A BMW Executive Has Called The Mercedes-Benz X-Class "Appalling"
BMW has taken a little swipe at Mercedes, calling the new X-Class pickup “appalling” but admitting it’s looking at building a similar flatbed truck of its own.
The Munich-based company’s senior vice president with responsibility for the Asian, Australian and South African markets didn’t hold back when it came to discussing the new Mercedes with the major Australian car website Motoring.
Speaking about the X-Class, Hendrik von Kunheim said:
“When you look now at our German competitor from Stuttgart I think that product is appalling. You would have expected something more serious. They can do better, they build fantastic cars, but this one was a disappointment.”
It’s thought that he was referring to the fact that the X-Class is based on the Nissan Navara, using the same ladder chassis. It has the same proportions, and the quality of the interior has apparently come in for some criticism from the media. Von Kunheim continued:
“I listened to some of your [media] colleagues from other countries. They said it was very cheap, very plasticky, not very much Mercedes-like [like] what you would expect.”
It’s being reported that approval for any BMW pickup would depend on sales of SUVs. If SUVs gain a market share over 60 per cent – a massive leap from today’s figure of 25 per cent or so in Europe – then BMW says there would be space for a pickup as well. BMW Australia is said to have thrown its weight behind the idea.
A BMW pickup/truck/ute would also be a totally in-house effort, using the platform for the X5 or X7, but it has dropped well down BMW’s priorities list, says von Kunheim, in the wake of the latest push towards electrification and hydrogen fuel cells.
Comments
Come on BMW, now’s your chance. It’s never too late.
An M3 UTE? Hell yess
Audi could also make a pickup based on the Q7.
Something to compete with the Mercedes G-Class 6x6.
I mean he’s not wrong. It’s absolutely atrocious.
It looks like a merc and ssongyang had a disabled child
You know what? I’ve always loved Mercedes, but if you ask me, BMW is right. The X-Class is an utter POS in terms of looks. The grille’s too big, the lights don’t fit right, there’s so much wrong on this thing that it’s unreal. I mean, that’s not even the worst part of it.
IMO trucks shouldn’t be curvy
Some is the Citan. They’re a disgrace to Mercedes.
He’s right you know. I mean Mercedes based on a Nissan Navara? Seriously?
They’ve been using Renault-Nissan engines for years now, it’s not exactly a new thing.
Ahem…
Meet the Renault Kangoo…errr Mercedes-Benz Citan.
Honestly, how any other way do you want to make a small pickup (small means Navara, Ranger and so on, F-150, RAM and Silverado are totally different league) with a profit, when you have no platform for it and you would have to start from scratch? Only other choice i think would have to do something with GLS or GLE chassis, but such platform would also need some significent changes. This solution with Navara chassis is for them the least risky (pick-up sales in europe aren’t awesome and in US are more popular bigger class of pick up trucks.
Niche markets are in existence. That isn’t a bad thing. Cars like the Audi RS7 and Porcshe GT4 prove this. That being said, WHO IN THE GD HELL IS ASKING FOR A PICK-UP TRUCK FROM MERCEDES? THAT’S LIKE QUEEN ELIZABETH II ATTENDING A KNIGHTING IN CHROMED COWBOY BOOTS AND CHAPS. IT’S JUST WRONG. MERCEDES HAS TAKEN IT SEVERAL NICHES TOO FAR THIS TIME. HOLY LORD.
You do know Mercedes-Benz makes full on trucks as well right? And several vans, and the G-Class (non-rapper version). So it’s not like they haven’t done things like this before.
I hate it. I mean, they even stole the rear lights from a VW Up
Let’s hope it’s not called the BMW X8 M iPerformance Efficient Dynamics 850i xDrive.
Or “BMW Individual X8 M Model V8 Excellence THE NEXT 100 YEARS”
Did anyone else notice that BMW admitted that Mercedes makes good cars
It builds trust. If he said Mercedes never make good cars, people wouldn’t believe him when he said that this one is expecially terrible. No one can argue that Mercedes make great cars, even if they prefer rivals, so he would seem silly to say that :)
Well they’re not little children. I feel like car makers do this often (though can’t prove it whatsoever)
Salty.
What?