Our members know that Wales offers an unrivalled combination of scenery, a variety of different road types, and challenging off-road sites, all in relatively close proximity.
Although we sometimes get to sample UK versions of the latest models in Wales, such as with the Hyundai Kona and Ford Fiesta in November 2017, it is sometimes surprising (to us) that more media launches of new cars don’t take place on this side of the border.
But for Caroline Burnell, senior press officer for Mercedes-Benz Vans, Wales seemed to be the ideal location for the UK media launch of the new X-Class pick-up truck, late in 2017.
Although we sometimes get to sample UK versions of the latest models in Wales, such as with the Hyundai Kona and Ford Fiesta in November 2017, it is sometimes surprising (to us) that more media launches of new cars don’t take place on this side of the border.
But for Caroline Burnell, senior press officer for Mercedes-Benz Vans, Wales seemed to be the ideal location for the UK media launch of the new X-Class pick-up truck, late in 2017.
The international media launch location for the X-Class had been in another hemisphere a few weeks earlier. But in our mind, the arduous environment and Andean backdrop of Chile would have been no match for some of the tricky terrain of Gwynedd and the scenery of Snowdonia National Park.
The starting point for the event was in Shropshire, at RAF Museum Cosford. The museum’s facilities were ideal for parking a large number of test vehicles, and it included a meeting room for the product presentation on the X-Class.
The starting point for the event was in Shropshire, at RAF Museum Cosford. The museum’s facilities were ideal for parking a large number of test vehicles, and it included a meeting room for the product presentation on the X-Class.
Caroline explained: “To make the trip as easy as possible for our guests, Ian Knight, from our events agency Launch Events, came up with the brilliant idea of starting the event from RAF Cosford as it provided a very easy-to-get-to location, as well as a very secure area for journalists to leave their vehicles overnight. It also ensured a very long drive!
But the timing of the event coincided with sub-zero temperatures and a heavy snowfall. The car park at Cosford, with more than a dozen X-Classes lined up could have passed for a location from the TV series Ice Road Truckers.
Caroline added: “As it happened, the forecast snow came and the worst hit areas were North Wales and Telford! Thank goodness this event was for a pick-up truck as I can’t think of many vehicles that could handle that amount of snow!”
But the timing of the event coincided with sub-zero temperatures and a heavy snowfall. The car park at Cosford, with more than a dozen X-Classes lined up could have passed for a location from the TV series Ice Road Truckers.
Caroline added: “As it happened, the forecast snow came and the worst hit areas were North Wales and Telford! Thank goodness this event was for a pick-up truck as I can’t think of many vehicles that could handle that amount of snow!”
The late-morning start of the first rotation of the event had the event team trying to keep warm when preparing the vehicles at -8ºC, before the media attendees set off on roads that, despite being treated with salt, were still best taken gently.
There were only three fixed rendezvous points: the lunch stop at Gorwelion restaurant, a nearby off-road course, and Portmeirion, where we would be spending the night before returning to Shropshire the next morning.
The rest of day on was up to us, with almost 20 other locations and landmarks in North Wales programmed into the satellite navigation. We were free to choose the ones we wanted to visit in the time available.
As well as a map of the locations (and postcodes for the navigation), the roadbook also included a number of useful Welsh phrases for non-natives taking part in the event.
There were only three fixed rendezvous points: the lunch stop at Gorwelion restaurant, a nearby off-road course, and Portmeirion, where we would be spending the night before returning to Shropshire the next morning.
The rest of day on was up to us, with almost 20 other locations and landmarks in North Wales programmed into the satellite navigation. We were free to choose the ones we wanted to visit in the time available.
As well as a map of the locations (and postcodes for the navigation), the roadbook also included a number of useful Welsh phrases for non-natives taking part in the event.
Caroline told us: “In terms of location, because I was soon to be moving to Llandudno Junction (my partner Tim planned to set up there as an independent Mercedes-Benz repairer), I was keen to hold the event around this part as I knew the pictures would be terrific and the roads fantastic!
“I also knew I wanted to do a ‘build your own’ event, giving the journalists freedom to travel where they wanted and, more importantly, spend as much time in the vehicle as possible.
“I therefore tasked Ian to help me find a suitable off-road location and lunch stop, as well as overnight, and his team suggest Bala for the off-road and Portmeirion for the overnight stop.
“From here, between us we picked up a variety of spots on the map for their interest – perhaps beautiful scenery, good roads, or points of interest such as Zip World and the various castles. I’m such a fan of Wales now that I simply wanted to share that with everyone.”
“I also knew I wanted to do a ‘build your own’ event, giving the journalists freedom to travel where they wanted and, more importantly, spend as much time in the vehicle as possible.
“I therefore tasked Ian to help me find a suitable off-road location and lunch stop, as well as overnight, and his team suggest Bala for the off-road and Portmeirion for the overnight stop.
“From here, between us we picked up a variety of spots on the map for their interest – perhaps beautiful scenery, good roads, or points of interest such as Zip World and the various castles. I’m such a fan of Wales now that I simply wanted to share that with everyone.”
The lunch stop at Gorwelion, which offered a number of unpretentious and warming dishes for the cold afternoon ahead, might never have happened had the team not passed it in search of another restaurant.
Caroline said: “During a site visit, Ian stumbled upon the fabulous Gorwelion restaurant (on the way to try out a different lunch venue) and was hooked straight away (and never did get to the original lunch stop)! It worked so well for the informal lunch I wanted and actually, I have been back since with Tim and his family as the food was so good.”
