Mercedes Managed to Make the A-Class Sedan the Most Aerodynamic Production Car in the World but Who Cares?

TopSpeed

By Kirby Garlitos

Published Jul 24, 2018

With a drag coefficient of 0.22, no car is as sleek as the new A-Class Sedan

Mercedes-Benz is kicking off the promotional campaign for the A-Class sedan, and the first order of business is bragging about the sedan’s drag coefficient of only 0.22, a record figure it is expected to share with the Mercedes-Benz CLA 180 CDI BlueEfficiency model. The silky smooth A-Class Sedan is a product of Mercedes’ renowned engineering capabilities. The model’s sleek styling was created in a wind tunnel specifically to achieve that record drag coefficient number.

Mercedes-Benz is known in the industry for having cars with some of the best aerodynamic properties in the business. It’s the reason why the CLA 180 CDI BlueEfficiency held the record as the most aerodynamic car in the world, and why the A-Class Sedan is now giving it a run for its money.

For those who need a brief explanation, drag coefficient in the context of the auto industry is a dimensionless quantity that automakers use to quantify the resistance of an object in a fluid environment, which, in this case, is air. A lower drag coefficient means that a car will have less aerodynamic drag, making it less susceptible to have its performance capabilities impeded by the aforementioned fluid environment.

It goes without saying that a big part of why Mercedes models are known for their aerodynamic qualities revolves around the time they spend getting tested in the company’s wind tunnels. This is where every square inch of a car is looked at to determine strong and weak aero spots and make the necessary adjustments to address them. In the case of the A-Class Sedan, the front and rear wheel spoilers were tweaked to help improve the channeling of air around the wheels.

The German automaker also came up with a new sealing concept, which is used in certain areas of the sedan, including the area around the headlights. This new sealing concept helped Mercedes create an almost complete paneling of the car’s underbody. Even the A-Class Sedan’s wheels and tires were aerodynamically tested to ensure that they help the car achieve its record-tying 0.22 drag coefficient.

Beyond its record-setting drag coefficient figure, the new A-Class Sedan will retain use of the hatchback’s wheelbase, as well as the engine options and the tech features and gadgetry. Mercedes also expects the A-Class Sedan to come with best-in-class rear headroom. By the looks of it, the Mercedes A-Class Sedan is shaping up to be one of the most intriguing Merc releases of the year.

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