Melt aims pick up
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MERCEDES-BENZ UK has reinforced its attack on Land Rover's lucrative home market with a pickup version of the GWagen.
The 2.5-tonne-gvw G-Series pickup is based on the 2.4m (7ft lin) short-wheelbase 300GD Estate, but with the roof and rear body panels replaced by a removable pvc tilt cover. A roll bar between the B-posts maintains body integrity in the absence of any roof or rear cab bulkhead. Payload without driver is 615kg (12.1cwt).
UK G-Wagen pickups will be available only with the DaimlerBenz 2,996cc diesel engine, although MB is confident that prospective customers will not be put off by the lack of a petrol engine option.
According to John Barker, MB UK's car product marketing manager: "The diesel engine is most appropriate for the pickup application."
The 66kW (88hp) five-cylinder indirect-injection engine offers increased power and torque over Land Rover's recently-introduced 2.5-litre diesel engine fitted in its Ninety and One Ten series pickups. Peak torque on the Daimler-Benz engine is 172Nm (127 lbft) at 2,400rpm.
Unlike the Land Rover Pickup models, the 300GD canvas top has no rear bulkhead or load restraint barrier behind the seats, which may not appeal to some buyers. MB is currently talking with several British light vehicle converters with a view to offering an optional removable grp hard top on the pick-up which will completely enclose the driving compartment.
Standard specification includes a four-speed manual gearbox with cross-country (low) ratio and front and rear differential locks. A five-speed manual and four-speed automatic gearbox will be optional.
The all-metal pickup bed has a maximum length of 1.33m (4ft 3in) and an internal width between the wheel arches of 1.02m (3ft 2in).
The neat pvc tilt cover is fixed to the pickup body by elasticated cords running through eyelets.
Price for the three-litre dieselengined 300GD pickup is £13,125, which is significantly higher than the Land Rover Ninety pickup at £8,281, or £9,847 for the high-capacity, long wheelbase One Ten pickup, although Mercedes claims vat can be recovered if the vehicle is taxed as a light commercial, bringing the final price down to E11,413.