0 The CLA-Class receives its Environmental Certificate: CLA 180 BlueEFFICIENCY Edition with emissions of only 118 g CO2 per kilometre

With optimum fuel consumption, emissions as low as 109 g CO2/km, and the world's best Cd value for a series production vehicle of 0.22, the CLA-Class sets new benchmarks in efficiency in the medium-size category. Its high environmental compatibility has now also been confirmed by the inspectors at the TÜV Süd technical inspection authority, who have awarded the four-door Coupé from Mercedes-Benz the Environmental Certificate in accordance with ISO standard TR 14062. This certification is based on a comprehensive life-cycle assessment of the CLA-Class, documenting every detail of relevance for the environment.

"Driving pleasure and efficiency need not be mutually exclusive. The same is equally true of breathtaking design and world-class aerodynamic drag values. In all four areas the CLA-Class sets the benchmark in the medium-size category", explains Professor Dr Herbert Kohler, Chief Environmental Officer at Daimler AG.

Mercedes-Benz analyses the environmental compatibility of its models throughout their entire life cycle – from production, through their long years of service, to recycling at the end of their lives. This analysis goes far beyond the legal requirements. The Environmental Certificate and supplementary information are made available to the public as part of the "Life Cycle" documentation series, which can be accessed at http://www.mercedes-benz.com.

Over the entire life cycle of the Mercedes CLA-Class – from production and utilisation over 160,000 kilometres through to recycling – the base variant certified by TÜV in the guise of the CLA 180 gives rise to CO2 emissions of around 30 tonnes, which is on a par with the exemplary A-Class.

With a Cd value of 0.23, the CLA 180 sets a new benchmark.

The drag area Cd x A – which is crucial in terms of wind resistance – also leads the field, at 0.51 m2. The good air flow characteristics, which are a major contributory factor to the vehicle's low fuel consumption in everyday conditions, result from numerous aerodynamic optimisation measures. These include a low A-pillar shoulder with adapted A-pillar geometry, aerodynamically optimised exterior mirror housings and rear shape, optimised diffuser, optimised underbody and rear axle panelling, radiator shutter, aero wheel trims and serrated wheel spoilers on the front and rear wheel arches. The CLA 180 BlueEFFICIENCY Edition, which is due to hit the streets in September, even manages to better this value with a Cd value of 0.22, and when it comes to the drag area the four-door coupé crosses a magical line with a figure of just 0.49 m².

Other measures applied to the CLA-Class to reduce consumption include:

- For all petrol and diesel powertrains: friction-optimised downsized engines with turbocharging, direct injection and thermal management; petrol engines with Camtronic (CLA 180 and CLA 200).

- Friction-optimised 6-speed manual transmission and 7-speed dual clutch automatic transmission, both featuring high-geared configurations.

- The start/stop system as standard for all engine variants.

- Use of tyres with optimised rolling resistance.

- Wheel bearings with substantially reduced friction.

- Weight optimisation through the use of lightweight materials.

- Regulated fuel and oil pump are able to adjust pump output according to required load.

- Intelligent generator management in conjunction with an efficient generator ensures that consumers are powered from the battery during acceleration, while during braking part of the resulting energy is recuperated and fed back into the battery.

- Highly efficient air conditioning compressor with optimised oil management, reduced displacement and magnetic clutch which avoids friction losses.

- Optimised belt drive with decoupler.

The CLA-Class already currently meets the recoverability rate of 95 percent by weight, which becomes effective from 2015. The European ELV Directive 2000/53/EC additionally requires vehicle manufacturers to continually increase the input of recycled materials in their production processes. In all, the new CLA-Class incorporates 42 components representing a total weight of 30.8 kilograms which can be produced with the partial use of high-quality recycled plastics.

There is also an increased emphasis on closed automobile materials cycles: the wheel arch linings, for example, are made from reprocessed starter batteries and bumper coverings.

Some 16 components in the CLA-Class, representing a total weight of 19 kilograms, are produced using natural materials. A biopolymer is being used in the engine cover on the new CLA-Class (M 270 petrol engine). Biopolymers are plastics which are produced in part from vegetable-based raw materials rather than solely from mineral oil. The polyamide employed in the production of the engine cover for the CLA-Class consists of around 70 percent vegetable raw materials. These are obtained from the seeds of the castor-oil plant. Production of the engine cover made of biopolyamide results in only around 40 percent of the quantity of carbon dioxide emissions which would be necessary in order to produce the same component in a conventional polyamide.

Credits: Daimler AG

Copyright © 2013, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.