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While it may or may not be the next-generation Mercedes-Benz CLS-class (note: probably not), the automaker took the wraps off a transforming concept car that grows in length significantly at highway speeds to better cut through air.
The Mercedes-Benz IAA concept (Intelligent Aerodynamic Automobile) was shown off Tuesday in Frankfurt and, according to the automaker, can grow by 390 millimeters to achieve a drag coefficient world record of 0.19. (The current generation Prius is around 0.25, for reference.)
The whole thing is powered by a hybrid powertrain that’ll never see the light of day and sports an interior array of electronics that’s probably something out of “Minority Report.” It’s the moveable aerodynamic elements on the IAA that could see production, and there are a lot of them.
In addition to the growing tail (Jalopnik has a gif, here) the IAA features other adaptive aero elements that help the car cut through the air. Flaps on the front and rear wheels grow by 25 millimeters and 20 millimeters respectively to cut down drag, and the front bumper’s louvres reach 60 millimeters underneath the car toward the rear to improve aero under the car. The five-spoke wheels also transform into discs at speeds over 50 mph, according to the automaker.
Mercedes-Benz showed off four other cars at its Frankfurt reveal including the new C-Class Coupe (including the already released AMG C-Class Coupe) an S-Class cabrio (and AMG variant) and its Smart Fortwo cabrio.
Mercedes knows the Chinese market wants you to come with length.
I really like how this looks, by the way. Simple, long and low. Don’t need no flim-flam. And the rear end treatment is XJ220, which is always win.
I second that.
Third.
Looks to me like they commissioned Caroll Shelby to extend the ass of that thing. Right off a GT40 Lemans… Add LSD.
>Extend Ass-Cone!
Roger! Ass-Cone extended, Sir!
>Now kiss me, Lieutenant!
Roger! Kissing the Captain, Sir!
Behold, the Mercedes 917L.
I don’t know what it does or how it works, but it sure looks cool. That’s the #1 rule of concept cars in my book.
It grows by 16 inches?
Where’s BTSR?
More like, where’s Bertel?
Amazing, yes. Now, to rain on the parade: if you build it, someone will drive into it. Is this repairable, and at what price? I’m guessing this module is inserted into the rear of the car, looks crazy expensive.
Aren’t expensive cars supposed to have expensive parts?
Granted, but I suspect this will redefine “expensive”. As in, military aircraft are expensive, and then there’s the B-2.
Would’ve been perfect for the closing scene of Kurt Russell’s Used Cars
I hope you know I had to watch it because you mentioned it.
OK, but what about in snow and ice? Suppose you start in a warm climate and end up cold, or vise-versa. Being a German company, hopefully they’ve got that figured.
In addition to being knocked off by ice chunks, I’m concerned about how reliably the mechanicals and electronics will work.
This looks like something that will increase the cost of the car by $1k in order to save $1k in fuel over the lifetime of the car. Worse, it’ll require $2k in maintenance and repairs over that period of time.
“… to achieve a drag coefficient world record of 0.19. (The current generation Prius is around 0.25, for reference.)”
Hate to the bearer of bad news, but the fairly conventional Ford Probe V Concept of 1985 had a Cd of 0.137. A multitude of other somewhat conventional cars also had lower Cds.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automobile_drag_coefficient
I’m looking at this and visualizing huge repair bills.
Huge repair bills mean lots of profit for the dealers, and lots of expensive parts sales for the only company that makes the replacements. That’s what it’s all about.
Mercedes-Benz started aerodynamic design with the W 126 in 1981(in the U.S…1979 in Germany). Everyone took notice, then followed later. It’s not surprising to see this extreme aero design study come about. It’s more surprising it didn’t show up sooner. Mercedes always tries to be ahead in design and safety. This example certainly makes people, and the press, take notice once again.
Audi’s implementation of active aero on the Q6 e-tron quattro concept they revealed at Frankfurt is way more practical than this ridiculous version on the Mercedes concept. The rear spoiler extends several inches without looking like it’s a hideous cancerous growth on the back of the car, and there are many other smaller active aero bits that give a fairly large CUV a 0.25 cd.
Hair extensions. Viagra. Donald Trump. A car that grows… Why not?
More useful would be an SUV/CUV that “shrinks” at highway speed.