The Intelligent Aerodynamic Automobile Concept by Mercedes-Benz [30 Photos]

Intelligent Aerodynamic Automobile Concept by Mercedes-Benz

One look at this 4 door coupe from Mercedes-Benz and you’ll swear the future is here. The “Concept IAA” (Intelligent Aerodynamic Automobile) exemplifies both the advances in aerodynamic design and the fundamental technological changes which are taking place in the automobile industry.

Intelligent Aerodynamic Automobile Concept by Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz “Concept IAA” (Intelligent Aerodynamic Automob

Mercedes-Benz “Concept IAA” (Intelligent Aerodynamic Automob

The Mercedes-Benz “Concept IAA” is two cars in one: an aerodynamics world champion with a Cd (coefficient of drag) value of 0.19 and a four-door coupé embodying irresistible design.

Mercedes-Benz “Concept IAA” (Intelligent Aerodynamic Automob

The study celebrated its world premiere on September 17th at the Frankfurt International Motor Show.

Mercedes-Benz-IAA-2015-Frankfurt Auto Show

The “Concept IAA” switches automatically from design mode to aerodynamic mode when the vehicle reaches a speed of 80 km/h, whereby numerous aerodynamic measures alter the shape of the vehicle.

Mercedes-Benz concept

Mercedes-Benz Intelligent Aerodynamic Automobile

Inside, the “Concept IAA” continues the design line of the S-Class and S-Class Coupé, offers new touch-based functions and provides an idea of what the interior of a business saloon might look like in the near future.

Mercedes-Benz IAA interior
The interior has a touch-based operating philosophy

Aerodynamics
At the touch of a button (or upon automatically reaching a speed of 80 km/h), the Mercedes-Benz “Concept IAA” performs a fascinating transformation in which the captivatingly beautiful four-door coupé turns into an aerodynamics world champion: eight segments extend at the rear, increasing its length by up to 390 millimetres:

Mercedes-Benz “Concept IAA”

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Front flaps in the front bumper extend by 25 mm to the front and 20 mm to the rear, improving the air flow around the front end and the front wheel arches:
Mercedes-Benz Concept IAA

The Active Rims alter their cupping from 55 mm to zero:
Mercedes-Benz Concept IAA rims

And the louvre in the front bumper moves 60 mm to the rear, improving the underbody air flow:
Mercedes-Benz Intelligent Aerodynamic Automobile details

Cameras in the side air outlets behind the front wheel arches monitor goings-on to the rear. Their images are projected onto the split-screen rear view mirror in the interior. This makes exterior mirrors superfluous:
Mercedes Concept IAA

“Fascinating and technically sophisticated cars form the core of Mercedes-Benz. The ‘Concept IAA’ applies intelligent innovations to resolve the conflicting aims of functionality and aesthetics and shows that we still have plenty of ideas on how to achieve further improvements in efficiency,” says Prof. Dr Thomas Weber, Member of the Daimler Board of Management responsible for Group Research and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars Development.

Equally, the “Concept IAA” exemplifies the fundamental technological changes which are taking place in the automobile industry. The primary driving force behind this process of change is digitisation – commonly referred to in a business context as “Industry 4.0”. For Mercedes-Benz, a continuous digital process chain from research and development through production to marketing and sales, logistics and the service area is already becoming reality.

Exterior design: sensual purity and innovative aerodynamics

MB Concept IAA

Mercedes-Benz Concept IAA

With its dynamic basic shape (“drop shape”), elegantly purist overall design and aerodynamic innovations, the four-door “Concept IAA” Coupé Saloon is a symbiosis of design and aerodynamics.

Intelligent Aerodynamic Automobile Concept by Mercedes-Benz

The vehicle interprets classic sports car proportions in a modern vein: the long bonnet flows aerodynamically into the compact, set-back greenhouse, whose roof slopes down elegantly towards the rear, ending in an airflow break-away edge.

Intelligent Aerodynamic Automobile Concept by Mercedes-Benz

The vehicle’s elegant side view combines a purist, long basic volume with highly pronounced wheel arches. The sporty, minimalist front of the show car boasts a striking “shark nose” profile.

Intelligent Aerodynamic Automobile Concept by Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz Aerodynamic test

Like the front, the show car’s rear end also presents a clear-cut and purist appearance. As on the front grille, horizontal louvres lend structure to the shape of the rear end.

