X-Class ute a "true Mercedes-Benz"

It's based on the same platform as the Nissan Navara, from which it also borrows some engines and drivelines, and will even be built by the Japanese car-maker in its factories.

But Mercedes-Benz insists its new dual-cab X-Class ute is a bona-fide Benz.

"I can assure you that what we are building is a true Mercedes-Benz pick-up," insisted Dr Marion Friese, the global director of marketing for Mercedes-Benz Vans and one of the driving forces behind its inception.

The X-Class concept seen here previews the production version of the Benz ute that will debut in late 2017 before arriving in Australia showrooms by 2018, and it certainly looks like a Mercedes-Benz, inside and out.

But in order to make the ute happen, and be profitable from the outset, Mercedes jumped into bed with the Renault-Nissan group to reduce development costs, meaning it will have a lot of Nissan DNA in it.

Despite spending more than $1 billion to make the project happen, buyers will only get a Mercedes-Benz engine – a 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6 – in top-shelf models, which will also come with Benz's 4MATIC four-wheel drive system.

Entry-level models are paired with four-cylinder engines – one petrol and one diesel – borrowed from Renault-Nissan. The gearbox and the transfer case are likewise Nissan stock.

The majority of the engineering work went into developing a new five-link rear axle that Mercedes says was required to ensure its trademark ride comfort while retaining a 1.1-payload capacity in the tray.

Mercedes-Benz X-Class related reading:
Mercedes-Benz X-Class ute Reveal and details

A third ute will also be spun off the Nissan Navara platform, the Renault Alaskan, which ironically could benefit from the engineering and tooling changes Nissan will have to make to its factories to build the X-Class.

"We have an engineering team in Stuttgart and an engineering team in Japan," said Dr Friese, "Our designers designed everything from what you see, what you touch."

Nevertheless, there's no escaping the fact the X-Class will be manufactured at Nissan factories in Spain and Argentina by Nissan – not Mercedes – employees.

"And of course within our [Renault-Nissan] co-operation we have some synergies by doing things together, by getting access to markets through the production facilities and realising some economies of scale. That's why we are working together with Renault-Nissan," she stated.

It's unlikely the composition of the Mercedes-Benz X-Class or its country of origin will matter greatly to many buyers, however. Indeed, the German company's CEO, Dieter Zetsche, said that even if the ute is wildly successful Mercedes is unlikely to strike out by itself and develop the second-generation model solo.

"After seven years and many projects, I would clearly say that the cooperation is successful for all three sides," he said of his company's co-operation with Renault-Nissan, whose Infiniti Q30 and QX30 is based on the Daimler's MFA small-car platform.

"We are very happy with much less initial funding; we can enter the [pick-up] segment and have the chance to be at the first get-go pretty profitable," he said.

"If that goes well, I wouldn’t know why we should forgo these benefits especially production synergies."

Do you agree the new X-Class ute will be a real Mercedes-Benz? Have your say in the comments section below.