Mercedes Is Working On The GLB — The Mini G-Wagen For The Masses?

German automaker Mercedes-Benz is turning towards one of its most iconic vehicles as a design canvas for the upcoming GLB 4x4 SUV.

According to Auto Express, the new GLB SUV is set to arrive in 2019 and will be based on the Mercedes G-Class SUV which is affectionately called the G Wagen.

The Mercedes G Wagen has been around since 1979 and its iconic boxy shape has remained almost entirely the same since it first hit the roads.

However, in the 37 years it has been on the road, the G-Wagen has moved on from being a military vehicle to an SUV preferred by the rich and famous. This is reflected in the price of the vehicle, which cost around the same amount of cash as an S-Class.

The new GLB will usher in a new and much more accessible price point for buyers interested in a a boxy Merc SUV.

The new GLB is expected to draw heavily on the Vision Ener-G Force concept from 2012 and will its styling will be an amalgamation of the G-Wagen's boxy style and the current GLC. The GLB will be based on a version of the new MFA2 architecture that will underpin the new A-Class in 2018.

The new GLB will use Merc's brand new 2.0-litre diesel engine with power set to be around 160-190bhp. A go-faster GLB 45 AMG with over 400bhp will top the GLB range.

Before the GLB hits the roads, a brand new version of the G-Wagen is set to enter production in 2017.