New Mercedes Pickup will be the Mercedes X-Class (or maybe Z-Class)

The Mercedes-Benz pick-up when it launches will be known as the X-Class (or Z-Class) and come in three trims with two engine options.

Last year, Mercedes revealed they’re planning to launch a pickup in the next few years – based on the Nissan Nivara – and now more details are starting to emerge.

Car Advice in Australia has got the inside line on what Mercedes are planning, and it looks to be quite a bit more than just a re-badged Nissan on the way.

It looks like Mercedes are planning a three-model range for the pickup, with a basic ‘Trader’ version as a workhorse, complete with 4WD as standard and a 188bhp 2.3 litre diesel engine and a mid-range model with the same engine but more luxury goodies.

The range-topping Mercedes pick-up will come with either the four-cylinder engine of the lesser models or a six-cylinder diesel with around 250bhp, an interior to a spec similar to the B-Class and be aimed at ‘Lifestyle’ buyers. All three models will be offered only with a double cab.

The pickup – which will share the Nissan Navara’s platform – is going to be either the X-Class or Z-Class (with Mercedes favouring X-Class as it sounds more butch), and Mercedes are working to make it as ‘Mercedes’ as possible, with only the underpinnings betraying its roots, including AMG styling options (although no AMG version – probably)

Mercedes are planning to build the new pickup in Spain, and it looks like it may arrive as early as 2018.