The Mercedes-Benz X-Class is an unconventional model for the German brand, without question. It comes to disrupt the way we perceive the Stuttgart-based manufacturer and wants a piece of the action in the truck segment, one that hasn’t been properly tackled by traditional German premium car makers. Ever since it came out, the BMW team has been eyeing such a model too, but there’s been no mention of a potential rival coming from Munich.
However, the auto industry is moving at a faster pace than ever and officials have never been adamantly against making a BMW pickup model. As a matter of fact, when the X-Class was revealed, one official was actually quite acid speaking about it, criticizing the end product for not being refined enough. Back in September, at the Frankfurt Motor Show, Hendrik von Kuenheim, senior vice president of the company’s Asia, Pacific and South Africa region said he checked out the car and ended up being disappointed by what he saw.
“When you look now at our German competitor from Stuttgart, I think that [X-Class] product is appalling. You would have expected something more serious, this is for me… very cheap, very plastic, not very much Mercedes-like. I saw that car in Geneva [motor show] and I was very disappointed. They can do better. They build fantastic cars but this one was a disappointment.” Then, asked about a potential Bavarian rival added: “Now we have an X1, X2, X3, 5, 6, X7 and who knows what else is coming? So the market and customer demand is changing.”
As it turns out, according to Car Advice, BMW dealers in Australia are pushing the brand more and more these days to come out with an ute or pickup model. According to them, the segment is growing and doesn’t seem to show any signs of slowing down anytime soon. “We have been very pushy regarding utes or pick-ups, and we believe that this is something the company should be looking into. We have raised that with headquarters and certainly investigations are happening as we speak, but it’s too early to speak about the results of that analysis, but if there was a ute we would certainly take it,” said Mark Werner, BMW Australia head honcho.
Therefore, the signs are looking good if you’re interested in such a model. Furthermore, the development costs could eventually be split with another manufacturer, like Toyota, as it happened in the case of another niche model, the Z4. Toyota is, after all, making two quite popular truck already in the shape of the Tacoma and Tundra.
Nah… c’mon!
No, tell those potential buyers to visit Merc dealer.
Or Nissan, since that’s where Mercedes gets them.
Mr Hendrik seems very salty then and now he wants a piece of the action. Mercedes is washing the floor with BMW lately, way better products in general, more reliable and luxurious cars coming from Mercedes while I watch my beloved brand keep falling behind.
I don’t like Merc products and I don’t think the are better than BMWs. More luxurious? Some are. I remember driving the current gen S Class and I was so turned off I swore never again. The overwhelming feeling was ‘plastic’. The G series 7 on the other hand, was pure delight to drive. Stoopit fast and felt luxurious even if it didn’t look the part.
Correct, don’t know how anyone can think Merc is better, doesnt drive better, more heavier, more thirsty , it’s just flashy period, which I think makes people believe it’s better than BMW esp the interiors..
They drive as well as any BMW , they are a lot more reliable , they are as efficient and they yes they are usually heavier because because they are build like a tank, hence why most of MB cars have higher safety rating than we do. Inside of every Mercedes cars you will find a structure design as a roll cage, something BMW don’t do because of weight saving
Lot more reliable? So heavy in your opinion is good, whereas the rest rest of the world goes for efficiency, lightweight etc, you still mention “tank”!
In a age where a 4l Twin Turbo V8 vs 3l Twin Turbo 6 cylinder and the V8 still comes second just tells you about what “your” brand can achieve. Mass produced CFRP electric cars which where built since 2012 and yet to see anything than concepts from the EQ brand in 2018, So in many respects, BMW is more superior in many aspects than Merc..
Yes more reliable, meaning their cars last a lot longer with fewer issues than ours, that is a fact that has been proven. Yes I do consider heavy better because they are better built and offer more, so their cars will always be heavier, at the same time MB cars are as efficient. Hope you are not going to compare BMW 3l 6 cylinder with MB 4l 8 cylinder, that would be suicide , the 4l destroy everything we have to offer, no match whatsoever, have you ever heard one? Makes the 3l sounds like a lawnmower.
BMW is not better at anything at this time, doesn’t have more luxurious cars than MB, doesn’t have better quality cars than MB, doesn’t have more reliable cars than MB, doesn’t have better performance cars than MB, doesn’t sell more than MB. So BMW is just not better than MB at anything except for people lying to themselves.
Consumer Reports just ranked BMW #3, after smaller volume brands of larger competitors. Benz didn’t make top 10.
Dude is a troll, types endlessly if challenged.
It is funny to me how you are attack Mercedes in the area where it completely destroy BMW, the S-class is the car that set the benchmark for the luxury segment year after year. Interior of a S-class compare to anything BMW is miles and miles apart, the word the internet use to describe BMW interior is DATED, I’m a BMW owner but I’m not delusional, I give credit where credit is due. Also Don’t forget all MB products benefit from the S-class
B.s.
Not going to pay attention to you, you are a fanboy who cannot handle the truth.
Seems this is the point of view from an American. Everyone in Europe knows Mercedes-Benz has an almost complete range of vans, trucks, buses and coaches of all sizes and of various levels of luxury, as well as things like Unimogs and the original Gelandewagen. Adding a ute to their line-up doesn’t change anything at all in Europe.
Clearly, what’s the difference between a base A-class with manual windows (available 15 years ago), a base X-class, a 54 PS W123 or a 72 PS 240 GD? These are not at all luxury vehicles. M-B is well known for making luxury and/or reliable and/or best in class products. Mostly Americans think M-B only make luxury cars.
On the contrary BMW has never, ever, made utility vehicles.
A very good point you make, one that the American masses simply don’t understand. I argue that BMW is not a manufacturer of luxury cars exclusively. They make sporty and luxurious variants of some of their cars, an understanding lost on the American consumer yet again.
I would say the X (pick a number) do offer a modicum of utility, hence why I disagree that BMW has never made utility vehicles.
Honestly I don’t think there is much of a difference between, let’s say, a 4WD estate versus a 4WD SUV (5 series Touring vs X5). Nobody would say the estate is a utility vehicle though. For me, a SUV is not a utility vehicle.
Just as Mercedes have never made motorcycles. This “Mercedes” is a Nissan, just as Infiniti’s small SUV is rebadged Mercedes.
#1 Daimler made the first motorcycle
#2 Mercedes-AMG owns 25% of MV Agusta
#3 M-B is not trying to make motorcycles, so it doesn’t matter.
#1 And stopped making it over a century ago for 4 wheeled vehicles, so ancient history.
#2 Mercedes-AMG only exist because Daimler bought an independent tuner to compete with BMW M. Similarly they have a minority interest in MV Agusta after their Ducati purchase fell apart.
#3 BMW are not trying to make pick-ups, so it doesn’t matter. Nor are M-B, they put a BMW awd. name on a Nissan product.
Whoever cut up that X2 to create that rendering is onto something, the rear seats need more space though.
No DO NOT MAKE ONE