The new images released by Mercedes show the GLB testing in wintry conditions at the firm’s test facility in Sindelfingen, Germany. The car is being exposed to temperatures of -40deg C as part of its final round of testing.
Autocar understands the new GLB will also adopt a bolder-looking front end with new lighting signatures. These changes have been made possible by a switch to the new Mercedes-Benz Modular Architecture (MMA), this being the fourth model to use the platform. The current GLB sits on the older Modular Front Architecture (MFA), which will be phased out in 2026.
Priced from around £45,000, the new Audi Q3 and BMW X1 rival will follow its CLA platform-mate in being offered with electric and petrol drivetrains. Both variants will wear the GLB badge, meaning the EQB moniker will disappear.
In a bid to further extend the model’s appeal, the GLB will also receive a wider range of styling options, including an off-road package that brings a more rugged look similar to that of Mercedes’ original GLB concept, which was revealed in 2019.
The move comes as prospective buyers continue to seek a more off-road-led appearance for SUV models, a senior insider involved in the new model’s development has told Autocar.
The electric version of the GLB forgoes the 400V electrical architecture of today’s EQB for a more advanced 800V system that supports both single-motor, rear-wheel-drive and dual-motor, four-wheel-drive variants.
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