THE 157kW/500Nm Ford Ranger Raptor now has a performance target to beat. The challenger? It’s the 190kW/550Nm V6-engined Mercedes-Benz X350d, which will officially dispatch the 0-100km/h benchmark in 7.9 seconds.

Ford has shown its Raptor-badged version of the Ranger, but released few details of its performance swagger. We know it sits on a wider track and a little higher than the boggo trade ute it uses as its template, but while US buyers will talk reverently of the 3.5-litre twin-turbo petrol V6 under the hood of their version, we’re left standing around scratching our heads at the 2.0-litre twin-turbo four-cylinder diesel under the bonnet of ours, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. A 2.0-litre oil burner? How fast could that be?

2018 Mercedes-Benz X-Class lands in Australia ahead of April launch

The German luxury brand will show its top-end trade ute at next week’s Geneva motor show, featuring a seven-speed automatic gearbox, and permanent all-wheel drive.

Mercedes-Benz is keen to talk up the X350d’s performance qualities, stating: “The performance of the X-Class is not only thrilling off-road, but also on the road.

“The wide track, the long wheelbase and the sophisticated design of the comfort suspension with a double wishbone front axle, the multi-link rear axle with a rigid section and coil springs at both axles ensure plenty of on-road driving pleasure and driving dynamics – with no compromises when off-road.”

By default, the X-Class’s all-wheel-drive system pushes 60 percent of drive to the rear wheels.

“This rear-based configuration ensures improved vehicle dynamics and higher lateral acceleration on the road, and better traction during acceleration,” Mercedes said.

And it wouldn’t be Mercedes-Benz without making some obscure link to Formula 1 when talking up new product. It says the special coating on the cylinder linings of the 3.0-litre turbocharged donk comes straight out of the technology developed for the Grand Prix circus.