Daily Car News: Mercedes GLB shows its new face, VW’s touch-button hangover, a soggy Vegas F1 shuffle, and an RX‑7 with an identity wobble

I rolled into the office and the first thing on my screen was the Mercedes GLB shedding its camo like it finally got the memo about dress code. Then VW’s courtroom tango over capacitive buttons, an RX‑7 trying on a Stuttgart costume, and a Las Vegas GP that turned into a rain-soaked talent show. Coffee? Absolutely.

The new Mercedes GLB finally steps out — smart, square, and just nerdy enough

The Mercedes GLB has always been the clever one in the compact luxury crowd. Boxy in all the right ways, with a windscreen you can actually see out of, and an optional third row that saves your bacon when the neighbor kid needs a ride. This updated one looks tidier: crisper lighting signatures, smoother surfacing, and the same upright stance that makes it feel as easy to place as a hatchback. It’s the kind of premium SUV that suits city life Monday to Friday, then aims itself at a ski lodge when the forecast turns optimistic.

Last winter, I bounced a GLB up a rutted trailhead north of Tahoe. Visibility was stellar, the square cargo bay swallowed a stroller, a golden retriever, and two week’s worth of “we might need it” gear. The third row? Fine for kids, tolerable for short adults who love you, and best left folded flat the rest of the time. That’s the GLB’s trick: utility without the bulk of a GLS.

Expect familiar powertrains with a smarter edge. Mercedes has been pairing its 2.0-liter turbo with a 48‑volt mild-hybrid assist lately; figure roughly 221 hp in the GLB 250 and an AMG‑flavored option for the parent who “doesn’t care about 0–60” (sure). If they’ve tightened up the low-speed ride over potholes — the current car can thwack at city speeds — and sped up the MBUX cold-start shuffle, we might be looking at the most complete version yet.

Mercedes GLB at a glance

• Design: cleaner nose, sharper DRLs, familiar upright glasshouse (great sightlines)
• Seating: 5 standard, 7 available — a unique card against typical five-seat rivals
• Powertrains: likely mild-hybrid four-cylinders; AMG variant expected
• Tech: latest MBUX, smarter voice control, cleaner graphics, easier steering-wheel buttons
• Potential gripes: watch for low-speed ride harshness; third row remains kids-first

Where the Mercedes GLB fits: rivals and realities

On paper, the GLB’s ace remains that “sometimes seven-seat” layout. In the real world, it’s the difference between keeping your compact premium SUV and “honey, do we need a bigger one?” conversations after a couple of school years.

Should you wait for the new Mercedes GLB?

• If you want actual space without a big footprint, yes — the packaging is still class-leading.
• If you crave whisper-quiet ride over pockmarked city streets, test drive first; Mercedes tends to tune these on the taut side.
• If you need a legit adult-friendly third row, you’ll want to shop up a size (or two).

VW’s capacitive button era: showroom novelty meets courtroom reality

Volkswagen is reportedly trying to get a lawsuit over the ID.4’s touch controls dismissed. I’m not shocked. Those capacitive sliders and haptic pads were the in-office motion-sensor lights of car tech: fine when they behave, maddening when they don’t. I lived with a Golf from the “haptic era” for a month, and grazing the volume slider with a coat sleeve at night was… an experience. The volume jumps, your heart rate follows.

To VW’s credit, recent refreshes have brought back real buttons for high-frequency tasks and added backlighting to the sliders so you can find them in the dark. That’s the quiet admission we all heard. Legal arguments aside, the verdict from owners arrived long ago at service counters and forums.

Shopping a VW from that period? Quick cockpit test:

• Toggle climate, volume, and drive modes with gloves on and off.
• Make adjustments while cornering — muscle memory matters more than slideshows.
• Try it at night over rough pavement; watch for accidental inputs.

The latest VW interfaces I’ve sampled feel less stubborn. Still, in the real world of rain, coffee, and kids, honest-to-goodness buttons remain undefeated.

The Mazda RX‑7 that wanted to be a 911 (and why the bids stayed shy)

Over in auction-land, an FD RX‑7 dressed up with Porsche cues popped up — and bidders didn’t exactly sprint. I understand the impulse. The RX‑7’s curves already flirt with 911 vibes, and a healthy rotary sings like it’s late for curtain call. But heavy-handed cosplay tends to land in no-man’s-land: too Porsche for Mazda purists, too Mazda for Porsche people.

I’ve bought, sold, and driven more rotaries than my accountant thinks is sensible. Here’s what usually holds value and sanity:

• Stock or period-correct mods with receipts — tasteful is timeless.
• Cooling and fueling upgrades over aero cosplay — keep the Wankel happy.
• Compression test before you even talk numbers — no test, no deal.

Personally? I’d rather snag a clean, honest RX‑7 and spend the difference on premix, tires, and track time. Let the Mazda be a Mazda, and let the 911 be the one with the frunk.

F1 Las Vegas: rain, risk, and a grid that shuffled like a deck at the Bellagio

Vegas finally went wet, and Lando Norris kept his cool — pole in slippery conditions, his third straight P1. Oscar Piastri slotted fifth, which tells you the McLaren likes skating rinks. Before quali, George Russell topped FP3 from Max Verstappen while both McLarens hiccupped, so the turnaround was tidy.

There’s intrigue: Carlos Sainz faced scrutiny after an incident with Lance Stroll, putting his P3 in the stewards’ hands. Mercedes also got summoned for late set-up sheets — not the admin headline you want. Vegas is neon and low grip, with straights long enough to think about life choices. As the track rubbers in, it goes from glassy to grabby in a handful of laps.

Vegas takeaways

• Lando on pole; Piastri P5 — McLaren steady on a slick surface.
• Russell led FP3 from Verstappen — weather scrambled the form book.
• Sainz’s P3 under review; possible grid shuffle looming.
• Mercedes dinged for paperwork tardiness.
• Expect safety car probability and powerful undercuts as grip builds.

Strategy note: in cool temps, front tire warm-up is a mini-boss. The car that lights them up first out of Turn 1 usually owns the opening lap.

Bottom line

The Mercedes GLB looks set to double down on its clever packaging and family-friendly vibe, VW’s touch-button chapter keeps echoing in showrooms and courtrooms, an RX‑7 just reminded us that authenticity still sells, and the Vegas GP dealt us a damp wild card. I’ll take this mix over a quiet news day every time.

FAQ

• When is the new Mercedes GLB coming out?
  Mercedes hasn’t detailed timing yet, but the camo is off and the reveal is close. Expect a launch window that keeps it in step with the current model cycle.
• Will the Mercedes GLB still offer seven seats?
  Yes — the optional third row is a GLB signature. It’s best for kids, but great to have in a pinch.
• How does the Mercedes GLB compare to the BMW X1 and Audi Q3?
  The X1 feels sportier and the Q3 is plush, but neither offers a third row. The GLB wins on space and visibility; test ride quality to make sure you like its tuning.
• Is the Mercedes GLB good for road trips?
  Absolutely. The square cargo area is easy to pack, and with AWD it’s ideal for mountain weekends. Just spec adaptive cruise and a spare if you’re range-roaming.
• What’s the deal with VW’s capacitive buttons?
  VW is seeking to dismiss a lawsuit about the ID.4’s touch controls. Many refreshed models are already bringing back physical buttons and better backlighting.