SPYSHOTS: Mercedes-Benz GLB goes fully electric

The Mercedes-Benz GLB is certainly making its rounds, from the first sighting at the beginning of last year, then some images of its interior and even an AMG 35 version; the automaker has even relased a teaser image of the cabin in its concept form.

Given that the aforementioned AMG GLB35 has already shed most of its camouflage cladding, namely around its front and rear ends, it is curious that this forthcoming SUV has gone back to wearing disguise – until we spot the yellow sticker in the top corner of its windscreen, denoting electric operation. Do we have a fully electric GLB here then?

It’s a suspicion that is somewhat confirmed with our spy images placing this GLB test mule in formation with an EQC. Our sources quote factory insiders as saying the electric GLB will have a range of up to 500 km and will be further optimised aerodynamically from the base GLB, hence the likely reason for the return of bodywork digsuise.

Without photos of its interior, the electric GLB is likely to take after the EQC in using the marque’s latest Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) infotainment system which also features elsewhere in the brand’s more mainstream models. Should this adopt the EQ branding structure, similarities with the EQC should be strong, too.

It remains to be seen if it will adopt the EQB moniker. The EV mule was last seen in 2018 wearing a bodyshell much more reminiscent of the W247 B-Class. That could, however have been just temporary clothing for trialling the new running gear, leading to the development vehicle we see here now.

This will have more in common with the baby of the range, the EQA, than the larger EQC, with the former sharing its EVA II platform with the eventual product that the GLB mule seen here will become. This will be a prolific range, with trademarks filed for EQB 200, EQB 250, EQB 260, EQB 300, EQB 320, EQB 350 and EQB 360 nameplates, with battery packs ranging from 60 kWh to 110 kWh powering motors rated from 150 kW to 250 kW.