In a recent Q&A with Automotive News Europe, Daimler Board Member for Mercedes-Benz Marketing and Sales, Britta Seeger, said increasing demand from China for a seven-seat vehicle has led to the decision, but declined to provide any further information.

"The B-class is part of a significant and promising segment so we will replace it. In our new compact family, we will also bring seven-seat vehicles to market. Will it be a minivan or an SUV? You will have to wait and see," she said.

Seeger's reference to the seven-seater as being part of the company's compact family has however sparked speculation that it will ride on the same MFA2 front-wheel drive platform as the A-class, Concept A sedan and GLB crossover, which will form part of the five new models expected to make use of this architecture heading to market by 2020.

If indeed proven to be accurate, the unnamed model would likely use the same range of petrol and diesel engines as the A-class sourced from the Nissan-Renault-Mitsubishi Alliance, as well as the same interior and MBUX infotainment system.

At present though, no official information from Mercedes-Benz on the newcomer has yet been made.