Alx
Tire Trailblazer
- Messages
- 6,290
- Name
- Alex
It's no secret the release of the next-generation, 2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class is imminent, with each passing day bringing us a step closer to the unveiling of what will likely become the most successful C-Class lineup in history. But rather than subjecting you to the pains of waiting for the aforementioned C with nary a bit information given to you, oh eager consumers, Mercedes has instead taken a different approach, extensively documenting both the planning and testing stages of the new model; publishing it; and thus giving you a exhaustively in-depth look at what into the making of the new C-Class - even before its world premier.
Not quite as as exciting as the C's official unveiling will be, I know, but in addition to a number of photos revealing various parts of the next C-Class undisguised (such as the bodyshell pictured above), it really is quite astounding to read how technologically-advanced the process of creating a vehicle has become.
To learn more, keep reading for the first of two C-Class press releases we'll be publishing today, one which demonstrates how Mercedes used digital prototyping to create a virtual car for design and testing purposes. And, in addition to the three part press release, you can also find a wealth of photos showcasing the various development methods implemented during the C-Class' planning and testing phases, all of which enlarge when you click them.
Enjoy.
OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE
1. The New C-Class2. The Mercedes Codes3. Digital Prototyping
The new C-Class: Superlative ride comfort based on Mercedes Codes and digital prototypes
Sindelfingen, Jan 09, 2007
Mercedes-Benz will launch the new C-Class – a unique syn-thesis of superlative comfort and driving pleasure in this market segment – in spring 2007. This decisive edge comes courtesy of several years of expe-rience, precise Mercedes Codes for comfort and a new development process which the Stuttgart-based manufacturer has implemented for the very first time: digital prototyping. Computer simulations enabled the engineers to define, test and refine the saloon's major characteristics at a very early stage of development, meaning that even the first ready-to-drive prototypes and pre-production models displayed a high level of maturity. Digital prototyping allowed the Mercedes engineers to make tremendous progress, especially in terms of ride comfort, quiet running, effective climate control and chassis tuning. This process is largely responsible for two of the key characteristics of the new C-Class – driving enjoyment and agility – both of which are of the usual high Mercedes standard.
The new C-Class is the world's first production vehicle to be designed and developed based on a digital prototype (DPT). In this process, Mercedes-Benz bundles together all of its calculation methods, using around 2130 gigabytes of data to create a completely virtual car. Computer simulation was used to develop and test the crash-safety and occupant-protection systems for the new C-Class as well as the car's NVH (noise, vibration and harshness), durability, energy management, climate control and aerodynamics. The Sindelfingen engineers use one of the world's largest IT networks for many of these calculations.
The new DPT process helped to save time and solve trade-offs at an early stage as well as permitting computer testing of the entire saloon concept. This environ-ment created the ideal conditions for the subsequent field-development and road-testing phase, involving 280 real prototypes, which began in the summer of 2003. By the time full production gets underway, the new C-Class will have clocked up a total of over 24 million test kilometres world-wide, making this the largest test programme in the Stuttgart manufacturer's history.
Computer- and test rig-based test drives with the digital prototype
Comfort and handling were focal points of the development work. The Mercedes experts put the digital prototype through its paces on virtual urban and country roads as well as motorways in order to define the ride comfort at an early stage. This test volume is equivalent to around 2000 individual drives in reality. To tune the handling characteristics, the digital prototype completed more than 1500 computer-based obstacle-avoidance tests, slaloms and braking manoeuvres – many of them in real-time simulations.
In addition the new development process allowed the saloon's handling character-istics to be experienced subjectively. State-of-the-art test rigs such as the Ride Simulator were programmed with the C-Class data and the road surfaces of real test routes so that the engineers were able to "drive" the new Mercedes model on the test rig very early on in the project. Although the Ride Simulator simulates the saloon's handling characteristics digitally, it does so realistically.
Over 6000 pages of Mercedes Codes for defining hallmark Mercedes features
Development of the new C-Class was based on a main specifications book containing around 360 pages, This book describes the saloon's technology right down to the last detail and specifies strict targets – called Mercedes Codes – for important characteristics. Some 150 main criteria, along with thousands of individual targets compiled in 250 component specification books with a total of over 6000 pages, relate solely to the topic of comfort – a key aspect of the C Class alongside safety, reliability, quality and agility.
The Mercedes Codes for comfort reflect the many decades of experience and the vast pool of know-how that the Stuttgart manufacturer has acquired in this area of passenger-car development. As well as defining technical requirements, the Codes take into account scientific analyses performed at DaimlerChrysler's Customer Research Centre, looking at how motorists perceive comfort subjectively. It was therefore possible to bring technical features into line with sensory perception – a key requirement for ensuring the classic Mercedes driving experience.
Comfort development requires profound and detailed knowledge of how irritating noise and vibration is caused and transferred. Mercedes-Benz analyses a total of around 60 different phenomena in these areas, including the typical lifting, pitching and rolling of the car body as well as many largely unfamiliar phenomena which can mar the comfort experience, such as quivering, micro-quivering, wobble, shimmy, grumble and whine, to name but a few technical terms.
