Late last year, Mercedes-Benz announced that they would enter the pickup market, which is excellent news to many. However, there is a downside; it’s said to be only available in Australia, Latin America, South America and certain parts of Europe.
That leaves a fair few of Mercedes’s biggest clients out; the USA, GCC countries and China. Recent reports suggest that the three-point badged utility vehicles could drive their way into the American market, in turn leading to further expansion over the years into other Mercedes fanboy locales.
With a launch date expected in late 2017, no price tag has been spoken of since concept drawings appeared online a few months ago. As there is one pickup in officially in Mercedes-Benz’s line, amongst many new Mercedes-Benz G-Class and used Mercedes-Benz G-Class for sale in Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi.
Based off the chassis of the Nissan Navara, the German manufacturer has yet to reveal a name for its first pick-up truck venture. Persistent rumours have it tagged as the GLT, which seems most plausible, as it fits in with Mercedes plans of combining all four wheel drive vehicles under the G moniker. Other rumoured names include X-Class and M-Class.
Powering the wheels is said to be a diesel four or six-cylinder petrol engine. Base trim levels have power sent through a six-speed manual gearbox with higher trim levels receiving a seven-speed auto gearbox. All versions of the truck will have permanent four-wheel drive.
So far, exterior shots are the only ones to have surfaced and with no interior pictures available we don’t know what’s to come. There’s no doubt that Mercedes’s lavish interior and options will be readily accessible.
If it is to tackle the asphalt of Dubai and the six Emirates, Mercedes-Benz would have to drop a petrol engine in the engine bay, preferably a similar one that powers the legendary G Wagen’s. A V12 packed inside the Mercedes-Benz G65 is a bit of a stretch for a pick-up.
