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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Great feedback for our Blackburn Service Team!⭐️
A huge thank you to the customer for their fantastic feedback, you can read more of our testimonials here: https://www.ciceley.com/testimonials/
The Mercedes-Benz diesel van range is built to keep your business moving. From the compact Citan to the versatile Vito and award-winning Sprinter, we’ve got the perfect van for every job.
🔥 Exclusive offers available now:
✅ Citan from £185* per month
✅ Vito from £395* + VAT per month
✅ Sprinter from £609* + VAT per month
✅ Up to 30 years’ Roadside Assistance with MobiloVan
Don’t miss out — these deals are only available while stocks last!
https://www.ciceley.com/ciceley-vans/offers/diesel-offers/
*Terms and conditions apply, please see our website for more information.
Exciting News!
We’re thrilled to announce that we’re expanding into Scotland with a brand-new Mercedes-Benz Truck and Bus dealership at Eurocentral! 🙌
As a proud family-run business, we’ve spent over 50 years supporting operators with exceptional service, strong relationships, and continued investment in the future. This new site marks an exciting new chapter for us — bringing our people-first approach and trusted Mercedes-Benz expertise to a whole new region.
The Eurocentral dealership will feature:
🔧 12 workshop bays
🚛 Full sales, service & parts facilities for Mercedes-Benz trucks
🚌 Service and parts facilities for Mercedes-Benz buses
🧰 An Authorised Testing Facility (ATF) lane
👷 Around 40 new local jobs
Construction starts soon, with a temporary workshop opening mid-2026 and the full dealership launching autumn 2026.
Read the full story on our website.
🚛 Ciceley Commercials Joins the Actros L ProCabin Tour! 🚛
Yesterday we joined Mercedes-Benz Trucks at Route 74 Truckstop, Glasgow, for the Actros L ProCabin Tour — giving drivers the chance to step inside the next generation of comfort and innovation.
The Actros L ProCabin is more than just a truck – it’s a workspace, a rest space, and a tech hub on wheels.
✨ Here’s what makes it stand out:
🖥️ Digital Cockpit & MirrorCam for ultimate visibility
🪑 Ergonomic Design built for all-day comfort
🔋 Outstanding Efficiency that delivers every mile
We loved seeing everyone who stopped by to take a look inside, chat with the team, and experience the future of trucking first-hand.
Go further, cleaner, and quieter with the Mercedes-Benz electric van range. Whether it’s the eCitan, eVito, or eSprinter, enjoy zero-emission driving, impressive range, and fast charging times — all with premium Mercedes-Benz quality.
✅ The eCitan from £249* + VAT per month
✅ The eVito from £495* + VAT per month
✅ The eSprinter from £595* + VAT per month
Including:
4 FREE services
Up to 30 years’ Roadside Assistance with MobiloVan
8-year / 100,000-mile battery warranty
Switch to electric today and keep your business moving sustainably! See our website for more details.
*Terms and conditions apply, please see our website for more information.
🐝 From Hive to Jar! 🍯
Today we visited @eastlancshospice with our Beekeeper John to watch how he turns our MerceBEES hard work into delicious honey! 🌼
It was fantastic to share the experience with the hospice’s staff and patients, showing how the honeycomb is spun, sieved, and jarred to create the finished product.
This year, we’re proud to be selling our Ciceley honey with all profits donated to our charity partner, East Lancashire Hospice – supporting the incredible work they do every day. 💛
Our MerceBEES have been busy since we first introduced four hives and 320,000 bees to our Blackburn and Darwen sites as part of our ongoing sustainability journey. 🐝
🏁 On 5th September, our all-electric Mercedes-Benz eActros 600 completed the 2025 EV Rally, driving from West Bromwich to Tatton Park, Cheshire ⚡🚛.
Along the way we:
☕ Recharged at Peak View Tea Rooms
🚚 Stopped at Sixt Van & Truck, Eccles
☀️ Showcased clean energy at Chamber House Solar Farm, Rochdale
🌳 And crossed the finish line at Tatton Park
Covering 248km fully loaded at 40t, the eActros 600 proved its range, efficiency, and cost savings – highlighting that zero-emission trucking isn’t the future, it’s here today. Get in touch with the team to put the eActros to the test
#evrally #explorer #collaboration #solarpower
✨ Another fantastic review for our Blackburn team! ✨
We’re proud to provide a service that makes things simple, stress-free and reliable for our customers.
Read more of our customer reviews here: https://www.ciceley.com/testimonials/
🍂 Autumn is here, and so are the chilly mornings!
Did you know that with the Mercedes-Benz app, you can pre-heat your electric Mercedes-Benz van before you even step outside?
✅ Warm and comfortable from the moment you get in
✅ Defrosted windows without scraping ice
All managed straight from your phone, giving you convenience and comfort whatever the weather.
❄️ A smart way to start your day as we head into winter.
⚽ Ciceley Takes on the Vantasy Football League! ⚽
Today, our Ciceley football team proudly represented us at the Mercedes-Benz Vantasy Football League at none other than St George’s Park – the home of England football!
Competing alongside eight teams made up of van drivers and Mercedes-Benz Van dealers from across the country, our squad battled hard and made it all the way to the semi-finals, finishing an impressive 3rd place overall! 🥉💪
The Vantasy Football initiative is about more than just football – it’s a fantastic campaign supporting mental health awareness for van drivers, many of whom work in isolating roles. We`re proud to support this important cause. 💙
A huge shout out to our amazing team:
Rob Claringbold, Gary Bridge, Jack Burgess, Matthew Coombe, Alex Lewis, Lee Holden, and Damian Holroyd – a brilliant mix from across our Sales, Service, IT, Accounts and Management teams.
Well played, team! 👏⚽
https://www.mercedes-benz.co.uk/vans/vantasy-football.html
#VantasyFootball #MercedesBenzVans #MentalHealthAwareness #TeamCiceley #StGeorgesPark #VanLife #FootballForGood
🌍 Tomorrow we’ll be at GreenFleet LIVE! 2025 in Rochdale!
Come and see us to explore the latest in electric vans and sustainable fleet solutions — and chat with our team about how we can support your journey to net zero. ⚡🚛
We’re looking forward to meeting fleet, transport and sustainability professionals from across the UK. See you there!
#GreenFleetLIVE #ElectricVehicles #CleanFleet #NetZero #LCV #Sustainability #CiceleyCommercials
☀️ Our eActros 400 has been out and about in sunny Scotland yesterday, with driver training sessions led by Jordan Lowe and Richard.
Great to see more drivers getting behind the wheel and experiencing the future of fully electric transport first-hand! ⚡🚛
#eActros #ElectricTrucks #DrivingTheFuture #CiceleyCommercials
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