/ 15 June 2017

A bakkie from Mercedes? Regtig?

The Mercedes Benz X-Class is a new kind of creature for the high-end carmaker.
The Mercedes Benz X-Class is a new kind of creature for the high-end carmaker.

Earlier this year, I had the pleasure of attending the Geneva Motor Show at the invitation of Mercedes-Benz South Africa to view the automaker’s first ever bakkie — the X-Class. I can’t imagine I am the only motoring enthusiast who had dreamt of seeing a bakkie from the luxury car brand, and shortly after an overnight flight to the snow-covered city of Geneva, I found myself sitting at the wheel of the X-Class.

At a glance, it is easy to see that the X-Class has all the traits of a commercial bakkie, in that it is tough, functional and appropriately aggressive looking, and in full possession of the required off-road stance we South Africans deem fit for a bakkie. The only thing that throws you off is the three-pointed star we more readily associate with the Merc premium range of vehicles.

The first thing that might come to your mind as you read this is — why? Why would Mercedes-Benz, a reputable manufacturer of premium cars, venture into the world of pickups? And what would a luxury carmaker know about making bakkies tough enough to take on the African terrain, to say nothing about competing with established bakkie brands in South Africa?

That’s precisely what I asked when coming face-to-face with Mercedes-Benz Vans boss Volker Mornhinweg. On the question of why, he swiftly replied that Mercedes-Benz had spotted a gap at the upper end of the bakkie market, a fact that no one can dispute. There is only one bakkie I would describe as being luxurious, being the top-specced 2.0L Volkswagen Amarok, which retails at about R650 000. With that answered (and because I didn’t have a heel to peg any further argument on), I kept my game face on and launched into the topic of what Mercedes-Benz might know about building vehicles to match the unforgiving African roads.

Mornhinweg patiently gave an account of his brand’s association with Nissan before emphasising that Mercedes-Benz would simply be using the Navara “ladder frame” and that the components for the power trains, suspension and braking systems would be 100% Mercedes-Benz. Once more, I was suitably silenced by Mornhinweg’s honest and transparent answer.

Speaking of powertrains, the Mercedes-Benz X-Class will be available in both petrol and diesel variants, manual and 7G-Tronic automatic, 4×2 and 4×4, and in two drivetrains — manual and a 7G-Tronic. The engine line-up will also include a powerful V6 diesel engine, complete with Mercedes-Benz’s 4Matic permanent all-wheel drive. These powerful drive systems will allow for payloads greater than 1.1 tonnes and a towing capacity of up to 3.5 tonnes. As with all other Mercedes vehicles, the X-Class will be fitted with class-leading safety systems as well as modern driver assistance systems designed to increase the bakkie’s high levels of comfort.

The Mercedes-Benz X-Class will be launched internationally in June, and is expected in South Africa in the second quarter of 2018. Pricing will only be known at the launch.

Vuyi Mpofu is the founder of Driving in Heels