The staple of any ‘lad’ on a night out, pick up lines the term used for those ‘banterous’ or something’s genuine flirtation techniques to impress someone whom they are attracted to. Just like how a tropical bird shows its plumage to a lady, or how a turbo spools to make us go weak at the knees. However if you are like me and don’t enjoy going out and have never had to practice the techniques of a date or ‘getting pulled’, then a pick up line is something rather different. Instantly recognisable from the other segments of vehicles, the pick up is usually in of the boldest, and it’s simply down to the lines and structure. The cab is usually very pushed forward and then in either a sharp drop or swooping motion, the cab finishes and follows into the lines of the truck bed. The high belt line lifts the cabin and of course the occupants too, giving the driver a sense of authority. Or is some cases, a big sense of ‘little big man syndrome’. Not only that, but the Pick-Ups seem to have more of a purpose than the normal old SUVs you see nowadays. They almost always come with blocky black plastic wheel trims, which add width but sometimes also a certain flimsiness. Even if they aren’t full on wide arches, they do tend to show a detail of black, to accentuate the size of the arches too. But what if these lines and recognisable features were to change? Would we still see a pick-up and know what segment it is?
In short, the answer is yes.
The Mercedes-Benz X-Class is mean to bring a premium feel to the range of cars available now. But premium shouldn’t be something that you surely link with the function and usability of a pick-up? In other words, Mercedes have managed to see the potential marketplace for this vehicle in an urban environment and they feel that this would actually be bought as a family and lifestyle orientated piece. In fact, they have actually managed to find 5 main target groups to sell the vehicle to. That is the way this world is heading, it is more towards a ‘lifestyle’, where manufacturers are drawing you in to stick with a brand for life. Obviously the earlier they can latch onto this, the more customers they will get in the long run, although I am sure that competitors would be quick to follow suite and still gain a large database of people buying into the brand for extended periods of time.
I feel that it is fairly surprising that there isn’t already a car(or a truck) to fill this niche already. Sit back for a moment and try to think of an urban pick up truck. If you can then please share this with me in the comments section below.
Got one yet? I thought you probably couldn’t. The more I think of it, the more it makes sense for this very small marketplace to be covered. Even though the main purpose of these vehicles is for getting off-road and transporting large goods whilst still carrying 4-5 people, it doesn’t necessarily have to stay that way. Large SUVs sales have recently shot up drastically since they have been marketed as family cars. Most of them will never see a slightly grassy verge, even though their ancestors were made to climb mountains. And yet still, the way we see SUVs has changed and with it, so has the whole marketplace. I find it quite sad that the Land Rover Defender (RIP), which was once seen as the staple for a farmyard, had been transformed into a luxurious and sensible baby carrier, and it makes me even sadder that sales of the cars which will never go off-road actually rose and probably also overtook the more commercial side. Whats important though is that the change happened, and it is impossible to avoid the fact that another change could just be right around the corner. There is literally nothing stopping pick-ups from doing the same metamorphosis and becoming predominantly vehicles for shopping trips and running errands.Right now the only company to look into filling this marketplace is Mercedes, and right now they will be getting 100% of the share of customers, seen as though there are no competitors.
As was the change with other vehicles, the styling should stay fairly similar, only things will be softened up somewhat. This has been seen in the styling of the road going Mercedes X-Class Concept. Gone are the big black plastic trims around the arches and the rugged looks, and these are replaced with surfaces you would usually find on a normal car. This is what they were aiming for though, its not like it was just an error or miscommunication in the design brief. They wanted the vehicle to act and behave like a family car, but have the loading capacity of a pick-up truck. The more I think about it, the cleverer it gets for me. The packaging is actually quite smart, even though there is a heck of a lot of room to play with. There is no defined belt line on the concept vehicle and the arches flare around the wheels like that of any other car available today. There is more surface to play with and yet Merc have done away with anything too technical, keeping two main lines running down the profile view. A harsh light catcher through the centre of the door breaks the side surface up better than any strong beltline could probably do.
The face is also reminiscent of the ones that you would typically find on a stylish coupe. I am not completely sold on just how handsome it is to look at from the front, and if this is pointing the way forward for all of the range then I am going to be quite disappointed, but for such a large vehicle, I guess it could look worse. One of the things I am not too sure about on the front is just the large powerhouse of a bonnet. It makes me think that there is a large engine under there, but surely with the size of the front compartment anyway, the bulge is relatively unneeded? On top of that, the front grille is rather bold, isn’t it? The huge tri-spoke star now sits on single wide wings, but I am not a fan of this sort of front end. Its all plastic and very little shape.
We have seen the rear before on different types of concepts that have been produced recently and I think it actually consistently works very well. We are yet to see it make it to production so if it will ever happen, I don’t really know.
None of what I have pointed out really make me believe that Pick-Ups are going to become unrecognisable when the inevitable sales pick up in the coming years. It is safe to say that they will be the future of Chelsea Tractors, and 99% of the time they will never be taken off road. But the main target audience isn’t going to be doing that, they are going to be strolling up the Chelsea streets slowly, kids in the back, window-shopping as they go, within an air of premium luxury and living the lifestyle which takes them on the bandwagon.
Let me know what you think of the X-Class below, and be sure to follow me on IG, Twitter, Tumblr, and of course to stay tuned to my blog!
I am not 100% happy with everything about this article, but I did not manage to spend the amount of time I normally wish to do so writing it because of a major project deadline in University. I will be free from that deadline on Friday, so I hope that a normal schedule is resumed for next weeks blog, and that I am back to being 100% happy with the writing and subject. Thanks.
All pictures courtesy of –
Front View –https://www.netcarshow.com/mercedes-benz/2016-x-class_pickup_concept/1600×1200/wallpaper_04.htm
Side View – https://www.netcarshow.com/mercedes-benz/2016-x-class_pickup_concept/1600×1200/wallpaper_0d.htm
Rear View – https://www.netcarshow.com/mercedes-benz/2016-x-class_pickup_concept/1600×1200/wallpaper_0a.htm
Car Design IMHO 