Mercedes to Expand Compact Lineup with New SUV

Daimler AG’s Mercedes-Benz unit plans to add a new compact crossover/SUV by the end of the decade.

Dubbed the GLB, the new model will be slotted between the entry-level GLA and larger GLC, Autocar reports. The British enthusiast magazine, which doesn't cite its sources, says the vehicle will ride on the Mercedes modular front-wheel-drive platform that carries the GLA and variety of other compact cars and crossovers. The model will compete with the Audi Q3 and BMW X1 small crossovers.

Styling is expected to be more rugged than the GLA and GLC, with cues coming from the military-based G-Class SUV and recent concepts such as the 2015 Ener-G-Force (pictured). An off-road package will include a taller ride height and extra body cladding, Autocar says.

Two wheelbases will be available that will accommodate five- and seven-seat configurations. The stretched version could be limited to select markets such as China and the U.S., according to the report.