Mercedes-Benz will launch the world’s first premium-brand pickup truck late next year, with urban families and company car drivers among the target markets in the UK.

The Mercedes-Benz X-Class Concept previews a production pickup due late next year.

The Mercedes-Benz X-Class Concept previews a production pickup due late next year.

Previewed as the Concept X-Class, the newcomer is designed to appeal to customers who haven’t bought a pickup truck before, specifically those who drive premium cars and SUVs, while also offering the hard-working characteristics of a commercial vehicle for those who need them.

Its platform with the Nissan Navara and forthcoming Renault Alaskan, as part of Daimler’s ongoing partnership with the Renault-Nissan Alliance. The three pickups will be built on the same production line in Barcelona, and a “nine-figure” investment will be made before the first X-Class hits the road.

That means it gets a ladder-frame chassis, permanent four-wheel drive and a 1.1-tonne capacity and 3.5-tonne towing capability. The X-Class will be powered by a V6 diesel engine, have space for five occupants and get interior components from the C-Class and V-Class, including infotainment, seating and connectivity services.

In concept form, it hints that drivers will be able to tailor the car to their needs, whether that’s a rugged workhorse for commercial use, or a luxurious mainly roadgoing pickup with premium interior trims and wheels up to 22 inches in diameter.

Dr Dieter Zetsche, chairman of the board of Daimler AG and head of Mercedes-Benz Cars, said: “With the Mercedes-Benz pickup, we will close one of the last gaps in our portfolio. Our target: we want to offer customers vehicles matching their specific needs. The X-Class will set new standards in a growing segment.”