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'I think I just found my next car' - SA bakkie lovers react to Mercedes' new X-Class

Cape Town - The highly-anticipated Mercedes-Benz bakkie has finally been revealed, heralded by two nearly production-ready concepts of the long-awaited X-Class.

According to Mercedes-Benz the world’s “first premium bakkie” will combine the best of two worlds, as demonstrated by two design variants of the X-Class concept; The Stylish Explorer and Powerful Adventurer.

Still a bakkie

The concept X-Class “powerful adventurer” illustrates that the future X-Class will possess all the strengths of a traditional bakkie - “tough, functional, strong, and with off-road capability”.

Gallery: Mercedes-Benz Concept X-Class

The Stylish explorer goes a step further and shows what will distinguish the bakkie; style, sporty design and all the trimmings we’ve come to expect from a vehicle bearing the Mercedes star.  

The Mercedes-Benz X-Class will enter production in 2017.

Voting booth

We asked readers to share their thoughts on the SA-bound. Here are the results:

  • 50%/4360 votes: 'It will probably be too expensive' 

  • 21%/1785 votes: 'The Hilux is still SA's bakkie king'

  • 14%/1174 votes: 'It's gross, what were they thinking?' 

  • 10%/906 votes: 'I want it! I need this bakkie in my life!'

  • 5%/454 votes: 'I can't wait for this to arrive in SA'

READ: Mercedes’ SA-bound X-Class bakkie - Here's all you need to know

A video posted by Wheels24 (@wheels24_sa) on

Readers respond

Chris Greeff: You call that a bakkie? Lé pavement crawler with enough space for your ego in the back. Although if you had a big enough inferiority complex to buy this disastrously pointless crawler, then Mercedes should at least provide extra ego space. Maybe an overpriced trailer?

Tinashe Terence Svinurai: If it was BMW I bet a lotta fellas here would be 'jaw-dropping & drooling'. I smell Mercedes-Benz hater up in here Lmao! Like they say "The Best or Nothing". When VW debuted the Amarok it was the same sentiment but still people buy it regardless of how hideous it looks.

George Peta: I'm in for the Stylish Explorer... Congratulations on the evolutionary innovation.

Christo Fasmit: It has a pathetic flimsy lower bumper section. Especially for a rugged bakkie!! That will bring no joy to Mercedes. 

Mduduzi Luthuli: I think I just found my next bakkie!

Neville A Harmer: No 'offence' to My Good Indian Friends... but this 'bakkie' looks like it was made in India !!! It has a lot of 'bling' on it ! I sure want to see the real thing though...

Nhlakanipho KamaDlomo Ngubane: Ford ranger is way better than this.

Mohamed Zaid Bodhania: I love it though I'm expecting it to be around R850 000.

Ockerd van der Merwe: It's a Nissan bakkie.

Tyron Christie: Looks like it could feature in the next Jurassic Park movie.

Drew Wicher: Its not a bakkie... It's a yuppie car. Like the Mitsibishi Triton.

READ: Mercedes reveals new SA-bound bakkie - Meet the X-Class double-cab

Deon Ellis: Going to be an epic fail in the South African market...

Darius Bezuidenhout: Hope there is different colour interiors. And hope the bakkie is not very expensive.

Dean Tensa Zangetsu Wyngaard: This will probably be in the G Class price range.

LC Zwane: How are you suppose to drive that thing to a farm in the rural Swaziland deep in the valleys....Look at the interior you can't get mud on that...won't be buying thank you.

Saul Nxumalo: It's competition is not other bakkies but your porche cayennes, Jeep Cherokee , and BM X6. Nobody wants to use that car for commercial purposes. The same approach used by Chev when they created the SS bakkie.

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