2018 Mercedes-Benz X-Class ute teased ahead of next week’s reveal

Lighting. Cyclones. Avalanches. Bulls. Wild Horses. Sense a theme here? Mercedes-Benz’s latest promo video for its X-Class dual-cab ute is full of “force of nature” visual metaphors, and it also gives us our first fleeting glimpse of the workhorse itself ahead of its July 18 reveal.

Its appearance is a brief one, but there’s enough on show to give us some clues about what to expect.

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Though the new X-Class is confirmed to be based on the D23 Nissan Navara’s chassis and will share at least one of its engines (a 2.3-litre twin-turbo diesel four), this teaser shows the production model will bear a close resemblance to the X-Class concept that debuted in October last year.

Key differences to the Navara include unique door skins with lower creases that mimic Mercedes’ current design language , subtly squared-off wheel arches instead of the Nissan’s rounder fenders, distinctive LED tail lamps and, of course, Benz’s three-pointed star flanked by distinctive LED headlamp housings.

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From most angles, it shouldn’t resemble a Nissan at all – only the door apertures, roof and perhaps tailgate will be the only clues of the X-Class’ Japanese DNA.

One thing we can’t see is the interior. Unlike the Renault Alaskan, which also shares its bones – but also much of its sheetmetal – with the Nissan Navara, the X-Class will have an entirely unique cabin. Given how faithful the exterior appears to be to the concept, the interior should be fairly close as well.

We’ll have the full run-down on Benz’s first mass-market dual-cab ute following its global unveiling on the 18th.