Mighty Mercedes-Benz X-Class takes centre stage for Co-op at UK festivals
Boot-sucking mud and torrential rain are all part of the fun for Britain’s hard-core army of festivalgoers – fortunately for them, the challenging conditions at some of this summer’s biggest outdoor events weren’t about to stop a Mercedes X-Class in its tracks either!
Co-op supermarket chiefs drafted in the V6-engined pickup to support the building, operation and dismantling of their temporary stores at festivals nationwide. Up to 7,500 sq ft in size, and fitted out with shelving, fridges, freezers, checkouts and even warehousing, these activations kept revellers well stocked with everything they could possibly need, including food and water, beer, wine, toiletries and medicines. Co-op even established fully-functioning ‘villages’ for up to 90 of its staff to live in while operating its supermarkets 24 hours a day.
Supplied by north-west Dealer Ciceley Commercials, the range-topping X 350 d 4MATIC demonstrator was at the biggest gathering of them all, June’s Glastonbury Festival, where it turned in a three-pointed star performance to rival those of the headline acts.
The mighty Mercedes-Benz was also in the thick of the action at Castle Donington for Download 2019, Latitude in Southwold, Suffolk, and the Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival near Inverness, then flitted between Creamfields in Liverpool, and festivals at Leeds and Reading, which all took place over the August Bank Holiday Weekend.
Alasdair Fowle“It’s a definite head-turner but our team were every bit as impressed with its capabilities as they were with its appearance."
Co-op Head of Partnerships & Events Alasdair Fowle explained: “The X-Class was allocated to our activation team, whose role entails building the store and village, facilitating trade for the festival community throughout the event, and then derigging everything once it’s drawn to a close.
“As you can imagine, this entails a lot of administration, and movement of staff and equipment. We needed a vehicle that not only offered a high payload capacity, but, of course, could also be used off-road in extreme conditions.
“Creamfields was very wet this year and at Download a month’s-worth rain fell in a single day. This meant the entire site became very difficult to drive through, yet Ciceley’s vehicle took the worst of the ground in its stride and didn’t get stuck once.”
The first premium brand pickup, the imposingly styled four-door, five-seat X-Class combines the traditional pickup attributes of robustness, functionality, strength and off-road performance, with the classical design, comfort, driving dynamics and safety characteristics of a true Mercedes-Benz.
“The X 350 d attracted a lot of interest among festivalgoers at every event we attended,” recalled Mr Fowle. “It’s a definite head-turner but our team were every bit as impressed with its capabilities as they were with its appearance.
“The 1.0-tonne payload capacity is great, and we managed to fit in the X-Class all of the equipment we needed to support our activations. The cab, meanwhile, is roomy enough to accommodate five adults with ease, and the seats are comfortable and supportive, with the added bonus of being heated.
“All this, plus cruise control, meant that on the long journeys between festival sites the vehicle offered a smooth, relaxing and enjoyable environment, while the engine delivered plenty of ‘grunt’ when needed on hilly country roads.
“The KEYLESS GO entry and engine start system was also a ‘plus’, as it relieved the driver of the inconvenience of having to keep digging out the key from a pocket.”
The X 350 d’s 3.0-litre turbodiesel delivers muscular 258 hp power, and 555 Nm of torque over a wide engine speed range of 1,400-3,200 rpm. Its 7G-TRONIC PLUS 7-speed automatic transmission features steering wheel-mounted shift paddles and an ECO start/stop function.
Unlike its four-cylinder stablemates, for which all-wheel drive is engageable, the six-cylinder variant employs a permanent system with low-range and drive selection mode. Wide track, spring and damping system tuned for comfort, and internally vented disc brakes front and rear, combine to deliver supreme handling, both on and off road.
Mr Fowle added: “The X-Class proved to be an essential tool for the activation support team over the course of our busiest summer yet. It’s a supremely practical vehicle, but at the same time a real pleasure to drive.”
Want to discover more about the X-Class? We’d love to hear from you! Please feel free to contact us today.
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Our Prep Centre and Darwen Service teams were out on Friday and Saturday supporting @eastlancshospice by helping with their Christmas tree collection across Lancashire 🎄💚
Over the course of the collection, our teams travelled a combined 163.2 miles, completing 149 tree pick-ups across Lancashire. Every donation from the collections goes directly to East Lancs Hospice, supporting the vital care they provide to local families.
