THE new Mercedes X-Class luxury pick-up truck will be priced from around £35,000 when it goes on sale in the UK later this year.

Although prices for the British market have still to be confirmed, Mercedes has announced the new premium truck will cost from 37,294 euros in its German home market.

At current exchange rates that's around £33,000 including VAT.

The X-Class is due for release in November and has been jointly developed with the Nissan-Renault Alliance with underpinnings shared by the Nissan Navara and the Renault Alaskan - a vehicle currently not sold in Britain.

The X-Class will be built in Spain, alongside the Navara and will also be produced in Argentina for other global markets.

With a payload of 1.1 tonnes and a towing ability of 3.5 tonnes, the X-Class is Mercedes' attempt to combine heavy duty workload with luxury appointments.

The cabin is plush and has much of the design and features of a Mercedes saloon while the company claims it will drive in similar fashion to a passenger car.

Two 2.3-litre diesel engines developing either 163 or 190bhp will be available from launch with a 258bhp V6 diesel slated to arrive in 2018.

Measuring 5.34 metres in length the X-Class is significantly bigger than the Navara and of similar size to the Volkswagen Amarok which is also priced at the same level.

Rugged styling and 4x4 ability will give the X-Class all-terrain ability and those features will be enhanced with a permanent four-wheel-drive variant arriving next year.

A long wheelbase of 3,150mm results in a load bed length of 1,587 and Mercedes says the cargo area is big enough to transport 50 barrels of beer.

Three trim levels - Pure, Performance and Power - will be offered with the latter aimed more at the lifestyle market.

The trend for targeting the posh end of the truck market will also see the X-Class being offered with leather trim and upholstery with plenty of add ons including styling bars, side rails and load canopies.

Independent suspension at the front and coil springs all round are designed to give the X-Class good performance and ride under all conditions and the vehicle will be fitted with the likes of Mercedes' safety systems such as Active Brake Assist, Lane Keeping Assist and Traffic Sign Assist, among others.

Options will include the Mercedes COMAND infotainment and connectivity systems and the top range X-Class will come with a seven-speed automatic transmission and a multi-mode drive programme.

"The segment for mid-size pick-ups is ripe for a premium vehicle," said Dr Dieter Zetsche, chairman of Mercedes. "With the X-Class we will open up this segment to new customer groups, just as we redefined the off-road segment with the M-Class more than 20years ago.

"Our pick up convinces as a workhorse, yet also as a family and lifestyle vehicle. In short, The X-Class is the Mercedes among pick-ups."