Photo: CarPix
Competition with other automakers has forced Mercedes to develop its first true crossover. The GLB is big and spacious, yet it's based on a front-wheel-drive car platform.
Not surprisingly, it also looks like the VW Tiguan, at least in these most recent spyshots which were taken at the Nurburgring track. The roof rails and tall greenhouse give it an upright stance, not that we're complaining about it not resembling all the other Mercedes models.
The platform underneath this boxy body is shared with the fresh A-Class, as well as the CLA that's about to come out. It looks like Daimler and Infiniti have cut ties, so there won't be a QX30 doppelganger.
Of course, once the camo is removed, the GLB won't be confused with the Tiguan, based on earlier spy images. It's also not quite the "baby G-Class" that was promised when all the early rumors came out.
But customers should be more than happy to get all that space from a GLC in something that cheaper. How do we know it's cheaper? Well, just look at those old-fashioned halogen headlights. You just saved yourself €2,000 right there!
And the GLB could be one of the few Mercedes models that don't have an AMG version. I mean, they made one for the R-Class minivan, but this might be skipped. It's not like the market for such a car doesn't exist, but the German boys already have too many small niches to worry about a family car with 400 horsepower.
Most of the engines offered will have around 150 horsepower with the highlights being the 224 HP GLB 250 and potentially a plug-in hybrid. America should have a 2-liter turbo with around 180 horsepower.
As far as we know, the GLB will enter production early next year at the Daimler factory in Mexico, the same one that will assemble the A-Class sedan. Hopefully, the Trump taxes don't hit them too hard.
The platform underneath this boxy body is shared with the fresh A-Class, as well as the CLA that's about to come out. It looks like Daimler and Infiniti have cut ties, so there won't be a QX30 doppelganger.
Of course, once the camo is removed, the GLB won't be confused with the Tiguan, based on earlier spy images. It's also not quite the "baby G-Class" that was promised when all the early rumors came out.
But customers should be more than happy to get all that space from a GLC in something that cheaper. How do we know it's cheaper? Well, just look at those old-fashioned halogen headlights. You just saved yourself €2,000 right there!
And the GLB could be one of the few Mercedes models that don't have an AMG version. I mean, they made one for the R-Class minivan, but this might be skipped. It's not like the market for such a car doesn't exist, but the German boys already have too many small niches to worry about a family car with 400 horsepower.
Most of the engines offered will have around 150 horsepower with the highlights being the 224 HP GLB 250 and potentially a plug-in hybrid. America should have a 2-liter turbo with around 180 horsepower.
As far as we know, the GLB will enter production early next year at the Daimler factory in Mexico, the same one that will assemble the A-Class sedan. Hopefully, the Trump taxes don't hit them too hard.
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