You’ve certainly heard the news Mercedes will build a pickup truck by the end of the decade. You’ve also surely seen our rendering of the pickup and seen the spy shots of a development mule running tests. Well now we’ve got an even better look at the upcoming truck thanks to a new batch of spy photos.
Mercedes-Benz is co-developing the pickup with Nissan in a move to cut development costs while maximizing engineering thoroughness. That’s why these test mule pickups look an awful lot like the Nissan Navara truck. However, there are several telltale signs this mule is no Nissan despite the heavy camouflage.
First off, the fenders are much wider than the Navara’s. This furthers suspicion the Mercedes pickup will have a wider track. There are also camo bulges on the hood and roof designed to hide details in bodywork – details that will be exclusive to the Mercedes. Secondly, this mule also has an interesting shape to the bed rails on the cargo bed. Unlike the Navara’s, this truck’s bed rails rise up to meet the rear windowsill. It could be part of the disguise, but it could also be a Mercedes-only design feature.
We still suspect Mercedes will call its pickup the GLT and give it styling cues from the GL-Class SUV. The GLT is also likely to borrow its powertrain options from the GL-Class, giving it access to several options that include four- and six-cylinder engines running gasoline and diesel. A six-speed manual and seven-speed automatic are the two expected transmission choices. Mercedes’ 4MATIC AWD will be optional, as well.
Though Mercedes has confirmed its pickup will be sold in Europe, Australia, South Africa, and Latin America, the truck’s arrival in the U.S. is still unknown. Also unknown is just how luxurious the pickup will be. Examples sold in Australia and South Africa will likely tailor towards the working class. Anything sold in the U.S. will certainly have a highbrow feel, coming with all the typical Mercedes amenities.
Expect Mercedes to officially debut its pickup sometime in 2017 with its arrival schedule for 2018 or 2019.
Update 06/27/2016: New spy shots show a heavily camouflaged test mule, adding fuel to the fires of suspicions and rumors.
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