The Mercedes-Benz X-Class is the company’s first modern double-cab pick-up truck, and, through its relationship with the Renault-Nissan Alliance that has witnessed Mercedes-Benz providing platforms, engines and other technology to Infiniti, and Renault supply a compact van and small diesel engines to Mercedes-Benz, and it is based on the successful Nissan Navara.
Mercedes-Benz has given the base vehicle unique styling features inside and out that make it look part of its SUV family, while the four-cylinder diesel engines are developed by Nissan. A six-cylinder diesel X-Class has since joined the range, with Mercedes-Benz’s own engine and automatic gearbox.
Four-cylinder versions have part time four-wheel drive, with the centre differential locked when 4WD is engaged (meaning that for most of our route we needed to be in rear-wheel drive mode), while the six-cylinder version offers permanent four-wheel drive.
Caroline said: “During a site visit, Ian stumbled upon the fabulous Gorwelion restaurant (on the way to try out a different lunch venue) and was hooked straight away (and never did get to the original lunch stop)! It worked so well for the informal lunch I wanted and actually, I have been back since with Tim and his family as the food was so good.”
The Mercedes-Benz X-Class is the company’s first modern double-cab pick-up truck, and, through its relationship with the Renault-Nissan Alliance that has witnessed Mercedes-Benz providing platforms, engines and other technology to Infiniti, and Renault supply a compact van and small diesel engines to Mercedes-Benz, and it is based on the successful Nissan Navara.
Mercedes-Benz has given the base vehicle unique styling features inside and out that make it look part of its SUV family, while the four-cylinder diesel engines are developed by Nissan. A six-cylinder diesel X-Class has since joined the range, with Mercedes-Benz’s own engine and automatic gearbox.
Four-cylinder versions have part time four-wheel drive, with the centre differential locked when 4WD is engaged (meaning that for most of our route we needed to be in rear-wheel drive mode), while the six-cylinder version offers permanent four-wheel drive.
On commercial vehicle launches, it is expected, and often very useful, for the test to take place with a partial load so we can gain a better understanding of how the van or truck will feel when working.
For this event, no sacks of gravel were required as there was a plentiful supply of snow at Cosford, and all vehicles could be filled to the top of the load area with what must have been a couple of hundred kilos of the white stuff.
The wintry scenes made for some spectacular backdrops for photography for those of us who like to document our activity on social media, but it also came with a downside.
For the first day of the event, the off-road course had to remain closed, as the snow had made it too dangerous for us amateurs to traverse. Although with so much snow around, the vehicles were more than hubcap-deep for some of the photo opportunities.
Caroline said: “As it turned out, despite the off-road route being closed on the first day (it was open for the other two rotations), the snow added so much to the event as it really showed off the capability of the vehicles.
“They weren’t equipped with winter tyres or any other tricks of the trade – just as they came, so that provided us with a great opportunity.”
It was certainly an unprecedented opportunity and those of us who attended would say, umprompted: “Mae Caroline yn rhoi y tripiau ffyrdd gorau erioed.”
Points of interest:
1 RAF Museum Cosford
2 Bala 4x4
3 Gorwelion
4 Portmeirion
5 British Ironworks Centre
6 Powis Castle
7 Lake Vyrnwy
8 Sportsmans Arms
9 Evo Triangle
10 Mach Loop
11 Great Orme
12 Ffestiniog Railway
13 Llynnau Mymbyr
14 Llyn Stwlan
15 Llanberis Pass
16 Barmouth
17 Zip World Penrhyn Quarry
18 Harlech Castle
19 Electric Mountain
20 Menai Bridge
21 Llyn Padarn
22 Criccieth
23 Caernarfon
For this event, no sacks of gravel were required as there was a plentiful supply of snow at Cosford, and all vehicles could be filled to the top of the load area with what must have been a couple of hundred kilos of the white stuff.
The wintry scenes made for some spectacular backdrops for photography for those of us who like to document our activity on social media, but it also came with a downside.
For the first day of the event, the off-road course had to remain closed, as the snow had made it too dangerous for us amateurs to traverse. Although with so much snow around, the vehicles were more than hubcap-deep for some of the photo opportunities.
Caroline said: “As it turned out, despite the off-road route being closed on the first day (it was open for the other two rotations), the snow added so much to the event as it really showed off the capability of the vehicles.
“They weren’t equipped with winter tyres or any other tricks of the trade – just as they came, so that provided us with a great opportunity.”
It was certainly an unprecedented opportunity and those of us who attended would say, umprompted: “Mae Caroline yn rhoi y tripiau ffyrdd gorau erioed.”
Points of interest:
1 RAF Museum Cosford
2 Bala 4x4
3 Gorwelion
4 Portmeirion
5 British Ironworks Centre
6 Powis Castle
7 Lake Vyrnwy
8 Sportsmans Arms
9 Evo Triangle
10 Mach Loop
11 Great Orme
12 Ffestiniog Railway
13 Llynnau Mymbyr
14 Llyn Stwlan
15 Llanberis Pass
16 Barmouth
17 Zip World Penrhyn Quarry
18 Harlech Castle
19 Electric Mountain
20 Menai Bridge
21 Llyn Padarn
22 Criccieth
23 Caernarfon
By Simon Harris
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