With the 2018 Geneva Motor Show just a week away, Mercedes-Benz has officially unveiled some details of the eagerly-anticipated V6-powered version of the X-Class bakkie.

We had our first taste of the Mercedes-Benz X-Class bakkie in South America late last year and part of that experience was having a shotgun ride in a prototype V6. Our test drive was limited to the four-cylinder models and we weren't enthused with the power delivery. There was a deficit when it came to in-gear torque from the 2.3-litre motor, but this V6 will address any power and torque issues with ease.

This is the flagship model, called the X350d 4Matic and it'll be publically revealed at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show next week. The new bakkie is powered by a 3.0-litre turbocharged V6 diesel motor, pushing outputs of 190 kW and 550 Nm, with peak torque coming between 1 400 rpm and 3 200 rpm. Power goes to all four wheels on a permanent basis via a 7G-Tronic Plus automatic gearbox.

With a claimed sprint time of just 7.9seconds to 100 kph, this will be one quick bakkie and it'll make for an interesting comparison to see if it can match the V6-powered Volkswagen Amarok There will be five driving modes in the new Mercedes-Benz X350d 4Matic: Comfort, Eco, Sport, Manual and Offroad.

For those who want to venture off the track, there's a low-range gearbox and 22 cm of ground clearance. Mercedes-Benz claims its X-Class can clear gradients of up to 45 degrees and wade through water up to 60 cm deep.

We'll have more details from the 2018 Geneva Motor Show next week and we expect the V6 Mercedes-Benz X350d to land in SA before the end of the year. Mercedes-Benz has announced a German price of 53 360 Euros, so that gives a vague idea of how much it'll cost when it makes its way to South Africa.

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