Mercedes-Benz took the wraps off two mid-size pickup-truck concepts that preview the forthcoming Nissan Navara?based X-class, which is officially dubbed the Concept X-class. Mercedes further christened each concept with surnames sure to make the marketing executives at Mattel jealous: Stylish Explorer and Powerful Adventurer.
As its name implies, the Stylish Explorer is the Brian Fantana of the duo. Painted in white, the Stylish Explorer favors being in vogue over carrying heavy payloads. Not that it can’t, of course, as all production X-class pickups will utilize body-on-frame construction that Mercedes claims will allow the truck to carry as much as 2200 pounds in its bed and tow up to 7000 pounds. Meanwhile, the top-of-the-line X-class will be available with both a torquey six-cylinder engine and a four-wheel-drive system with a transfer case and two differential locks. Still, the Stylish Explorer’s front clip that mimics the style of Mercedes-Benz’s SUVs, its big 22-inch wheels, and its LED taillight strip would seem to indicate that this truck is better suited for making a statement at the country club than for showing up to help build said country club.
Mercedes-Benz, though, knows that pickup trucks can make more than just one kind of style statement, which is why the brand also showed off the Concept X-class Powerful Adventurer. Sporting a more rugged-looking front-end design that incorporates a winch, as well as a set of chunky black fende...