The 2013 Mercedes-Benz A-Class has just recently been made available to the general public. It is characterized by an emotive design. It also comes equipped with a powerful engine, whose capacity ranges from 109 to 221 horsepower. Initial impressions have been generally positive.
The Head of Mercedes-Benz, Dr. Dieter Zetche, even goes so far as to say this new class is a momentous milestone for the company in its quest to become the most dynamic premium brand in the market.
Aesthetics and functionality are central to the exterior design of the new A-Class. Everything on it has a purpose. It ensures that the sleek design does not get in the way of the car being as aerodynamic as possible.
Exteriors
This philosophy can be best seen in the roof design. It has an arcing curve and smooth surfaces. Its roof spoiler not only gives structure to the design, but it also hides the aerials and gives the car a sportier look.
At first glance, the 2013 Mercedes-Benz A-Class shows the dynamism of its design. It stands 18 centimeters lower than its predecessor. The appearance of these cars communicates the new design strategy of the company. This radical change was maintained for the production cars following the overwhelming critical acclaim that the A-Class Concept received when it first came out.
Its unique appearance is partly due to the interplay of convex and concave surfaces which result in a play of light along the sides of the car. Distinct edges and rigid surfaces define the exterior of the new generation A-Class.
The A-Class has a sporty front that is best characterized by it V-Shape form. It also has separate headlights and double slats at either side of the car. The design of the headlights themselves is central to the main design.
Aerodynamic Design
The 2013 Mercedes-Benz A-Class is another key success for the engineers at Mercedes-Benz. With a drag coefficient value clocking in at 0.27, this car is a force to be reckoned with. For hatchback models, getting results like this is no mean feat.
This comes as a result of its perfect design. For instance, the whole underbody has been aerodynamically optimized. Extensive cladding has been done from its main floor panel up to its rear wheel arch and the rear axle. Also, the finlets, otherwise known as the side spoilers next to the side window, reduces the longitudinal vortices created by the D-pillars. The A-Class also comes with an adjustable radiator shutter. This design was successfully adapted from other larger model series.
Attention to detail is central to achieving this interplay between aesthetics and functionality. Even the positioning of the exterior mirrors was done in consideration to the airflow along the side window, ensuring that there is no significant interference.
The 2013 Mercedes-Benz A-Class is a welcome addition to the market. It gives us something fresh while at the same time sticking to a formula that we have come to know and love. Mercedes-Benz did a tremendous job in its design, and did a job not many car makers can do: make a car that looks good and that drives well.
Jose Victor M. Jayme is a freelance writer. He has been working as such since 2010 and has written articles on a variety of topics.
He has a degree in the Social Sciences from the University of the Philippines.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jose_Victor_M_Jayme
No comments:
Post a Comment