Low-vibration body for outstanding long-distance comfort
The aim of the C-Class development engineers was to combine superlative ride comfort with sporty agility. A quick glance at the saloon's code book reveals that this goal was achieved: the C-Class easily achieves the stringent Mercedes targets and thus sets the benchmark for long-distance comfort in its market segment. In the case of micro-quivering – the term experts use to describe the comfort characteristics on slightly uneven roads – the readings for the new C-Class undercut the maximum limits specified by Mercedes by as much as 15 percent.
The saloon is equally adept at compensating for the typical body shudder caused by uneven road surfaces, which can be transferred into the interior of the car via the wheel carriers, springs, shock absorbers and mounts. At 140 km/h, the driver of the C-Class feels almost none of this shudder: the figure achieved by the C Class – less than 0.3 m/s² – is around 40 percent lower than the already strict limit imposed in the specifications book.
Key factors which contribute to this high level of ride comfort include an intelligently designed bodyshell which is 13 percent more torsionally stiff than that of the outgoing model, newly developed seats and a standard-fit damping system which adjusts the shock-absorber forces in accordance with the driving style.
Quiet engines and a pleasantly calm interior
Equally impressive progress has been made in the field of acoustic comfort, which the Mercedes engineers have improved by implementing a series of measures, including even more effective acoustic insulation of the interior, sound absorbers in the body cavities and a sophisticated door-sealing concept. The engines and exhaust systems have also been enhanced with respect to comfort. By way of example, a new injection system audibly reduces the combustion noise in the four-cylinder diesel powerplants. The difference can even be heard when the engine is idling. Here the noise level of the four-cylinder CDI engines easily beats the Mercedes target of 62 decibels.
At higher speeds, the body's excellent aeroacoustics play an important part in ensuring a high level of ride comfort. Wind noise, often perceived as annoying high-frequency hissing in the interior, is practically inaudible when travelling on board the new C-Class.
Based on meticulously calculated empirical values and with the help of the latest development processes, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class opens up a clear lead – taking the concept of superlative comfort and agility to previously unscaled heights.
Previous Page | Next Page
The redeveloped version of the THERMOTRONIC automatic climate control system allows the desired temperature settings to be programmed separately for three different zones of the interior.
An intelligently designed bodyshell provides an ideal basis for the excellent standard of ride comfort in the C-Class. Static torsional stiffness -- a key indicator for the body‘s vibration characteristics -- has been improved by some 13 percent compared to the outgoing model.
An intelligently designed bodyshell provides an ideal basis for the excellent standard of ride comfort in the C-Class. Static torsional stiffness -- a key indicator for the body‘s vibration characteristics -- has been improved by some 13 percent compared to the outgoing model.
Mercedes-Benz offers advanced versions of the multicontour seats as an option for the C-Class. Their design enables occupants to adapt the shape of the seat to their anatomy or to their individual comfort preferences.
Mercedes-Benz offers advanced versions of the multicontour seats as an option for the C-Class. Their design enables occupants to adapt the shape of the seat to their anatomy or to their individual comfort preferences.
An intelligently designed bodyshell provides an ideal basis for the excellent standard of ride comfort in the C-Class. Static torsional stiffness -- a key indicator for the body‘s vibration characteristics -- has been improved by some 13 percent compared to the outgoing model.An intelligently designed bodyshell provides an ideal basis for the excellent standard of ride comfort in the C-Class. Static torsional stiffness -- a key indicator for the body‘s vibration characteristics -- has been improved by some 13 percent compared to the outgoing model.
An intelligently designed bodyshell provides an ideal basis for the excellent standard of ride comfort in the C-Class. Static torsional stiffness -- a key indicator for the body‘s vibration characteristics -- has been improved by some 13 percent compared to the outgoing model.
An intelligently designed bodyshell provides an ideal basis for the excellent standard of ride comfort in the C-Class. Static torsional stiffness -- a key indicator for the body‘s vibration characteristics -- has been improved by some 13 percent compared to the outgoing model.
An intelligently designed bodyshell provides an ideal basis for the excellent standard of ride comfort in the C-Class. Static torsional stiffness -- a key indicator for the body‘s vibration characteristics -- has been improved by some 13 percent compared to the outgoing model.
An intelligently designed bodyshell provides an ideal basis for the excellent standard of ride comfort in the C-Class. Static torsional stiffness -- a key indicator for the body‘s vibration characteristics -- has been improved by some 13 percent compared to the outgoing model.
The new C-Class is equipped with an amplitudedependent damping system as standard: under regular driving conditions with low levels of excitation, the damping forces are reduced automatically, which has tangible benefi ts for the saloon‘s road roar and tyre vibration characteristics -- without compromising driving safety in any way. When higher levels of excitation occur at the shock absorbers, for example when cornering at high speed or performing an evasive manoeuvre, the maximum damping force is activated so that the vehicle is stabilised effectively.
