Mercedes has revealed the new Concept GLB at the eve
of the Shanghai Auto Show, essentially previewing the brand’s new compact SUV
which will be positioned as the most practical sibling of the GLA.
The new Mercedes GLB adopts a chunkier
appearance that in its thinly-veiled “concept” form is further aided by the use
of fat off-road tires, extra body cladding and a roof rack. The Concept GLB won’t remain a
concept for long, as Mercedes confirmed that the final production version will
be revealed this summer.
The new Mercedes SUV measures 4634 mm long, 1890 mm
wide and 1900 mm tall and rides on a 2829 mm-long wheelbase, offering space for
up to seven passengers in its interior. The concept also features LED
spotlights above the windshield and 17-inch bi-color wheels.
The interior shares most of its design with the
A-Class, featuring the trademark twin-display setup that hosts the brand’s MBUX
infotainment system. Since this is a showcar, all interior surfaces are covered
by special nappa and nubuk leather
leather in chesnut brown, with orange trim detailing and walnut panels.
The third row of seats can be recessed into the
luggage compartment in order to create more boot space when not used, with
Mercedes claiming that they can offer comfortable seating for two medium-sized
occupants. The second row can be adjusted by 140mm -90mm to the front and 50mm
to the rear-, making more space for those in the third row or offering more
generous legroom in the GLB’s five-seat configuration.
The Concept GLB is powered by the brand’s M260
turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder petrol engine, paired to an eight-speed
dual-clutch transmission. It produces 221 hp and 350 Nm of
torque. Power is sent to the permanent all-wheel drive 4Matic system, which can
lock its torque-split 50:50 between the axles with the Off-Road mode enabled.
