Tradies Mercedes

[Sioso]

http://www.drive.com.au/motor-news/m...08-1mgfpb.html




Mercedes-Benz ute to use Navara underpinnings

Date
April 8, 2015 - 2:51PM


German giant reveals new details of its groundbreaking workhorse model.



Mercedes-Benz has confirmed that its upcoming ute will be based on Nissan's new Navara.

A joint statement released by its parent company, Daimler, alongside the Renault-Nissan Alliance, confirmed the upcoming ute will be a dual-cab offering with the ability to carry a one-tonne load.

The model will share its architecture with the Nissan, though Mercedes will put its own spin on the ute's engineering and design.
A Mercedes-Benz sketch depicting how the ute may look.

A Mercedes-Benz sketch depicting how the ute may look. Photo: Supplied

Like the Navara, Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger utes, the Mercedes-Benz trayback will not be sold in North America - easily the world's largest market for pickup vehicles.

Instead, the joint statement says "the primary target markets for the truck are Europe, Australia, South Africa and Latin America".

Daimler chair and Mercedes-Benz chief Dieter Zetsche says working with Nissan and Renault allowed his brand to "drastically reduce the time and cost" involved in developing a ute.

"Entering the rapidly growing segment of midsize pickups is an important step in continuing our global growth path," he says.

Australian Mercedes-Benz utes are likely to be built alongside European-market models in Barcelona on the same line as exiting Nissan and upcoming Renault utes.

That would put it at a disadvantage against rival models built in Thailand, which enjoys an exemption to the five per cent vehicle import tariffs thanks to a tree trade agreement between Bangkok and Canberra.

Mercedes-Benz has been working with Renault and Nissan for five years on a variety of products including the next-generation Renault Twingo and Smart city cars.

[Franco Cozzo]

I hope Mercedes thinks twice before putting its bade on a Nissan Navara, the D40s were crapboxes with a nice look.

[Polyal]

So they must be thinking the Amorok is selling ok?

[SumoDog68]

Originally Posted by Big Damo

I hope Mercedes thinks twice before putting its bade on a Nissan Navara, the D40s were crapboxes with a nice look.

Had my D40 for 3 years and 80k - no issues , great ute. How long did you have yours for ?

[cheap]

Looks FUGLY as all hell.

They will probably come out with an AMG version too

[Mr Hardware]

Originally Posted by cheap

Looks FUGLY as all hell.

Looks like a ladies face on hulk hogan's body

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by SumoDog68

Had my D40 for 3 years and 80k - no issues , great ute. How long did you have yours for ?

I was one of the poor suckers up at 2AM in the morning helping change the turbo it blew, fitting trans coolers cause it kept cooking trans fluid in 4x4, trying to fix **** for free for a cash strapped mate with a D40.

Then it stretched the timing chain and the trans started slipping at around 350,000km.

We had two of them in our group both were POS with problems.

[Ruination]

Originally Posted by Big Damo

I was one of the poor suckers up at 2AM in the morning helping change the turbo it blew, fitting trans coolers cause it kept cooking trans fluid in 4x4, trying to fix **** for free for a cash strapped mate with a D40.

Then it stretched the timing chain and the trans started slipping at around 350,000km.

We had two of them in our group both were POS with problems.

These were only issues with the early D40s and they have rectified what you have said with 08 and on I believe.
I have a 2012 D40 550 and its amazing other than the fact the brakes go really quick towing 3tonnes every single day of the year for work. Mind you its only done nearly 50,000kms but all of it has been towing a heavy load.

I reckon this Merc Ute looks pretty awesome and not as boring as most 4x4s available right now.
It'll be interesting to see what price tag they throw on this compared to the Navara which is currently 72k for a 550

[Franco Cozzo]

His was an early build one, both were in our group so not surprising I guess, at least they fixed them up for the later builds.

[OZYWALKER]

Hahah what a joke it looks like *****. Hope it doesn't sell, who's going to pay a premium for a merc "work" ute.

[Franco Cozzo]

Mercedes already has a work ute, Sprinter cab chassis with a tray lol.

[OZYWALKER]

Wouldn't call that a ute. It would compare with the hino trade pack setups. Much more a truck than a ute.

[Ruination]

Originally Posted by OZYWALKER

Hahah what a joke it looks like *****. Hope it doesn't sell, who's going to pay a premium for a merc "work" ute.

Tradies who earn big coin obviously.

[Falcon Coupe]

Looks like Renault has the same idea.
Seems they are all jumping in to be part of the first duel cab ute platform with multi-link rear suspension. Should be the first duel cab utes to come close to passenger car comfort.

http://www.drive.com.au/motor-news/r...03-10pmjv.html

[xr8territory]

The thread suggests it will be a 'Tradies Mercedes'. I believe not many will do much hard yakka - see Wildtrack, Pursuit, Malloo- they will be pseudo workhorses for the blokes that can afford a flash ute. They are not going to sell these things cheap. Every Boganaire will be mortgaging their kids to get one of these.

[XR Martin]

Originally Posted by Falcon Coupe

Looks like Renault has the same idea.
Seems they are all jumping in to be part of the first duel cab ute platform with multi-link rear suspension. Should be the first duel cab utes to come close to passenger car comfort.

http://www.drive.com.au/motor-news/r...03-10pmjv.html

Nope

[SumoDog68]

Originally Posted by Big Damo

I was one of the poor suckers up at 2AM in the morning helping change the turbo it blew, fitting trans coolers cause it kept cooking trans fluid in 4x4, trying to fix **** for free for a cash strapped mate with a D40.

