Aerodynamics might not be the first thing you consider when looking at a car, but it’s a crucial aspect of automotive design – an invisible force that turns a vehicle from a simple machine into something exceptional.

At its core, automotive aerodynamic design seeks to minimise drag, the resistant force created when an object moves through air. It can also improve performance, handling and efficiency on the road.

Mercedes-Benz has long been at the forefront of vehicle aerodynamics, employing state-of-the-art wind tunnel testing and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to better understand this important aspect of vehicle design. These advanced techniques allow engineers to visualise and manipulate airflow with unprecedented precision, creating vehicles that are not just aesthetically pleasing, but aerodynamically optimised.

For all-electric vehicles like the Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV, aerodynamic styling directly impacts efficiency and battery range. In performance models like the Mercedes-AMG GT 63 Coupé, it enhances handling, stability and high-speed performance. 

Performance unleashed: Mercedes-AMG GT 63 Coupé

The AMG GT 63 Coupé represents our contemporary approach to aerodynamic design, using several groundbreaking technologies to optimise airflow and performance. 

The AIRPANEL air control system regulates air intake through vertical slats and horizontal louvres hidden in the front apron, which ensure optimal cooling, reduce drag and provide more downforce at high speeds. When the slats are closed, they reduce the car’s air resistance and direct air towards the underbody, further reducing the front lift. An automatically operable rear spoiler adapts in real-time, providing additional downforce at higher speeds.

One of the AMG GT 63 Coupé’s most innovative features is its patented underbody element that leverages the ‘Venturi effect’ —a principle where narrowed spaces accelerate fluid flow. This ingenious design literally ‘sucks’ the car closer to the road in curves, dramatically improving stability and handling even at high speeds.

Efficiency redefined: Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV

Aerodynamics are critical to the distances achievable in electric vehicles. Every element of the all-electric EQS SUV, for example, is carefully considered to reduce air resistance and extend driving range. Flush door handles create a seamless exterior that minimises disruption to airflow. Specially designed outside mirrors and running boards further enhance the vehicle's sleek aerodynamic profile.

The 21-inch light alloy wheels are designed with precise aerodynamic considerations, reducing turbulence and improving the vehicle’s overall efficiency. The result? An all-electric SUV with a remarkable 0.26 drag coefficient and an impressive NEDC-tested driving range of around 559km.

Future of motion

Superior aerodynamic design isn’t limited to these vehicles – it’s present across multiple classes and body configurations at Mercedes-Benz.

Across our range, design factors such as an optimised external shape and underbody, spoilers and slits on wheel arches, efficiently designed front and rear aprons, light-alloy wheels with low air resistance, and aerodynamically optimised exterior housings for mirrors and door handles minimise drag and maximise efficiency.

From the performance-driven AMG GT 63 Coupé to the range-focused EQS SUV, these vehicles showcase how sophisticated aerodynamic design can transform the driving experience by working in harmony with natural forces to improve efficiency, stability and safety.

Discover the Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV and the Mercedes-AMG GT 63 Coupé.