The new Mercedes-Benz IAA (Intelligent Aerodynamic Automobile) Concept changes shape as it exceeds speeds of 80 km/h – all in the pursuit to be one of the world’s most aerodynamic cars. With a record breaking drag coefficient of 0.19, it’s not far from being one. Coming back to the shape shifting bit, the entire rear section of the four-door coupé extends by 390 mm, while at the front, the flaps in the front bumper extend outwards by 25 mm and rearwards by 200 mm, improving airflow around the front end and the front wheel arches.
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This transformation is not restricted just to the bodywork, but extends to the wheels as well. The “active wheels” on the Mercedes-Benz IAA Concept change their cupping from 50 mm to zero, while the fin in the front bumper retracts by 60 mm to improve flow along the under-body. It took around one million CPU hours to hone the final shape of the Concept IAA and lock it at its slipperiest setting.
The Mercedes-Benz IAA Concept is powered by a petrol and electric hybrid drive-train with a combined output of 275 horsepower, which endows it to reach an electronically-limited top speed of 250 km/h and a range of 66 Km. The concept is also set up for autonomous driving, while it can even communicate with other vehicles or other sources of information. Other innovations include the operating concept with touch-based functionalities in the interior.
