Last year, Mercedes made a surprise foray into the pickup truck segment with the reveal of the luxurious X-Class, though its reception was divisive to say the least. One common criticism was that the X-Class was underpowered compared to its rivals. To rectify this, Mercedes will be showing off a new V6-powered X-Class next week at Geneva. Dubbed the X 350d 4MATIC, the new range-topper packs a turbodiesel 3.0-liter V6 engine with common-rail direct injection.

The diesel unit delivers 258 horsepower and a maximum torque of 406 lb-ft available from 1,400 rpm to 3,200 rpm, ensuring that high torque is available at low engine speeds. According to Mercedes, this increase in power enables the posh pickup truck to sprint from 0-62 mph in an impressive 7.9 seconds before topping out at 127 mph. As standard, the V6-powered X-Class features a 7G-TRONIC Plus automatic transmission, which operates with no interruption in tractive power during gear changes, thus improving the handling for uphill gradients, off-road driving and when towing a trailer.

The five-speed automatic transmission has been configured to channel 60 percent of the available torque to the rear wheels, providing better traction during acceleration. The automaker's permanent 4Matic all-wheel system is also included as standard. Five different driving modes will be offered in the X 350d 4MATIC. By default, the pickup is set to Comfort, but this can be switched to Eco, Sport, Manual, or Offroad mode. It also comes with a low-range reduction gear and can be optionally configured with a rear axle locking differential to improve traction across all surface types. The 4Matic system has three selectable drive modes as well as an available 100 percent differential lock if needed.

We were never expecting it to be as capable off-road as the new G-Class, but the X-Class has a respectable ground clearance of 8.7 inches, a fording depth of nearly 24 inches, and can climb gradients up to 45 degrees. Due to go on sale in Europe mid-2018, the X 350d 4MATIC will be available in both Progressive and Power trims. The former includes 17-inch alloy wheels, a leather-lined steering wheel, and an eight-speaker audio system, while the Power trim has 18-inch wheels, LED headlights, and interior upgrades. Don't expect it to arrive in the US, though, since Mercedes is adamant that mid-size pickups make no market sense in America. Shame.