Then it stretched the timing chain and the trans started slipping at around 350,000km.

We had two of them in our group both were POS with problems.

Navara sold in thousands , if you came across some with issues that does not mean they are all crap . I know of Focus diesel that spent weeks in workshops 😉 does that mean they are all crap.
I'm am hoping Mercedes will use one of their V6 TDi engines in the ute so I have option to replace my 550 when time comes atm everything else is 4cyl apart from Ranger.

[Ruination]

Originally Posted by SumoDog68

Navara sold in thousands , if you came across some with issues that does not mean they are all crap . I know of Focus diesel that spent weeks in workshops 😉 does that mean they are all crap.
I'm am hoping Mercedes will use one of their V6 TDi engines in the ute so I have option to replace my 550 when time comes atm everything else is 4cyl apart from Ranger.

So far the V6 diesel has been gutted from the new Navara due to emissions regulations. But they're bringing a Renault 2.3 twin turbo diesel in. However its still less powerful than the 550 with only 450nm.

BUT they are apparently working on a more powerful engine that may come later, it will still be a 4cyl though.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by SumoDog68

Navara sold in thousands , if you came across some with issues that does not mean they are all crap . I know of Focus diesel that spent weeks in workshops 😉 does that mean they are all crap.
I'm am hoping Mercedes will use one of their V6 TDi engines in the ute so I have option to replace my 550 when time comes atm everything else is 4cyl apart from Ranger.

My diesel Focus issues are self inflicted though in the quest for more power

The Diesel V6 that Mercedes has isn't too much chop, its in the Sprinter in a lower spec tune, 145KW/440NM, I think its 165KW in Vito form though (Russ can fill us in he has a Vito) so there is obviously more in it.

[b2tf]

I had a D40, sold it 6 months after I bought it. Looked good, comfy, but unreliable as all hell. That said, plenty of people I know have had them and loved them. Would I buy another one? No, but thats because of my experience with one.

Would I buy the Merc? Probably not, but only because of cost.

[Ruination]

Originally Posted by Big Damo

My diesel Focus issues are self inflicted though in the quest for more power

The Diesel V6 that Mercedes has isn't too much chop, its in the Sprinter in a lower spec tune, 145KW/440NM, I think its 165KW in Vito form though (Russ can fill us in he has a Vito) so there is obviously more in it.

Bit of research shows that motor is Euro5 compliant, meaning its an option for the Ute, but don't forget Euro6 regulations come out in 2017, and Mercedes have said their ute will be in testing for a few years.
Does that mean a new motor?

Australian Mercedes-Benz utes are likely to be built alongside European-market models in Barcelona on the same line as exiting Nissan and upcoming Renault utes.

Or will they just drop in the same Renault 2.3 diesel?

[wranger]

Originally Posted by Ruination

These were only issues with the early D40s and they have rectified what you have said with 08 and on I believe.
I have a 2012 D40 550 and its amazing other than the fact the brakes go really quick towing 3tonnes every single day of the year for work. Mind you its only done nearly 50,000kms but all of it has been towing a heavy load.

I reckon this Merc Ute looks pretty awesome and not as boring as most 4x4s available right now.
It'll be interesting to see what price tag they throw on this compared to the Navara which is currently 72k for a 550

Who the ******* still pays 72k for a D40?

[Yellow_Festiva]

Originally Posted by OZYWALKER

Hahah what a joke it looks like *****. Hope it doesn't sell, who's going to pay a premium for a merc "work" ute.

I bet heaps will...

Is Hilux still the biggest seller (either overall or in their segment)???

Wonder how many were bought by tradies? I bet a whole heap were bought by families to get off the beaten track over the weekend and still drive the kids to school and go to work during the week.

How is the Amarok selling compared to the Hilux? That would be the closest comparable vehicle in the segment.

MB makes a whole heap of vans and light commercial vehicles - these are sold at a premium over the Koreans and Japanese so there must be a market for people willing to pay a premium for a MB 4x4 duel cab ute.

Even if it is badge engineered! Hasn't stopped other premium brands from doing similar in the past.

[Franco Cozzo]

They do make some cracker vans so hopefully its not just a case of badge engineering, they do some re-engineering touches here and there.

[deadfish2]

It will be a ute for city snobs to drive out to there tax write off blocks 2 hours out of sydney...

[Ford Falcon XR6]

Originally Posted by cheap

Looks FUGLY as all hell.

They will probably come out with an AMG version too

Still could be worse

[deadfish2]

Won't be for much longer ^ new model coming

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by Ford Falcon XR6

Still could be worse
image

Mazda invited Stevie Wonder to be their guest designer for the new BT50

[Ruination]

Originally Posted by wranger

Who the ******* still pays 72k for a D40?

The same group of people who want a fully optioned 4x4 ute.

Wildtraks are 66k new? Amarok Ultimates are 70k?

Whats your point?

[Motorbreath310]

On a less-related note;

They should have sold the D40 with a VK56DE option. '08-onwards R51 Pathfinder had it in the US. They could have adapted the R51's IRS setup to the D40 as well....