随着SUV销量的增加，奔驰也将进一步扩大其在SUV市场的优势。最近谍照记者在斯堪的纳维亚拍到了正在进行雪地测试的全新GLB级车型。奔驰GLA和GLC之间并非存在巨大的鸿沟，但奔驰仍决定年底推出GLB以填补它们之间的空白。该车与奔驰A级和B级车共享相同的前驱结构，但车身长度增至180英寸（约合4.57米），刚好位于GLA和GLC之间。由于采用前驱结构，因此可提供三排座椅的版本。不过，由于最后一排空间太小，因此只适合短途旅行。虽然这辆原型车的车身进行了重度伪装，但据说该车造型风格类似奔驰以前的GLK级车型。该车预计将搭载小排量引擎，但北美版本预计将搭载2.0升涡轮汽油引擎。虽然GLB采用前轮驱动，但可选装全轮驱动。该车将于明年上市，美版车型起价接近3.5万美元（约合人民币22.78万元）。
Mercedes-Benz GLB-Class Compact SUV Spied On A Snowy Night
SUV sales are booming, and Mercedes-Benz is looking to take advantage of that fact with an all-new model that was spotted undergoing shakedown testing earlier today in Scandinavia.
The gap between the GLA and GLC may not be vast, but Mercedes will reportedly park a new SUV known as the GLB in that space by the end of this year. Our spy photographers managed to nab the first-ever spy shots of the GLB while it was undergoing cold weather testing.
The GLB is set to ride on the same basic front-wheel drive architecture that underpins Mercedes' A- and B-Class small cars. The GLB should stretch about 180 inches in length, placing it between today's GLA and GLC models.
Thanks to that front-wheel drive architecture, Mercedes will be able to offer some versions of the GLB with a third-row seat. However, the GLB's way-back will likely be tight and therefore best used for occasional trips rather than everyday carpool duties.
This prototype is covered heavily camouflaged, but we hear the GLB's styling will essentially be a modern take on the Mercedes G-Class — think the previous Mercedes GLK. Global powertrains are set to include small displacement gas and diesel engines, but if the GLB makes it to these shores it's expected to use a 2.0L turbocharged gas engine. Although front-wheel drive-based, the GLB will be available with all-wheel drive.
When it doesn finally land in showrooms — likely sometime in 2019 — the GLB will carry a base price somewhere in the neighborhood of $35,000.