2019 Mercedes-Benz GLB
The Geländewagen may have started life as a
straightforward army vehicle, but its modernized successor has become a luxury
item and a status symbol reserved only for the wealthy.
It has always been a rugged, analogue “cross
country” vehicle, but few that bought it used it as such, which is partly why,
in the early 2000s, Mercedes started to build the G-Wagen for the posh,
high-end market after introducing the AMG variants.
Nowadays, sales are doing well, even if it has a
starting MSRP of US$ 119,900. The heads of Daimler thought they could
benefit even more from the G-Class’ success and plans a "baby
G-Wagen", tentatively named the GLB.
Positioned between the GLA and GLC, the GLB will be
underpinned by Merc’s upcoming MFA2 platform, and will reportedly come in both
short and long-wheelbase variants.
According to Auto Express, it will be launched in
2019 and offer a few of the G-Class’ traits, including its chunky design
language, in a more accessible package. Visually, it will borrow styling cues
from the Ener-G Force concept that was unveiled at the 2012 LA Motor Show.
