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| This was Merc's first bakkie in southern Africa in the 1950s. |
Asked why a bakkie, and who would buy it, Florian Martins, head of
global communications for the Daimler group’s commercial vehicles, was candid:
the predicted global demand for bakkies is set to grow from 2,2 million to
3,2 million by 2026 — a 42% rise that Daimler would not benefit from unless it
had a product competing in this segment.
To speed up development of what it claims to be the world’s first
premium bakkie, Daimler leveraged its seven-year-old JV with the Renault-Nissan
Alliance in what it calls “a production co-operation”.
This means the X-Class shares a side profile and chassis with the
Nissan Navara, with a choice of four proven Mercedes-Benz engines under the hood, a totally different suspesnion set up that is 7cm wider, and a very long list of optional luxuries in the cabin, including Me Access to
connect the car to a smartphone or smart watch.
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| With a 7cm wider stance and different suspension, Merc can claim to have used only a Navara chassis and fuel tank. |
Mercedes-Benz Vans head Volker Mornhinweg said production of the
X-Class starts this year at the Nissan plant in Barcelona, Spain, to deliver to
Europe’s “pick-up” drivers, Australia’s “ute” drivers, and bakkie drivers in
South Africa.
The “truck” drivers in Latin American will get their X-Class from
the Renault plant in Cordoba, Argentina, with production starting in 2019.
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| The Renault Alaskan |
This plant will also make a second Navara spin-off in the Renault
Alaskan double-cab.
The smallest engine in the X-Class will produce 122 kW and 238 Nm,
figures that most workhorse bakkies in South Africa can match, but the
“trend-conscious individualists in South Africa and Great Britain as well as
sporty adventurers in New Zealand and Germany” for whom Daimler equipped the
X-Class, will be more interested in the V6 diesel engine, to be released
mid-2018.
This block makes 190 kW and 550 Nm, which will make it the
strongest luxury double-cab on sale in SA. It will almost certainly also be the
most expensive double cab in SA.
Final prices will only be released when the X-Class goes on order
later this year. Mornhinweg hinted that the X-Class will sell from €37 000 in Europe.
This means local buyers who expect the silent bragging rights that
come with paying a premium for the three stars on the hood, can expect a
starting price of over R600 000, or a bit more than the top Ford Ranger 4x4
auto.
• Witness
Wheels is attending workshops on the X-Class today and will have more
information on this Merc bakkie in SA next Thursday.
