New Mercedes-Benz A-Class sedan boasts lowest drag of any production car

Every car manufacturer knows that wind drag is the biggest detractor when it comes to performance and fuel efficiency and as a result they try to make the cars as aerodynamic as possible. Mercedes-Benz at the moment seems to have that problem covered and boasts the lowest drag coefficient of any production car with the all-new A-Class sedan.

The compact sedan has a coefficient of drag (Cd) of just 0.22 and a front area of 2.19 square meters. According to Mercedes, this results in the lowest drag of any car in production. The previous record was also held by another Mercedes, the CLA which just might reclaim the title when it gets a redesign next year. 

How has Mercedes made this possible? Apart from reduction of the frontal area, minimization of panel gaps, and an almost complete panelling of the underbody, which includes the engine bay, main floorpan, parts of the rear axle and the diffuser have made this possible. The front and rear wheel arches as well as the wheel patterns and tires were also fine-tuned to route air around the wheels as efficiently as possible. An active shutter system located behind the grille also features on the A-Class, although not in every market.

The new A-Class will go on sale in the Unites States later this year and other markets. Expect the car to reach Indian shores as well, but we expect that to happen in 2019.