Mercedes 1AA concept

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Mercedes has revealed the radical Concept IAA (Intelligent Aerodynamic Automobile) at the Frankfurt motor show. A sleek CLS-like saloon with a 279bhp plug-in petrol/electric drivetrain, the concept features active aerodynamics to improve the drag co-efficient from Cd 0.25 to Cd 0.19. To put that in perspective, the Mercedes CLA was the world’s most slippery production car when it launched in 2013, with a drag co-efficient of Cd 0.22. Incidentally, IAA is also the official name of the Frankfurt motor show, standing for Internationale Automobil-Ausstellung (International Automobile Exhibition). It’s almost like they planned it…

Tell me more about the Mercedes IAA show car

At the front of Concept IAA, flaps behind the grille close to improve airflow when none is needed to feed the radiator – already seen on other Mercedes production cars – while the lower carbonfibre front splitter retracts; at low speeds the splitter plays a part in pedestrian protection, but as speeds rise, so the splitter retracts to help under-car airflow. Gills at the side of the front bumper also adjust, moving 25mm out and 20mm further back to reduce turbulence around the wheel arches.

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