So when does BMW announce their new truck... now that Mercedes has one?

[raptor_f22]

Lmao oh dear

[raptor_f22]

I can't believe this is for real :/

[louielouie]

The X is for your eyes after you see it

[Colinv6]

Needs an AMG 63 version

[ORIGIN M.]

The X is for xDrive bitches.

Originally Posted by louielouie

The X is for your eyes after you see it

[David70]

One massive reason this or any other foreign built pickup won't be coming to the U.S., the "Chicken Tax". Notice all pickups are built here and that there are big profits in them?

The 25-percent import tariff that the Chicken Tax imposes on foreign trucks essentially makes the things all but impossible to sell one profitably in the US, which lends a distinct advantage to domestic pickups.

With a 25% tariff on this truck they would have to build it here and the volume would never justify it.

[Viffermike]

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

Sure, because the Lincoln version of the F-150 was so successful...

That truck, the Caddy Fleetwood, etc. were duds because they weren't what they needed to be, and they weren't thought through in terms of the needs and wants of the market. Basically, domestic makers thought the luxury SUV trend could be applied directly to pickups. It can't. Not in the same way.

I won't get any farther than that for a number of reasons, except to say this: Most buy a pickup for specific capabilities. Any ultraluxury pickup must retain those capabilities to be viable.

[AtlasM]

Mercedes is building their truck on the Nissan Navara platform (i.e. what the rest of the world gets as a compact/midsize Nissan pickup instead of the outdated Frontier sold here in the US).



This comes through the Mercedes partnership with Renault/Nissan, that has also produced for example the Infiniti QX30 that's based on the Mercedes GLA.

So unless BMW gets their hands on a truck platform through some corporate partner, not very likely. I suppose they could do something based on the X5 like how Honda makes the Ridgeline out of the Pilot but I don't see BMW doing that. Then again, I didn't see why the hell they made the X6 so what do I know?

[nick3753]

Originally Posted by AtlasM

Mercedes is building their truck on the Nissan Navara platform (i.e. what the rest of the world gets as a compact/midsize Nissan pickup instead of the outdated Frontier sold here in the US).



This comes through the Mercedes partnership with Renault/Nissan, that has also produced for example the Infiniti QX30 that's based on the Mercedes GLA.

So unless BMW gets their hands on a truck platform through some corporate partner, not very likely. I suppose they could do something based on the X5 like how Honda makes the Ridgeline out of the Pilot but I don't see BMW doing that. Then again, I didn't see why the hell they made the X6 so what do I know?

Perhaps from Toyota?

[MightyMouseTech]

Maybe we will get a German Taco? Liverwurst wrapped in schnitzel?

[raptor_f22]

Maybe they'll make an X1 pickup - you know, for those who don't want a full size SUV or family car, 4x4 capability, true pick up capabilities, size, space, comfort or practicality...but hey it's stylish and has that sexy BMW badge

[ciaranob]

Mini had a cool student project that to my eye would have been a cool city hauler - wife wanted this thing bad !

[Viffermike]

Originally Posted by ciaranob

Mini had a cool student project that to my eye would have been a cool city hauler - wife wanted this thing bad !

I'm a fan of small cars. A BIG fan. I like Minis. A lot.

But that thing is pretty much the ugliest and impractical conversion -- real, concept, or otherwise -- I have ever seen.

#pickuphiccup

[ciaranob]

Originally Posted by Viffermike

I'm a fan of small cars. A BIG fan. I like Minis. A lot.

But that thing is pretty much the ugliest and impractical conversion -- real, concept, or otherwise -- I have ever seen.

#pickuphiccup

Well to each their own but I do agree re variation of the Mini - personally think BMW have trashed the original concept by bloating most of the line of spin offs - here is a pic of my wife's Mini Cooper S (ca. 2010 and still looks this good) which we bought in 2004, first release! Still looks great and to my eye pays more of an homage to the original concept than anything they have done since ! (I had the cheap black wheel arches sanded and painted body color and aded their aero kit)

[Viffermike]

Originally Posted by ciaranob

Well to each their own but I do agree re variation of the Mini - personally think BMW have trashed the original concept by bloating most of the line of spin offs - here is a pic of my wife's Mini Cooper S (ca. 2010 and still looks this good) which we bought in 2004, first release! Still looks great and to my eye pays more of an homage to the original concept than anything they have done since ! (I had the cheap black wheel arches sanded and painted body color and aded their aero kit)

I owned and mildly modified a silver/silver 2006 Cooper. Drove it from Texas to Canada and back once, with a few 'detours' along the way. 5,500 miles. In fact ... here it is on the shores of Kootenay Lake, B.C., Canada, during that trip:



So: right there with ya. They just should never be the basis for a pickup.