Mercedes Intelligent Aerodynamic Automobile concept

An illuminated ring running around the rear end adds the finishing touch to the high-tech appearance.

Mercedes Intelligent Aerodynamic Automobile concept

“The ‘Concept IAA’ continues our series of visionary concept cars,” explains Gorden Wagener, Head of Design at Daimler AG. “The symbiosis of alluring forms showcasing intelligent aerodynamics is an expression of our unique Mercedes-Benz design philosophy.”

The interior: touch-based operating philosophy


Mercedes-Benz “Concept IAA” (Intelligent Aerodynamic Automob

The interior of the “Concept IAA” combines stylish sportiness with modern luxury. The interior continues the design line of the S-Class and S-Class Coupé while providing an idea of what the interior of a business saloon might look like in the near future.

Mercedes-Benz “Concept IAA” (Intelligent Aerodynamic Automob

The choice of colours and materials conjures up extrovert contrasts between anthracite and white as well as between aluminium and cut glass. Elegantly curved forms, flowing lines, carefully chosen high-quality materials and the touch-based operating philosophy provide for a high level of functionality.

Mercedes-Benz Concept IAA interior

The two-spoke steering wheel is a progressive further development of the Mercedes-Benz steering wheel philosophy. The open structure of its horizontal spokes is highly intricate in design, as a manifestation of intelligent and elegant lightweight construction. The steering wheel also incorporates touch-based operating functions, offering great functionality in the most compact dimensions as a study in perfect ergonomics: OFN (Optical Finger Navigation) buttons, embedded in the clusters in a similar hovering manner as the touchpad in the centre console, enable the driver to scroll through the instrument cluster menus.

Mercedes-Benz “Concept IAA” dash

The OFN button on the left controls the left-hand display, while the button on the right controls the right-hand display. In this way, the “hands on the wheel, eyes on the road” operating philosophy which has been applied by Mercedes-Benz for many years now is implemented in a manner which is at once brilliantly simple and uncompromising.

Mercedes-Benz “Concept IAA” (Intelligent Aerodynamic Automob

“Captivatingly sporty lines, fascinating technical solutions: the ‘Concept IAA’ symbolises the emotional core of Mercedes-Benz: The best or nothing. And it shows in a host of details what our customers can look forward to in future production models,” says Ola Källenius, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG, Mercedes-Benz Cars Marketing & Sales, summing up the visionary concept.

Mercedes-Benz “Concept IAA” (Intelligent Aerodynamic Automob

The “Concept IAA” is 5040 millimetres long (5430 mm in aerodynamic mode), 1995 mm wide and 1305 mm high. Its wheelbase measures 2975 mm, and the front/rear track widths are 1710 and 1770 mm respectively. The concept car is powered by a petrol/electric plug-in hybrid drive with a total output of 205 kW (279 hp). This provides it with a top speed of 250 km/h (electronically limited). CO2 emissions and electric range depend on the mode in which the vehicle is tested: in aerodynamic mode the “Concept IAA” manages an all-electric range of 66 kilometres and emits 28 g CO2 per km. In design mode the range stands at 62 km and CO2 emissions at 31 g per km. As urban driving is accorded a two-thirds weighting in the current New European Driving Cycle (NEDC), the advantage of aerodynamic mode is not revealed as clearly in this test as in real-life driving. Real-life fuel savings are all the greater, however – in keeping with Mercedes-Benz’s customer-oriented “Real Life Efficiency” philosophy.

Intelligent Aerodynamic Automobile Concept by Mercedes-Benz

The “Concept IAA” show car forms part of a long line of aerodynamically perfected vehicles from Mercedes-Benz. With a dimensional concept that makes it suitable for everyday use, this four-seater attains a Cd value of 0.19, assuring it of a place in the gallery of record-breaking and racing vehicles such as the Mercedes-Benz W 25 record-breaker of the 1936 season.

At present the models from Mercedes-Benz occupy the top position for aerodynamics in practically every vehicle segment. In 2013 the Mercedes-Benz CLA attained a Cd figure of 0.22 – marking a new all-time low both within the Mercedes-Benz model portfolio and amongst all series production cars.

Mercedes-Benz

all information and copyrighted images courtesy of Mercedes Benz