Mercedes New GLB Crossover Caught Testing - Is There Really Room Between The GLA And GLC?

Mercedes is readying a new model for its crossover range – and it’s likely to use the GLB name. Following Merc’s new badging structure, the GLB would slot in between the GLA crossover and GLC SUV as a pumped-up version of the slow-selling B-Class MPV.

The brand recently registered the GLB name, but until now we’d seen no evidence of the company putting it into production. Our spy photographers have since caught the car testing, though, on what looks like an extended version of the A-Class and GLA’s front-wheel drive platform.

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llaroo - 5/25/2016 5:50:50 PM

+2 Boost

sick to death of more vehicles to fill so called niches, enough already

MDarringer - 5/25/2016 7:56:54 PM

0 Boost

I hear you.

Niche products have always come and gone and they will continue to do so for as long as they are cheap to do.

Pulling them from a volume model makes that so.

Years ago Chevy had a Biscayne, Impala, and Caprice which were the same car aimed differently at market niches of the day. That niche mentality among buyers of large sedans no long supports the practice of three nameplates off one product.

Dodge did the Rampage off the Omni TC3 when they tried to occupy the same niche as the Rabbit pickup. That niche dried up and away went the VW and the Dodge. Now that niche is seeming to be poised for a return.

Such niche vehicles are easy to produce quickly and can be cancelled quickly if they do not remain popular, but while they are popular they are easy money to be made.

At some point there will be a tipping point and people will cease to be amused.

The new Jeep Compass is one such niche vehicle given that the size difference between the Renegade and Cherokee is not big enough to be considered a gap needing to be filled.

The bottom line is that anything with a Mercedes star on it is a pretty easy sale these days.

llaroo - 5/26/2016 12:40:50 PM

+2 Boost

some call it growing market share. I call it whoring out the brand to every market segment you can imagine.