Mercedes-Benz Intelligent Aerodynamic Automobile
Once again, Mercedes-Benz is establishing itself as the authority in advanced vehicle technology thanks to its Intelligent Aerodynamic Automobile, or IAA. The concept car was unveiled in dramatic fashion the night before the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show kicked off, starting things off with a huge bang.
While the vehicle can quickly be identified as a Mercedes-Benz, even without seeing the characteristic three-pointed star on the grille, it’s unlike anything the company has ever created. The name of the game is aerodynamics, or making the air slip around it with as little resistance as possible. To do this, the car actually transforms when it enters aero mode, which is a pretty wild thing to see take place.
The Mercedes-Benz IAA is pretty aerodynamic with a coefficient of drag at an impressive 0.25. Once the car reaches about 50 mph, several pieces slide around on the exterior, boosting that figure to an unbelievable 0.19. This is exactly the sort of thing that the automaker needs, considering that government fuel economy requirements are only going up. It will also benefit future drivers who will find themselves stopping for gas less frequently and saving money in the process.
Design
The IAA concept car uses active front grille shutters, something that’s been seen on a number of cars in the past several years. In most designs they open when the engine needs to cool off, then close again. In the Mercedes-Benz, several of the exterior parts change positions, transforming the car as it reaches 50 mph. This is how the vehicle cuts down on drag so dramatically.
Up front, while the active grille shutters close, flaps at the top ends of the bumper actually slide outward and back some. That transition sends more air to the wheels and over the wheel arches. The wheels themselves start off with five distinct spokes, but the gaps are automatically filled in as everything becomes completely flat, giving the air nowhere to go but over them.
Also located in the front bumper, along the bottom edge, is a louvre. It slides backward about 2.4 inches, helping the air to flow over the underbody more efficiently.
The final and perhaps most breathtaking transformation happens at the rear of the vehicle. An extension slides out from the top area, jutting out 15 inches beyond where the car normally terminates. The modification actually makes the air “hug” the back end of the vehicle more as much of the turbulence that would exist is eliminated. The boat tail effect boosts efficiency, allowing the IAA to slip through the air with even less resistance.
One of the most distinct differences is that the head unit is completely digital, consisting of two 12.3-inch screens that sit next to each other. Drivers will be able to use real-time graphics to control different features on the car, making it look more like a movie set piece than reality. In addition, the surface of the touchscreens is supposed to be designed to offer fewer distractions for drivers, making it a safety innovation as well as a convenience.
Future Vehicles
It might seem crazy, but in the not too-distant future, at least some or all of the exterior innovations on the IAA could begin appearing on production Mercedes-Benz vehicles.
The interior of the IAA concept could make a huge impact on cars and SUVs that are available to consumers. The automaker has said that one of its production sedans will introduce several important elements on the design, which most likely will be the upcoming next-generation E-Class. We’ll find out soon enough when the vehicle is unveiled either at the upcoming Los Angeles Auto Show later this year, or early next year at the Detroit Auto Show.