FRANKFURT MOTOR SHOW: Mercedes-AMG GLB 35 breaks out

The Mercedes-Benz GLB-Class is about to get a lot more serious with the addition of the Mercedes-AMG GLB 35 4MATIC, which will make its world debut at the Frankfurt motor show in two weeks before arriving in Australia around mid-2020.

Wearing AMG badges and toting a powertrain from the Mercedes-AMG A 35 warm hatch, the 35 version adds plenty of pace to the generous interior space and claimed off-road ability offered by Benz's new seven-seat baby SUV, which goes on sale here in the first half of next year.

While Mercedes-Benz hasn’t confirmed the near-certainty of a full-house Mercedes-AMG GLB 45 on the horizon, the GLB 35 carries a 225kW version of Benz’s 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine, as we revealed exclusively here.

Its fuel economy figures have yet to be confirmed, but Benz claims the GLB 35 will reach 100km/h in 5.2 seconds on its way to a limited top speed of 250km/h.

It combines the engine with an eight-speed automatic transmission and a variable all-wheel drive system, plus strengthened braking power.

"With the new GLB 35 4MATIC we are extending our product portfolio by adding a highly attractive model for an active target group that attaches special importance to versatility,” AMG boss Tobias Moers said.

“This also includes the optional seven-seater capability of our new compact SUV, though without having to sacrifice the genes typical of an AMG, because in its segment, our GLB 35 likewise fulfils our brand promise of Driving Performance,” he claimed.

With a twin-scroll turbo, die-cast aluminium crankcase and variable valve control, the 2.0-litre motor delivers 400Nm of torque from 3000rpm.

The look of the Mercedes-AMG GLB 35 is based around the Highline version of the small SUV, with an AMG-specific grille, a new front splitter and a new roof spoiler.

A pair of round tailpipes show off the performance potential and the handling capabilities are hinted at by a set of five-spoke, 19-inch alloy wheels (though they can be bumped up to 21-inches) and silver brake callipers.

The interior centres around an AMG-specific instrument cluster and multimedia display, which contains a Supersport mode with a large, central rev counter and a bar-graph-style driver information centre.

There are redundant touchpad, steering wheel touch-control and voice control operations and the instrument cluster has Classic, Sporty and Supersport display options across its double-width display screens.

One of its keys is an optional third row of seating, making the GLB a seven-seater, with space in the rear for two children of up to 1.68 metres.

There’s a 60/40 split in the traditional rear seat, along with fore-and-aft sliding adjustment, and the third row of seats fold flat into the luggage-compartment floor.

It also features a five-strong driving mode switch, with ‘slippery’ joining the usual comfort, sport, sport+ and individual settings. The new mode is for low-grip conditions, with early upshifts and smoother gear changes.

It’s extended performance suite is boosted by an all-wheel drive system that ranges from pure front-drive to a 50:50 front-to-rear split, while there are three stages to the electronic stability program.

The suspension has been largely overhauled from the standard GLB, with new steering knuckles, new transverse control arms on the front, a new rear subframe and new rear wheel carriers, all aimed at greater suspension and steering accuracy.

The Mercedes-AMG 35 has more powerful brakes, too, with a set-up that ranges from four-piston fixed callipers clamping on to 350x34mm front discs to the single-piston floating callipers on the 330x22mm cast-iron discs at the rear.