chrysler into the clutches of one of the most technologically backward automakers with a long history of building garbage. There was no thought given to sustainability. All Osama Bin Barack wanted was a photo opportunity. Now we have Chrysler on the brink of extinction due to the gross mismanagement of Fiat.

When the Obama Administration bailed out GM, Hummer was killed as a bone thrown to greenies. No thought was given to ways in which the brand could generate cash. Hummer was out and the Volt was pushed into service as a hastily contrived Cruze with batteries. We now see that if GM had kept Hummer alive, that brand would be a massive profit center for GM.

So yes, we are feeling the impact of Barry Soetoro's fiscal idiocy.

As for the GOP being suck boys to the Saudis, the Democrats do too, so at least get your facts straight.

Your immaturity and insecurity are evident from the first sentence of your response. So now I'm a terrorist because I have a different view?

A terrorist.

I have to say, after being on here for a number of years I've never seen anyone call another member a terrorist or anything as bad as that. Can't set the bar low enough for people with your attitude can we?

Feel free to be as brash as you'd like with your insults, it seems you may be on the right forum for that, but when we talk about facts please don't discount the fact that no republican president would have let those auto makers fail and that the effects being felt in the economy right now are from efforts the Obama administration made to counter a recession that a republican president caused.

As you said, Trump hasn't been in office long enough to have an effect yet, so all the job growth, all of the recovery comes from the previous president.

I'm also not interested in your analysis of why GM and Chrysler were close to bankruptcy or why you think that GM dropped Hummer. I'm sure there are loads of people throughout America that have old, drunk uncles living in lazy boy chairs who can spin them the same incoherent version of events you've decided to spew here.

And while I realise this is an outlet for you, your frustrations, and your scewed opinions that no one else will listen to, you're also overwhelmingly negative in the majority of your posts, at times hateful - as you have been now, and your reasoning sounds no different to every other troll on here and other forums like this.

You display nothing but ignorance and insecurity when you add remarks the way that you have on this thread, regardless of your political affiliation. You have some insight into the car industry because you supposedly work in the industry and I think I have mentioned this before - it's sad that the insight you have is marred by your own fear and incognizance.

And I didn't just mention the Saudis, I mentioned the Russians too.

I realise that Auto manufacturers can't replicate a concept car into production. However, this is a let down compared to the concept, inside and out and I thought the concept look great. The fact that it's badge- engineered isn't such a huge problem but it looks dull and the interior doesn't look more exciting than a VW Amarok, which will be its main competitor. It will sell in the markets in which it's being launched but it does seem like a lackluster effort. Will wait for the reviews, really doubt this will make it to the U.S.

Luxury Pickups have never hit with buyers because no-one wants a luxury pick up truck. As it is, the higher end domestic pickups are already in luxury price territory and pretty much have any luxury comforts and tech a pick-up customer would want. PLUS, it's still a capable workhorse underneath. IF anyone really wants a luxury vehicle with some grunt and towing capacity they will get a Land Rover. None of those folks will probably have any use for a truck bed.

You say "...no-one wants a luxury pick up truck..." and then you prove yourself wrong by saying that the high end American pickups are luxurious. So, yes, people want them. What they don't want is a luxury pickup that isn't any better than an optioned-up F150 or Silverado. If you want grunt and towing capacity, a Land Rover would NOT be the "go to" choice.

Coming to a wine-tasting and gallery opening near you soon. With the bumper sticker, "Silly boys, trucks are for girls"

Amazing that the board gave it a green light.

This could go down as the worst idea Mercedes has ever had. Truck buyers in the US have a strong allegiance to their brands, especially US brands (Ford, Chevy, Dodge) vs Toyota, Nissan, and Honda. Most of these truck buyers would be more inclined to pay $60,000 for a top of the line Ford vs a $60,000 Mercedes truck because these buyers are not as concerned with the perceived status of the Mercedes brand. Thus, the market Mercedes would be going after would be more white collar professionals or executive who want a truck vs a luxury SUV and I can't imagine that market is that big. Perhaps Mercedes will prove us all wrong.

I really don't understand why Mercedes didn't use the GLS for a lifestyle pickup. That would have been a better move and also believable as a Mercedes.

@bnilhome I don't know, the R-class was a pretty bad idea

Sounds like a stop gap measure until they can ramp up production of a true Mercedes product as generation 2.0.

The poster of which will be on the walls of every Trumpie.

Matt, better put down your deposit quick!