Mercedes has announced plans to unveil the all-new
GLB on June 10 in Utah. Billed as the “first compact SUV that can function as a spacious
family car,” the 2020 GLB will be offered with an optional seven-seat interior.
There probably won’t be a lot of room in the third row, but it should be
suitable for small children.
Mercedes didn’t say much else, but they released a
new teaser video which shows the model will have a panoramic glass roof,
slender taillights and roof rails with metallic accents. The video also
highlights the seven seat interior, which will put it apart from the
competition.
While the clip only shows part of the crossover, the
final item will follow in the footsteps of the GLB concept that debuted at the
Shanghai Auto Show earlier this year. This means we can expect a prominent two
bar grille flanked by squared-off headlights. The crossover will also have
plastic body cladding and a rear end that echoes the larger GLS.
The cabin will largely carryover from the A-Class
and the CLA, so we can expect a seven-inch digital instrument cluster and a
seven-inch touchscreen infotainment system. An assortment of options will be
available and choices should include leather upholstery, different kinds of
trim and larger 10.25-inch displays. Under the hood, there will be an
assortment of familiar engines. Choices should include a 2.0-liter
four-cylinder diesel with outputs of 148 hp and 187 hp, as well as a 2.0-liter petrol four with 187 hp and 221 hp.
Later down the road, Mercedes will introduce AMG variants.
The GLB 35 will have a turbocharged 2.0-liter four producing 302 hp and 400 Nm of torque and, if it follows the example of the
rest of Stuttgart’s compact models, the range will be topped by the GLB 45, in
“normal” 382 hp and “S” 415 hp guises.
