No Mercedes-Benz X-Class AMG – for now

Ford might be kicking goals with its Australian-engineered Ranger Raptor, but it’s not enough of an incentive for Mercedes-Benz to power-up its new X-Class ute.

Speaking at the launch of the GT 4-Door Coupe in Texas last week, Mercedes-AMG president Tobias Moers said his outfit was in no position to add more oomph to the German pick-up.

The Mercedes-Benz X-Class is already the most expensive ute in its class, and Moers said the V6 diesel-powered X 350d (due in Australia in January) will not be topped by an AMG version powered by heavy-hitting 53 inline turbo-six or 63 turbo V8 powertrains.

“There will be no X-Class AMG,” said Moers emphatically. “Never.”

Previously, when we asked him about the possibility of a ‘Project ONE-Tonner’ after he unveiled the Project ONE hypercar at the 2017 Frankfurt motor show, Moers said:

“No chance. We’re too busy. We’re fully locked in to our programs. Is there demand in Australia?”

But it seems a lack of engineering resources and the relatively low expected sales volumes of a high-output dual-cab ute that won’t be sold in the US aren’t the only issues AMG has with developing a hotter X-Class.

Nor does Moers’ reluctance to build a Ranger Raptor rival relate to the suitability of the Mercedes-Benz ute’s Nissan Navara-based chassis to be repowered or even to sit on improved AMG-style suspension.

After all, AMG has made pots of money stuffing V8s and even V12s inside the Gelanderwagen – perhaps the least suitable donor for a fast 4x4 ever made.

The issue Moers foresaw was instead one of trying to join the hard-nosed AMG culture with the combined Japanese and French cultures that delivered the donor architecture for the X-Class.

“AMG culture would be a difficult fit with Nissan and Renault cultures,” he said.