Mercedes-Benz X-Class takes shape

Waves are crashing, ice is breaking… horses are galloping? According to the latest Mercedes-Benz X-Class teaser video there's clearly a mega storm brewing but more importantly we get a good look at the Nissan-based ute's exterior styling for the first time.

Unlike the two X-Class ute concepts shown in late 2016, the production version has been toned down somewhat, with glimpses of the vehicle's side profile, grille, headlights and brake lights providing our first meaningful view of the game-changing ute.

The headlights appear to feature LED projectors topped by curved LED daytime running lights and the grille is pure Benz – big and bold with a twin-bar motif and large tri-star badge.

Viewed from the side the "world's first premium pickup," as Benz calls it, appears to have lots in common with its donor vehicle, the Nissan Navara (NP300) ute, although the pumped wheel arches are likely to give the German more visual machismo.

The rear of the vehicle has been toned down too, the bold wrap-around LED brake lights of the concept vehicles ditched for a simpler, smaller twin-line effect.

Rivalling the likes of the Volkswagen Amarok and Ford Ranger, the Mercedes-Benz X-Class ute will be revealed in full on July 18 and although it will share much of its mechanical DNA with the Nissan Navara, including engines and platform, Benz will offer a beefy turbo-diesel V6 flagship model.

Just don't expect a V8-powered AMG X-Class ute with drift mode any time soon.

Unique rear suspension setup has also been developed for the Merc ute.

The X-Class gets a five-link rear axle, coil sprung, and adds a transfer case and reduction gearing along with two fully-locking electronically-controlled differentials. The idea is make sure it can go bush, then come back.

Australia will be a crucial market for the new model, one of the largest globally for the European-built ute, but Mercedes executives previously told motoring.com.au that the X-Class will be price competitive with the likes of the Toyota HiLux.

Does that mean $30,000 for a basic model? We'll find out soon enough.

Mercedes-Benz will reveal the production-ready X-Class exterior design on July 18 in South Africa, and we'll be there to provide you with all the latest info.

Production for the new X-Class, and it's Australian launch, will commence in 2018.

In the meantime, check out our extensive coverage of the Mercedes-Benz X-Class ute.