The second-generation Mercedes-Benz GLB has been photographed doing laps of the Nurburgring as it undergoes testing.
Although the car is clad in camouflage, we can see the GLB’s overall silhouette doesn’t diverge too far from today’s car, with the passenger cell being predictably blocky and upright in order to maximise interior room. As with today’s car, the new GLB will likely be offered with a third rows of seats.
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Up front, though, it seems like the rectangular headlights have been replaced sleeker units, not dissimilar to the ones fitted to the CLA, with which the GLB shares the Mercedes Modular Architecture (MMA). Like the CLA, the GLB could also feature a light bar or black plastic strip linking its headlights.
Along the side we can see new flagpole-style wing mirrors, and flushing-fitting pop-out door handles. There’s plenty of false body work underneath the camouflage wrap, so we can’t tell if the stepped rear quarter windows are retained for the GLB’s sophomore round.
At the rear the disguise team has cheekily fitted stickers of the tail-lights from the third-generation Smart ForTwo. To the side of these are the arc of LED light tubes bending down and around, which marks quite a departure from the current GLB’s thin strip of lights.
If the past is any indication, the GLB will receive a most of the drivetrains available in its CLA sibling.
The third-generation CLA, launched earlier this year, will initially be available with the choice of two all-electric drivetrains: a single-motor rear-wheel setup with 200kW and 335Nm, and a dual-motor all-wheel drive system with 260kW and 515Nm.
Both are paired with an 85kWh battery pack that has a WLTP range of between 672 and 792km. A cheaper variant with a 58kWh battery will launch later this year.
Unlike the current generation, there will be no EQB companion model sporting substantial styling changes to highlight its electric drivetrain. Instead the EV options will be folded into the regular GLB range — EV variants will have the “with EQ Technology” tag clunkily tacked onto the back of the model name.
Like the CLA, the GLB will also likely feature a mild hybrid petrol option equipped with a new turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine paired to an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission that has an integrated 20kW electric motor fed by a 1.3kWh 48V lithium-ion battery.
In the CLA the mild hybrid system will be able available in three states of tune: 100kW/200Nm, 120kW/250Nm and 140kW/300Nm. Depending on the model buyers can choose between front- or all-wheel drive.
