German automaker Mercedes-Benz continues to make aerodynamics central to its engineering, and the latest electric CLA with EQ Technology highlights that effort \u2013 by streamlining airflow, the company improves driving range and lowers cabin noise, which are key gains for EV buyers seeking efficiency and comfort.<\/p>\n
Mercedes says a 0.01 drop in drag coefficient (Cd) can increase long-distance range by about 2.5 percent, adding roughly 230 miles a year for someone driving 9,300 miles. The brand\u2019s pursuit of low drag spans decades, from the 1984 W124 (Cd 0.29) to the 2014 CLA Coupe (0.22) and the EQS (0.20).\u00a0<\/p>\n
The new CLA reaches 0.21 with reshaped wheels, refined underbody panels, and tighter seals, while the VISION EQXX concept pushes to a remarkable 0.17.<\/p>\n
Chasing lower drag from the 1930s to the electric era<\/p>\n
Mercedes-Benz has refined aerodynamics for nearly a century, starting with Wunibald Kamm\u2019s streamlined \u201cKammback\u201d designs in the 1930s. Its first full-size wind tunnel<\/a> opened in 1943 and is still used for airflow and wiper testing. After the 1979 oil crisis, efficiency became a priority, leading to cars like the S-Class W126 (Cd 0.36) and the E-Class W124, the first production model under 0.30.<\/p>\n Record-setters followed \u2013 the 1938 W125 \u201cStreamliner\u201d reached Cd 0.16 and 268 mph, while the 1978 C111-III diesel logged nine world records with Cd 0.18. More recent concepts keep pushing limits, from the 2015 IAA\u2019s shape-shifting 0.19 to the VISION EQXX\u2019s 0.17 and the AMG GT XX\u2019s \u201caerodynamics by wire\u201d plasma system, the EV Report writes<\/a>.<\/p>\n For the all-new electric CLA, engineers focused on airflow across all variants, using aerodynamic<\/a> wheels with bicolored full covers that reduce drag slightly more than standard wheels. Furthermore, the underbody builds on designs from the EQS and EQE, with nearly complete coverage and protected suspension arms.<\/p>\n Aeroacoustics and airflow improvements enhance comfort<\/p>\n