An intelligently designed bodyshell provides an ideal basis for the excellent standard of ride comfort in the C-Class. Static torsional stiffness -- a key indicator for the body‘s vibration characteristics -- has been improved by some 13 percent compared to the outgoing model.
The new C-Class is equipped with an amplitudedependent damping system as standard: under regular driving conditions with low levels of excitation, the damping forces are reduced automatically, which has tangible benefi ts for the saloon‘s road roar and tyre vibration characteristics -- without compromising driving safety in any way. When higher levels of excitation occur at the shock absorbers, for example when cornering at high speed or performing an evasive manoeuvre, the maximum damping force is activated so that the vehicle is stabilised effectively.
The new C-Class is equipped with an amplitudedependent damping system as standard: under regular driving conditions with low levels of excitation, the damping forces are reduced automatically, which has tangible benefi ts for the saloon‘s road roar and tyre vibration characteristics -- without compromising driving safety in any way. When higher levels of excitation occur at the shock absorbers, for example when cornering at high speed or performing an evasive manoeuvre, the maximum damping force is activated so that the vehicle is stabilised effectively.
Heating tests with the climate dummy.
Heating tests with the climate dummy.
Heating tests with the climate dummy.
Measuring idling noises with the acoustic camera.
Measuring idling noises with the acoustic camera.
Measuring idling noises with the acoustic camera.
Measuring and recording interior noises with the aid of dummy head stereophony.
Measuring and recording interior noises with the aid of dummy head stereophony.
Measuring idling noises with the acoustic camera.
Large acoustics test rig for measuring driving noises.
Pressure measurement for determining seating comfort.
Pressure measurement for determining seating comfort.
Pressure measurement for determining seating comfort.
Test with a special dummy which simulates the vibrational response of the car‘s occupants.
Test with a special dummy which simulates the vibrational response of the car‘s occupants.
Aerodynamic development using data from the digital prototype.
Aerodynamic development using data from the digital prototype.
Aerodynamic development using data from the digital prototype.
Climate control simulation using a thermophysiological occupant model (TIM).
Climate control simulation using a thermophysiological occupant model (TIM).
Conducting driving tests with the digital prototype to fi ne-tune comfort and handling characteristics.
Investigating vibrations and acoustics with the aid of the digital prototype.
Conducting driving tests with the digital prototype to fi ne-tune comfort and handling characterist ics .
Investigating vibrations and acoustics with the aid of the digital prototype.
Climate control simulation using a thermophysiological occupant model (TIM).
Climate control simulation using a thermophysiological occupant model (TIM).
Climate control simulation using a thermophysiological occupant model (TIM).
Conducting driving tests with the digital prototype to fine-tune comfort and handling characteristics.
Aerodynamic development using data from the digital prototype.
Aerodynamic development using data from the digital prototype.
Conducting driving tests with the digital prototype to fine-tune comfort and handling characteristics.
Conducting driving tests with the digital prototype to fine-tune comfort and handling characteristics.
Conducting driving tests with the digital prototype to fine-tune comfort and handling characteristics.
Conducting driving tests with the digital prototype to fi ne-tune comfort and handling characteristics.
Investigating vibrations and acoustics with the aid of the digital prototype.
Investigating vibrations and acoustics with the aid of the digital prototype.
Investigating vibrations and acoustics with the aid of the digital prototype.
Aerodynamic development using data from the digital prototype.
The Digital Prototype meant it was possible to experience the driving characteristics of the C-Class subjectively too – on state-of-art test rigs controlled with the highly detailed DPT data. For this purpose, the experts at Mercedes used an innovative ride simulator which they fed with data corresponding to the road surfaces of actual test tracks, along with the relevant chassis and functional data for the C-Class.
Mapping and digitising real road surfaces using a special measurement vehicle.
The Digital Prototype meant it was possible to experience the driving characteristics of the C-Class subjectively too – on state-of-art test rigs controlled with the highly detailed DPT data. For this purpose, the experts at Mercedes used an innovative ride simulator which they fed with data corresponding to the road surfaces of actual test tracks, along with the relevant chassis and functional data for the C-Class.
Virtual comfort test drive with the revolutionary new ride simulator.
The blend of sophisticated multi-body simulations and cuttingedge test rig technology made it possible to experience the vehicle‘s ride comfort at an early stage of development in the simulator. The driver and front passenger sat down on the test rig‘s two seats and took the new saloon on a purely digital, but nevertheless true-to-life drive.
The blend of sophisticated multi-body simulations and cuttingedge test rig technology made it possible to experience the vehicle‘s ride comfort at an early stage of development in the simulator. The driver and front passenger sat down on the test rig‘s two seats and took the new saloon on a purely digital, but nevertheless true-to-life drive.
The blend of sophisticated multi-body simulations and cuttingedge test rig technology made it possible to experience the vehicle‘s ride comfort at an early stage of development in the simulator. The driver and front passenger sat down on the test rig‘s two seats and took the new saloon on a purely digital, but nevertheless true-to-life drive.Copyright © 2007, DaimlerChrysler AG
