Less air resistance, more efficiency.

Mercedes-Benz recognised early on that aerodynamics are key to efficiency. Accordingly, the list of models with top aerodynamic performance is long: It initially ranges from the W 125 of 1937 to the 540 K “Streamliner” of 1938 and the C1112 from the 1970s to the W124 of 1984, which with a Cd of 0.29 was the first production car to fall below 0.30. More recently, the CLA of 2013 with a Cd of 0.22, the EQS with 0.20, and the current CLA with EQ Technology with a class-leading 0.21 should be mentioned. Another aero champion is the VISION EQXX from 2022. With a Cd value of 0.17, this technology platform offers the wind even less air resistance than an American football. While the focus of the VISION EQXX was on efficiency itself, the AMG GT XX was primarily about ensuring that efficiency at speeds of over 300 km/h. Thanks not least to its Cd value of 0.19 and intelligent aerodynamics, the AMG secured 25 long-distance world records on the Nardò test track in August 2025.

Previously, and especially in racing, achievable speeds and high cornering speeds, i.e., downforce, were the focus. Today, the main focus is on energy consumption and range while maintaining Mercedes’ famous and much-loved driving characteristics. But not only in terms of air resistance, but also in the other aerodynamic disciplines of aeroacoustics, keeping the vehicle clean, and open-top driving comfort, Mercedes Benz models have been at the forefront for many decades.

This is also due to the high level of development effort that the brand with the star puts into this area: The “Large Wind Tunnel” in Untertürkheim was the world's first of its kind for automobile development. The first documented measurement took place there over 80 years ago on February 5, 1943. The “Large Wind Tunnel” is still in use. In 2013, Mercedes Benz once again took the lead in aerodynamic testing with the aeroacoustic wind tunnel at the Sindelfingen Development Centre.

As great as the added value is in everyday driving, the aerodynamic optimizations of the vehicles are just as extensive, as shown below using the current example of the all-new electric CLA. With a Cd value from 0.21, this all-electric model is one of the best in its class. Within the series, the spread is also very small. This is partly due to the wide range of aerodynamically optimised wheels. These include, for the first time, a bicolour full cover for light-alloy wheels. Compared to a conventional wheel, it performs up to 15 Cd points better; compared to an already optimised aluminium aero rim, the advantage is still up to two Cd points. In addition, the aerodynamicists have optimised the wheel spoilers in front of the front and rear axles in detail across all inch sizes, thus minimising the influence of the wheels and tyres on air resistance.

In the area around the radiator grille and headlights, the joints were optimally placed and partially sealed. The underbody concept of the EQS and EQE has been further developed. The very smooth underbody is almost completely closed and the spring control arms and tie rods are also covered. The rear wheel cover is fixed to the body shell, so it has no joints to the surrounding components and therefore does not move with the axle when it compresses, for example. In order to avoid any aerodynamic compromises, Mercedes Benz even installs two diffuser variants on the rear of the all-electric CLA: for models without and with a trailer hitch.

¹ On January 28, 1938, the Mercedes-Benz W 125 record car set a speed world record on public roads with its drag coefficient (Cd value) of 0.17: Rudolf Caracciola reached a speed of 432.7 km/h on the A5 between Darmstadt and Frankfurt.
² The record-breaking C111-III had a drag coefficient of 0.183.