ROMA (ITALPRESS) – Frost cold and strong snowfall during the last kilometers. Wipers and heating to the maximum to keep the view free and the passengers warm. Anyone who loves skiing or snowboarding knows how extreme these conditions can be. Mercedes Benz’s engineers also know it, because they are currently completing intense tests at low temperatures with the new GLB at the Mercedes Technology Center (MTC) in Sindelfingen, before its world premiere on December 8, 2025. Whether it’s a spacious five-seater or a versatile seven-seater, this compact SUV is the perfect companion for ski trips or other winter adventures. In addition to a safe traction on snowy roads, what really counts is maximum thermal comfort and clear visibility. To ensure that the new GLB meets the rigorous Mercedes Benz standards in these conditions and offers the quality that customers expect, are essential in-depth tests in two cutting-edge weather wind tunnels. In the so-called cold tunnel, the temperature range goes from -40 C to +40 C, covering virtually every possible real weather condition, with a wide safety margin. The latest generation snowmaking systems allow to produce different types of snow coat in a wide range of temperatures. In combination with the powerful fan of the wind tunnel, Mercedes-Benz is able to recreate authentic arctic buferes, where the bows run against the speed test vehicle up to 200 km/h. The new Mercedes-Benz GLB brings efficiency and climate comfort to a higher level. On a 20-minute journey with an external temperature of -7 degrees Celsius, it heats the cabin twice faster than the previous model, even exceeding the heating times of a version with traditional engine. Compared to its predecessor, the new fully electric GLB requires only about half the energy, with a positive effect on autonomy. The heating process is automatically activated as soon as someone enters the vehicle. The Mercedes-Benz strategy plans to heat the upper body and hands first. This ensures immediate thermal comfort, even without pre-climatization. In addition, the system is now even more intuitive and comfortable to use and can be adapted in many ways to individual needs. Whether occupants are recharging, sitting inside or simply resting, the system regulates heating and cooling evenly thanks to an intelligent and predictive management strategy. At the heart of this system there is an innovative heat pump, adapted by the technology program VISION EQXX. It is a multi-source model that can simultaneously use three energy sources: the residual heat of the electrical traction system, that of the battery and the ambient air. Using this ‘grated heat, the heat pump contributes to the high efficiency of the GLB. It manages the whole process with about a third of the electricity that would require a conventional auxiliary heater to obtain the same power.
photo: Mercedes-Benz printing office Italy
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