Automotive News Europe - December 2019 - 19

AUTOMOTIVE NEWS EUROPE

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The GLB's upright front section, short overhangs and muscular shoulders are designed to give the SUV an off-road
vehicle look, Mercedes says.

Mercedes makes the GLB
an off-roader for families
M

ercedes-Benz aims to position the
GLB, the latest addition to its SUV
range, as a true all-rounder that is at
home on and off paved roads. While the
similar-sized GLA is sportier and more
lifestyle oriented, the GLB is aimed at
families and is the brand's first sevenseat offering in the compact segment.
Mercedes' aim with the GLB was to
make it an ideal urban family and leisure
vehicle with generous space and high
flexibility for everyday use, said Mathias
Geisen, the brand's product management head for compact cars and SUVs.
"You can drive it to work and make a
good impression on your clients, and it
makes the task of juggling career and
family easier," he said. The GLB can also
fit into smaller spaces in the crowded
city parking lots, he said.

The Basics

❚ Launch date: End of 2019
❚ Base price: 37,747 euros

(Germany)

❚ Where built: Aguascalientes,

Mexico; Beijing, China
❚ Main rivals: VW Tiguan Allspace,
Land Rover Discovery Sport

DECEMBER 2019

The GLB's third row is suitable for occupants up to 1.68 meters tall. The seats can
be folded flat to provide a level surface for
packing in more gear. The row is covered
by window airbags for improved safety.
Comfort features include two drink holders between the third-row seats as well as
two stowage compartments at the side,
each with a USB port. The seven-seat variant is expected to be popular in China.
The GLB is roomy inside to increase its
appeal to families. Its 2829mm wheelbase is 100mm longer than the B class.
At nearly 4630mm long and 1830mm
wide, the SUV nearly reaches the footprint of the midsize GLC, which is
4660mm long and 1890mm wide.
The GLB's smaller engines and standard
front-wheel drive help to differentiate it
from the larger GLC, which is Mercedes'
top-selling SUV and has more prestigious features such as air suspension
and six-cylinder engines.
It is unclear whether a plug-in hybrid
version of the GLB will be added at a
later date, but Mercedes has already announced a battery-electric vehicle called
the EQB due to launch in 2021.
The GLB is the eighth and final member
of the brand's entry-level compact family that also includes the GLA, CLA, A
class and B class.

Fast Facts
❚ Autonomous features: Improved

camera and radar systems enable
the GLB to look up to 500 meters
ahead and can adapt the speed before corners, crossroads or roundabouts. Active steering and lane
change assistance are also available.
❚ Connectivity: Extended MBUX
functions are an option with voice
control, personal profiles, predictive
functions and a Wi-Fi hotspot.
❚ Off-road ability: Permanent allwheel drive with fully variable torque
distribution is an option.
❚ Engines: Four-cylinder gasoline and
diesel engines were updated to increase output, improve efficiency and
lower emissions.

One in three Mercedes vehicles is now an
SUV and one in four a compact, the automaker said. "A compact SUV like the GLB
combines all the success factors of the
company's highest-volume segments,"
a statement said. Mercedes sold about
609,000 compact cars last year.
-- Christiaan Hetzner

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Automotive News Europe - December 2019

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