The aerodynamic development of the new Mercedes E-class began in the water, where the streamlining of the body could be seen most clearly. With a drag coefficient of Cx = 0.27, the Mercedes E-200 and Mercedes E-220 D are recognized as the best in the world in this characteristic.
The new E-class models consume 6-10% less fuel on average than their predecessors, and accordingly, the emission of harmful substances into the atmosphere is lower. The greatest effect in achieving this result was given by the above-mentioned improvement of aerodynamics (Cx, depending on the car model and brand of tires, is 0.27-0.29) and weight reduction.
The influence of mass on the energy consumption of a car cannot be ignored. For example, when driving in urban conditions, energy consumption is 23%. Of this, 17% is for acceleration of the car, the remaining 6% is for rolling resistance. Energy consumption also depends on the mass of the car. It is known that when it is reduced by 100 kg, fuel consumption when driving in urban conditions, depending on the brand of the car and the nature of the movement, decreases by 0.3-0.6 l/100 km.
"It is necessary to reduce the weight of the car, but not at any cost" - this is the basic principle of the development of the E-class car. Reducing the weight is only a step towards solving the problem. The aspects of safety, comfort, reliability and economy are also important. For these reasons, Mercedes developed the concept of a lightweight design that meets all the above requirements.
Steel plays a key role in this concept. With its optimum specific weight and high strength, steel is the ideal compromise between safety and weight for the supporting structures of a passenger car. To solve the safety problem, the parts of the body that are subject to high loads are reinforced and made more rigid. Less durable steel is used for the remaining parts. Such a body has both the optimum weight and the required strength. Recently, Mercedes has been using increasingly stronger grades of steel, which allow the required strength to be maintained with a minimum metal thickness. About a third of the body of the new E-Class is made of such high-strength steel.
Thanks to the innovations applied in the production of the metal body of the Mercedes E-class (more than 30 technical innovations), driving the car has become safer and more comfortable. The unique body structure and safety systems of the new Mercedes E-class have made this car the most reliable in its class.
Use of titanium alloyed steel
One of the new samples of high-strength steel is microalloyed isotope steel. It is a specially alloyed steel containing a titanium additive and having a highly homogeneous structure. The titanium additive makes it much easier to perform sheet metal bending and stamping work, which primarily concerns large parts of the body. In E-class cars, in addition to the main parts of the supporting structure, the rear doors, rear wall and rear part of the floor are made of metal with a titanium additive. The weight reduction, depending on the design unit, is from 4 to 7%.