[TimmyB]

This is being built by Nissan. Check it out. When you see the picture, you'll say, "Holy ****, that's not that different!!!" (Well, that's what I said, at least!)

Mercedes Pickup to be Built by Nissan » AutoGuide.com News

 

[BahamaTodd]

Its going to be a midsize body on frame pickup. It also hasn't been confirmed for the US (yet).

 

[TimmyB]

Still, pretty close. If MB believes a market is there for a smallish truck (worldwide), ...

 

[Santana]

It is indeed close enough to what the Santa Cruz is and seeing it puts a smile on my face as this only makes a stronger case for such a vehicle, coming from a brand as big and well established as MB is.

 

[BahamaTodd]

Its not close at all. It will be based on Nissan's global midsize truck (NP300 / Navara) which could end up being the next gen US Frontier.

2015 Nissan Navara:

 

[Santana]

Thanks for pointing that out.

That being the case it's a segment above the Santa Cruz, in real truck territory.

 

[Colin]

I am not interested in a MB pickup truck. Seems like an odd move to me. Maybe I just don't get it though.

 

[Santana]

I am not interested in a MB pickup truck. Seems like an odd move to me. Maybe I just don't get it though.

If the Santa Cruz is what you're interested in, than likely the MB we're looking at here is not for you, there will be little cross over of potential SC owners going for this MB for obvious reasons.

 

[Colin]

What kind of vehicles would something like an MB Pickup compete with. I'm just not really familiar with many luxury pickup trucks, and I'm not sure that is really what people are looking for.

 

[BahamaTodd]

What kind of vehicles would something like an MB Pickup compete with. I'm just not really familiar with many luxury pickup trucks, and I'm not sure that is really what people are looking for.

All the fullsizes have their top trim levels which are pretty luxurious. GMC has their Denali trim which the Canyon will be getting next year. That truck would be the closest competitor to this midsize Mercedes.

 

[Santana]

Just imagine if audi stepped into the ring...

 

[Colin]

Well when one luxury auto maker does something, it seems like every other one tends to do their own version of the same thing in short order.

 

[BahamaTodd]

BMW's North American CEO said its not happening.

A BMW Pickup Truck Is Not Happening*

 

[Santana]

BMW's North American CEO said its not happening.

A BMW Pickup Truck Is Not Happening*

We need 3-Camino's

 

[Dex]

its an interesting admission by mercedes, a) they have a voracious appetite for volume, anything for the crown i suppose b) transaction prices of pickup trucks in general have crossed a threshold where they feel appropriate for their brand...

Fascinating IMO.



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[Santana]

Imagine if BMW responds, seems like they like to follow where MB goes... maybe we'll see BMW use the Tacoma platform

 

[Colin]

Just imagine if audi stepped into the ring...

I just read this article that says Audi is not going to be making a pickup truck any time soon.

Audi has announced they are not planning a pickup truck, at least not in the near future.
Mercedes-Benz made a rather surprising announcement last month when they revealed plans for a pickup truck due before the end of the decade. It seems Audi isn't willing to go down this road just yet as the company's head of design Marc Lichte told CarAdvice it would be difficult to implement Audi's new styling language on a utilitarian vehicle. He didn't completely rule out the possibility of coming out with a pickup truck, but it will not happen in the foreseeable future.

Audi rules out pickup truck for the foreseeable future; RS Q5 and RS Q7 could happen

 

[Santana]

That might change as they see the Mercedes Pick Up come to life as a concept, time will tell.

 

[Colin]

Perhaps, but if they do decide to do it, they are going to be behind in development obviously. If the Mercedes-Benz truck ends up flopping then Audi will just keep going, but if the Mercedes-Benz truck does well then Audi will have to play catch up.

I'd be surprised if there is a parade of luxury trucks coming out over the next few years.

 

[BahamaTodd]

The thing is Mercedes has an extensive commercial division that makes trucks and vans, so making a pickup wouldn't be out of the ordinary for other countries where that division is more popular. This pickup is going to be based on a body-on-frame Nissan so I wouldn't expect high luxury levels of refinement. But that's something Mercedes can get away with - just look at the G-wagon.

BMW and Audi on the other hand do not have commercial divisions so something like this really does not fit in their portfolio. They are both consolidating their vehicle platforms where all of their cars and suvs will be built across 2 or 3 basic platforms, and those platforms are probably not designed for truck duty.