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by Viffermike

That truck, the Caddy Fleetwood, etc. were duds because they weren't what they needed to be, and they weren't thought through in terms of the needs and wants of the market. Basically, domestic makers thought the luxury SUV trend could be applied directly to pickups. It can't. Not in the same way.

I won't get any farther than that for a number of reasons, except to say this: Most buy a pickup for specific capabilities. Any ultraluxury pickup must retain those capabilities to be viable.

So the Lincoln LT, based off the most popular truck sold in the USA, wasn't successful because it wasn't a good enough pickup truck...? From what I remember of it, I do not recall that the Lincolnization of the F-150 took away any of it's truck capability (towing and hauling) for the LT at least; the Blackwood I would agree with your premise. And have you seen a Ford F-150 King Ranch (which basically took over for the LT in the market place)?

So indulge a bit more, if you please.

[Viffermike]

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

So the Lincoln LT, based off the most popular truck sold in the USA, wasn't successful because it wasn't a good enough pickup truck...?

That was part of it. It was not well marketed, either -- particularly regarding the retention of truck-like traits -- and it was universally perceived as a simple F-150 rebadging, which is basically what it was. It didn't really even have a unique body. Plus, it was a Lincoln, which, despite its ownership by Ford, is a marque with almost no pedigree beyond passenger cars. The LT was simply perceived as a money grab by Ford during a time when building pickups and large SUVs was the most profitable thing for a domestic carmaker to do.

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

From what I remember of it, I do not recall that the Lincolnization of the F-150 took away any of it's truck capability (towing and hauling) for the LT at least; the Blackwood I would agree with your premise. And have you seen a Ford F-150 King Ranch (which basically took over for the LT in the market place)?

I live in the land of King Ranch -- both the namesake and the truck -- and its existence is part of the reason I believe the ultraluxury pickup is quickly becoming a viable niche. However, despite its trappings and price, it is not an ultraluxury vehicle in the same way as, say, a Cadillac Escalade or an M-B Gelandewagen are. It's still fundamentally a Ford first, and an F-250 second.

[brianeck]

I'm not gonna lie I would actually be somewhat interested in this market positioning. I'm obviously a tiny niche of the population, but there is something about a luxury performance pickup that kind for gets my jollies jollying. It looks awesome in matte austin yellow too hahaha.

I'm a big fan of the SVT Raptor, I just really don't particularly like the styling. I don't like fake dirt decals and I specifically don't like the giant plastic Ford grill upfront.

[Viffermike]

Originally Posted by brianeck

I'm not gonna lie I would actually be somewhat interested in this market positioning. I'm obviously a tiny niche of the population, but there is something about a luxury performance pickup that kind for gets my jollies jollying. It looks awesome in matte austin yellow too hahaha.

I'm a big fan of the SVT Raptor, I just really don't particularly like the styling. I don't like fake dirt decals and I specifically don't like the giant plastic Ford grill upfront.

I'm not talking about a pickup like the Raptor, or the Ford Lightning, etc. The market for those -- basically a fast car with a pickup body -- has been established.

I'm talking about a real pickup that can do what real pickups are usually purchased to do: haul stuff (more than its own arse). Basically, it would be at least what a Range Rover is to the SUV world: top class inside and out, but eminently capable when the outside can do a lesser SUV in.

[DC-T]

LOL

[Viffermike]

Originally Posted by DC-T

LOL

Ha!

It's the Mercedes Der Weg! ('The Path' im Deutsch; 'El Camino' in Spanish)

[JN1]

Originally Posted by larryn

http://blog.dupontregistry.com/news/...ruck-revealed/



To be fair, Mercedes also has large commercial trucks and vans, but this is more a passenger vehicle...

If it comes that way, straight from the dealer, I want it. But I'm sure this is the concept version thats been modified.