As our charity partner, East Lancashire Hospice is incredibly important to us, and we’re proud to support initiatives like this that make a real difference in our communities.
Dave McGinnes, Darwen Service Manager, commented:
“It’s brilliant to be able to support the hospice and the communities we serve by allowing our teams to volunteer and providing vehicles and resources. This was a real team effort across both sites, and it’s great to see the positive impact we can have by working together for such a worthwhile cause.”
Important Update: Plug-in Truck Grant Enhanced 🚛
The UK Government has announced increased funding for zero-emission trucks, with grants now available up to £120,000 for eligible vehicles.
These enhanced Plug-in Truck Grant rates are available now and apply to zero-emission trucks across Great Britain, but funding is time-limited and first-come, first-served.
Read more on our website.
As we move into the New Year, it’s the ideal time to plan maintenance for your Mercedes-Benz car.
If you need servicing or genuine parts this January, our Bolton site provides manufacturer-approved Mercedes-Benz car servicing delivered by trained technicians.
Get In touch with the team.
0333 014 6181
enquiries@ciceley.com
https://www.ciceley.com/mercedes-benz-passenger-car/
Happy New Year from everyone at Ciceley Commercials! 🎉
As we welcome the New Year, we’d like to thank our customers, partners and colleagues for your continued support throughout the past year. It’s been another busy and successful year across all our sites, and we’re excited for what lies ahead.
✨ That’s a wrap on 2025! ✨
As we count down to the New Year, we’re looking back at some of our favourite moments from across Ciceley Commercials this year. From exciting vehicle handovers and industry events to site developments and team achievements, it’s been another busy and rewarding year for us all.
A huge thank you to our customers, partners and colleagues for your continued support throughout 2025. We couldn’t do what we do without you.
Happy New Year from everyone at Ciceley Commercials! 🥂🚛🎆
We’ve received some lovely feedback from a customer who recently visited our Blackburn site.
A big thank you to Amy and Laura for delivering great service and making the visit so positive.🌟
Merry Christmas from everyone at Ciceley Commercials 🎄
Wishing our customers, partners and colleagues a very happy Christmas and thank you for your continued support throughout the year. 🎁✨
🎅🚐 Even Santa needs a little help sometimes…
Our 24-hour Roadside Assistance team is on hand throughout Christmas to keep you moving when the unexpected happens. Whether it’s festive deliveries or essential journeys, we’re here day and night, even over the Christmas period.
Because breakdowns don’t take Christmas off — and neither do we. ❄️
See our website for more details.
Still looking for that last minute gift? 🎄
Did you know we stock a range of Mercedes-Benz Genuine Accessories and Collection items – perfect for those hard-to-buy-for moments?
From stylish gifts like the Mercedes-AMG Monopoly set to practical accessories designed to fit your Mercedes-Benz perfectly, there’s something for every fan of the three-pointed star.
Pop in and speak to the team or give us a call to find the perfect last-minute gift.
01254 697926
www.ciceley.com
Christmas Jumper Day at Ciceley Commercials 🧶🎄
We’ve had a fab time across our sites getting into the festive spirit and raising money for @eastlancshospice 💙
A huge thank you to everyone who took part, donated and wore their best (and boldest!) Christmas jumpers — all in support of an incredible local charity that does such important work in our community.
Well done team, and thank you for spreading a little Christmas cheer 🎅✨
The Mercedes-Benz eActros 600 continues to demonstrate what zero-emission transport can achieve, having successfully completed the legendary John O’Groats to Land’s End route in just over 24 hours — the first electric HGV to do so.
Travelling 1,378 km with only three charging stops, the journey showcased the practicality of electric power for long-distance haulage. Running solely on renewable electricity, the 39.5-tonne eActros 600 delivered a range exceeding 500 km per charge, achieved an average efficiency of 1.175 km/kWh, and prevented more than one tonne of CO₂ emissions compared to a diesel equivalent.
This achievement reinforces that electric heavy goods vehicles are already capable of meeting the demands of modern transport operations.
The challenge also supported Globe Truckers UK, helping shine a light on the wellbeing of the drivers who keep our industry moving.
To explore how electric trucks could work for your fleet, speak to the team at Ciceley Commercials today.
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