Type to search

Share

Following a recent string of teasers as well as the debut of a near production concept at the Shanghai Motor Show, Mercedes-Benz has confirm that it will unveil the production version of the GLB at a special event in Utah.

 

To help commemorate things, the German luxury car maker released a brief teaser video of the production GLB. As expected, the teaser video does not reveal too much about the GLB, and the angles involved are very limited. That said, the concept at Shanghai does reveal pretty much everything you need to know about the model, and that includes the fact that the GLB has a very complex family tree and heritage. The exterior styling of the GLB will borrow a lot of cues from the bigger second generation G-Class, but is decidedly boxier than the GLC. The boxier dimensions also translates into a taller roof assembly which allows the GLB to hold up to seven passengers.

The interior of the GLB will come equipped with the firm’s MBUX infotainment system that has recently filtered its way to other newer Mercedes models. Higher trims will also get a digital instrument cluster, with the units fused together under a single piece of glass for a more unified and polished appearance. Look for a healthy suite of options to also be available, including items to help improve its levels of customization for younger buyers that want to make a distinct styling statement.

Mercedes is keeping the bulk of its technical information under wraps, but it is known that the GLB will be built on the same front-wheel drive platform that also underpins the GLA, A-Class, and the second generation CLA-Class. While this platform all but assures that the GLB will not be powered by anything beyond a four cylinder engine, look for AMG to perhaps release a souped up version of the GLB in the near future to lure in budget minded enthusiasts that want more power and performance.

 

The Mercedes GLB is expected to go on sale before the end of the 2019 model year. When it does, it will face a wide swath of competition from a number of its rivals, which all have had ample time to get themselves established in the luxury CUV marketplace. It will also be expected to fill a gap in the company’s lineup, with the GLB slotting in between the GLA and the GLC. Pricing information was not released, but we suspect that the base price could be somewhere around $35,000 to $37,000 with decently equipped examples easily surpassing $43,000.

it will be interesting to see if the GLB can resonate with customers the same way that its cousins have done, but we think that the odds will be in the GLB’s favor, especially over the subsequent years.

Tags::

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *