Industry watchers are expecting the pickup truck concept of Mercedes-Benz to be unveiled during the Paris Motor Show this year, as shown on a report from autoevolution.com. The Mercedes-Benz GLT, which may be released into the market by 2017, will bring glamour into the mid-size segment of the market. The upcoming luxury pickup may even be brought into the US market.
The German luxury vehicle manufacturer is expected to be a force to be reckoned with in the market for commercial vans. The company may even expand its commercial lineup by offering more interesting pickups in the future. Daimler AG head, Dr. Dieter Zetsche, said the pickup of the company will contribute to the international growth targets of Mercedes-Benz.
He added that the company will bring its unique brand identity into the segment, and will offer all the attributes its vehicles have when it comes to comfort, value and safety. Even as the test mules of the upcoming Mercedes-Benz GLT were seen again, there were no sightings yet of the actual vehicle that will enter the market.
The luxury pickup spotted in Spain is similar to the Nissan NP 300 Navara since it shares a good amount of its architecture with the brand. However, there are a number of slight differences between the Navara and the test mule. One of these differences is the wider track and the flared fenders on the Mercedes-Benz vehicle.
Four-cylinder and six-cylinder engines will be featured on the upcoming luxury pickup of Mercedes-Benz. While it will also come with a six-speed manual system, the 7GTronic seven-speed automatic transmission system will be an option. South Africa, Latin America, Europe and Australia will be the first markets where the Mercedes-Benz GLT is set to be offered.
While the North American market may see the GLT, it may not come in the near future. If demand for the GLT is noted by Mercedes-Benz and Nissan will manufacture the vehicle in Mexico, the chicken tax may not be applicable to it. So US consumers will have to hope the German luxury vehicle manufacturer will see it this way to ensure the Mercedes-Benz GLT will reach US shores.