A Mercedes-Benz pickup? Is nothing sacred?

Apparently not. In fact, it's not strictly a true Mercedes-Benz at all, as the X-Class was developed in conjunction with the Nissan Navara and Renault Alaskan. It's aimed at a wide variety of markets worldwide, from the land owners of Argentina to the 'trend-conscious individualists' of South Africa. We didn't make that up, honest.

Chunky-looking thing, isn't it?

Certainly. Applying the current Mercedes-Benz face to a pickup shouldn't really work, yet it somehow does. It looks both tough and elegant at the same time, which is no mean feat. Three trim levels will be available, differentiated largely by the amount of chrome and size of wheel fitted.

What can it carry?

Ah, the crux of the pickup. The load bed can fit one Euro-pallet between the wheel arches, has a max payload of just over a tonne and can fit no less than 17 50-litre beer barrels. Towing capacity is up to 3.5 tonnes, meaning a trailer with three horses or an eight-metre yacht can be pulled with ease. It's not really recommended to put a horse in your yacht, though.

Is the interior a bit rough and ready?

Surprisingly for this type of vehicle, no. The base trim level (PURE) is the most workmanlike, but still features some nice touches not seen in competitors' offerings. PROGRESSIVE and POWER bring some luxury elements, the latter especially so. Connectivity is high on the agenda, with COMAND Online taking care of infotainment and navigation functions.

Will it move?

Of course, and with coil spring suspension at each corner, it will go around corners too. A choice of 2.3-litre, four-cylinder turbodiesels mated with rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive transmissions form the initial offering, with a 258hp V6 diesel due next year. Six-speed manual or seven-speed auto gearboxes are available depending on engine choice, while permanent all-wheel drive is due next year for the V6 model only.

Anything else I need to know?

Ground clearance is 202mm for all European market vehicles, although a 20mm higher ride height is standard elsewhere (this can be specified as an option on European models). Pricing is set to be competitive at around £33,000 including 19 per cent VAT in its native Germany, and we'd expect no major differences by the time the X-Class reaches our shores. Safety-wise, there are seven airbags, and driver assist aids feature prominently. Will it become the latest Chelsea tractor, or prove to be a bona fide off-road slugger? Only time will tell.