June 11: Alphabet soup

Way back when, no one at Mercedes-Benz or anywhere else would have thought that this workhorse suv, developed for the German army and Bavarian farmers would be the beginning of an alphabet soup of Mercedes suv's. Well, to be honest, it didn't exactly happen that way, but for the purposes of this blog, let's roll with this story line. We all know that the G Wagon features prominently in every youngster's and sports star's wet dreams. It was the beginning. Now good folks everywhere seem to worship at the altar of the god SUV. 

Now Mercedes is adding to that bottomless pit of sport utes..........

Let's talk names and assume a "GL" in front of each. Mercedes already has the A (very small), the C (compact), the E (mid-size), the G (truck size) and the S (luxury size). Whew! Did you follow that? Good, because yesterday Benz unveiled the latest in their alphabet soup of suv names. The covers have finally come off the much spy photographed new model shown above.

The astutest of those reading this blog will see that the above camo'd vehicle is small, but not tiny, so checking out the alphabet they will figure that the newest Mercedes will be a GLB. And they would be absolutely correct........

 

This one is almost a GLC, as it is a mere 1.7" shorter than that model. Never enough of these things, no matter how tightly they shoehorn into the line up. The big deal about the new B is that it features a third row of seats and is the only suv of this size to do so. Does that mean that anyone sitting in the last row will be happy? Not a chance. Better that they be "little" people, whatever you'd like that to mean. Benz knows that it will be a tight fit, as here is the spokesperson showing how big anyone in that back row can be.........

Think that this will be the last of the suvs from Mercedes? Surely you jest. Again, the astute among you will notice the absence of a D or F in the line and of course there are a ton of letters beyond that. 

Alphabet soup indeed! Mercedes will sell every single one they make with the dealers begging for more. The B is a nice addition to the line, but if you are ever asked to ride in the third row, well, just tell them you are busy elsewhere.

Until next time.......