After Mercedes released it’s E Class sedan with an industry leading drag coefficient of .24 (above) it was no big secret that the luxury car maker was going to push the envelope of aerodynamic efficiency. Despite the association between the word “aerodynamic” and the mental image of a bug-mobile, Mercedes has proven that they can do efficiency in a classy, almost invisible way.

Now the company is saying that they want cars with drag coefficients of 0.20 and less within 5 years. This would put Mercedes in the company of vehicles like the GM EV1 (0.19 coefficient of drag) and any number of concept cars that have never made it to production.

Coefficient of drag might not have the shock value of gas mileage figures, but consider this: 50 mpg may sound good but it only goes as far as fossil fuels. A vehicle with a low coefficient of drag will be efficient no matter what is powering it. These slippery Mercedes will get better gas mileage now and better electric range in the future.

And they still look pretty freaking sweet.

You may have been impressed back in 1999 by the Honda Insight’s low .25 CD. You may again have been impressed by the new Toyota Prius’s matching CD when the new model came out this year. If that’s the case, you should be even more impressed that Mercedes managed to pull off a .24 CD for its E-Class coupe.

Granted, the total drag of a vehicles is the coefficient of drag multiplied by the frontal area, so it’s likely that both vehicles have higher overall drag than the Honda Insight, but this efficient design from a vehicle marked by its attention to power and not efficiency represents what I think is a crucial shift in vehicle design.

The car is part of Mercedes’ new BlueEFFICIENCY line, which over the last few years has consistently brought smaller engines, better aerodynamics, and thriftier design without comprising what Mercedes considers the be the essence of its luxury brand, so I look forward to seeing even more improvement from the company.

Source: EM Forum