Spy shots have surfaced this week of what purports to be a second performance version of the new Mercedes-Benz GLB-Class compact SUV, the Mercedes-AMG GLB 45.
Just like the impending Mercedes-AMG A 35 and A 45 hot hatches (and CLA four-doors), Mercedes’ performance arm is set to introduce both GLB 35 and more powerful GLB 45 variants of its new square-rigged compact crossover. And our spy guys reckon they captured the latter at a fuel station close to the Nurburgring in Germany.
It’s not entirely cloaked in camo and could still be the GLB 35, which we recently spotted in the car park of AMG’s Affalterbach HQ in Stuttgart. Nonetheless, the smart word is a 45 is coming!
Mercedes-AMG is yet to reveal full details on the performance GLB-Class models, however both are expected to be all-wheel drive and get dual-clutch autos like the standard GLB. The cars will feature AMG’s latest take on Mercedes’ 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol engine.
The seven-seat GLB-Class is due in Australia in the third quarter of 2020, but exactly when we can expect the AMG versions is unclear.
Despite the GLB only being unveiled a few months ago, the German manufacturer has already confirmed an all electric version of what’s been dubbed the “baby G-Wagen”.
Due by 2021, the EQB is set to be all-wheel drive with off-road capabilities.