2026 Mercedes-Benz GLB teased – 7-seater EV SUV, MBUX Superscreen, MB.OS, debuts December 8

Whereas one among Mercedes-Benz’s renewed compact fashions has already been revealedone other is ready within the wings. Stuttgart has launched the primary teaser pictures of the all-new, fully-electric GLB forward of its world premiere on December 8, together with the utterly overhauled seven-seater cabin.

The substitute for each the unique GLB and the associated EQB stays an essential area of interest participant for the Three-pointed Star, given the shortage of smaller three-row electrical SUVs. Based mostly on the identical Mercedes-Benz Modular Structure (MMA) as the brand new CLA, it is going to probably be supplied with the identical powertrains and applied sciences as its four-door coupé sibling.

That a lot is clear within the inside, which has been revealed in full and options an equivalent dashboard to the CLA. Meaning a flat fascia optionally accessible with the full-width MBUX Superscreen, geared up with a ten.25-inch digital instrument show and twin 14-inch touchscreens, together with one for the passenger. All this runs on the most recent Mercedes-Benz Working System (MB.OS) with built-in generative AI.

Bookending the screens are round air vents with neat fluted surrounds and a nozzle with a “flat, state-of-the-art physique” (no matter meaning), whereas the concave door panels characteristic giant storage recesses and a “floating” door seize deal with.

In the meantime, the steering wheel now comes with a bodily quantity scroll wheel and cruise management velocity toggle “in response to quite a few buyer requests,” though the remainder of the controls are nonetheless frustratingly contact operated. The ditching of seat reminiscence buttons and discrete rear window buttons echoes the CLA.

The GLB comes as customary with a panoramic glass roof, which mixes with the raised roofline to supply extra headroom for the primary two rows. The glass options an infrared-reflective coating on the surface and a low-emissive (low-e) coating on the within to chop down on warmth, and might be optioned with an electrochromic frosting operate and even tiny illuminated stars.

Shifting rearward, the GLB affords extra second-row legroom and thigh help, whereas the one-touch tilt-and-slide characteristic pushes the seats additional ahead to help third-row entry and egress. As earlier than, a sliding and reclining second row is non-obligatory on five-seater fashions and customary with the seven-seater.

As for the outside, not a lot has been revealed, with the automobile nonetheless being coated in copious quantities of camouflage, in addition to loads of snow from cold-weather wind tunnel testing. Nonetheless, we will see that the GLB will characteristic the identical common boxy form as earlier than, albeit with sleeker, slimmer headlights.

Similar to the CLA, anticipate these lamps to be joined by a full-width illuminated strip over the trapezoidal grille (which appears to be huge) and incorporate Merc’s gaudy tristar graphics. The rear finish appears set to realize inverted L-shaped taillights linked by a slim bar, with the corners curving to border the tailgate.

Not a lot has been revealed in regards to the automobile’s mechanicals, however anticipate the GLB to launch with the identical motor choices because the CLA, together with a 272 PS/335 Nm rear motor and 354 PS/515 Nm twin motors. Each ought to characteristic a Porsche Taycan-aping two-speed gearbox on the rear axle.

Additionally probably is an 85 kWh nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) battery that delivers 792 km of WLTP-range on the CLA250+ and 771 km on the CLA350 4Matic; anticipate considerably decrease figures on the bigger, much less aerodynamic equal GLB fashions.

A 58 kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) choice must also be supplied, as ought to a 48-volt hybrid powertrain consisting of a brand new 1.5 litre M252 Atkinson-cycle turbocharged four-cylinder engine – rumoured to be developed by Geely and Renault’s Horse Powertrain subsidiary – and an electrical motor housed inside the eight-speed 8F-eDCT dual-clutch transmission.

Using the MMA platform signifies that the electrical GLB will virtually actually inherit the CLA’s 800-volt electrical structure, enabling as much as 320 kW of DC quick charging. Hopefully, Mercedes-Benz has learnt its lesson and permit customers to cost at 400-volt stations…

The GLB will quickly be joined by the third-generation GLA, finishing a trifecta of compact fashions. Sadly, the favored A-Class gained’t see a substitute with the transfer to the MMA platform and will likely be dropped in 2028in a bid to scale back complexity in product improvement.

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