Testing under extreme conditions: New Unimog and new Econic in winter test drives and final tests

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From 1 January 2014 the new Euro VI emissions standard will come into effect. That is why the next Unimog implement carrier generation, the Unimog extreme off-roader and the new Econic with low-level entrance will be introduced in autumn 2013 with the new Mercedes-Benz BlueTec 6 engines in their established markets. In addition, these three vehicle model series go to the starting line with extensive design innovations to the interior and exterior, as well as innovations concerning driving and operating characteristics. Many components have been adopted from large-scale truck production, such as the new electronics architecture, chassis components, new drive train and control elements. The Econic in particular has become a new vehicle, except for the tried-and-tested cab body. With it, new standards for this unique vehicle concept have been set for municipal transport, refuse collection and short-radius distribution applications.

Currently the test vehicles are undergoing the last tests, for example for use in winter road clearing. Once again, this year's winter testing was carried out in Rovaniemi, Finland which is the capital of Lapland on the Arctic Circle. The vehicles had to complete extensive tests not only with regard to handling and driving characteristics but also in terms of ergonomics and comfort. This ensured that the new vehicles with Euro VI technology could cope with sever climatic conditions and extreme requirements, whilst reliably carrying out customers' tasks on a daily basis.
Whether clearing snow in the Alps, cleaning solar panels in the extreme heat of Spain, or for a wide variety of different uses in road servicing all year round, there is one thing that a Unimog must guarantee: the unique vehicle concept must perform its tasks reliably, regardless of altitude, temperature or weather conditions. This also goes for the Econic, the innovative and versatile vehicle with low-level entry for all types of waste disposal tasks.

Cold starting at minus 30 degrees Celsius

For three years now, the Mercedes-Benz engineers have been subjecting the latest generation of Special Trucks fitted with BlueEfficiency Power engines to the toughest of conditions as part of their winter testing programme. Temperatures of down to minus 30 degrees Celsius, snow metres high and icy roads all present a huge challenge for man and machine. On the test ground with its vehicle dynamics and handling course, a turning loop and a forest track, the development team subjected the new vehicle generations to weeks of extremely tough tests. The aim was to optimise the vehicles' function, efficiency, ergonomics and operating comfort. All the trucks were fitted with high-tech measuring equipment, which at times was attached to over 300 measuring points and collected huge amounts of data. For example, this enabled the testers to gather information about the cold-starting performance of the Euro VI engines and the function of the drive train at minus 25 degrees Celsius. Based on the results, the engineers were able to develop additional measures to improve cold start properties down to lower than minus 30 degrees Celsius, for example through auxiliary heating to pre-heat the coolant.

The elements of BlueTec-6 technology were also tested: these include the particulate filter, which, in combination with the Mercedes-Benz SCR system, has been in successful use for years, reducing particulate emissions to levels where they can barely be detected. Also tested were the functionality and speedy thawing characteristics of the AdBlue system at temperatures below minus 10 degrees as well as its guaranteed reliability. The most essential aim, however, was that despite all of the measures which permit the vehicles to conform to the Euro VI standard, fuel consumption should remain low.

The vehicle testing in Finland didn't just look at technology: the focus was also on handling, safety standards and driver comfort. These elements include reliable, effective heating including a heated windscreen to provide a clear field of vision as quickly as possible. At the end of the test, the engineers depended on this, because the final part of the test was the long journey from Rovaniemi to Arjeplog in Sweden through the ice-cold Scandinavian winter. At the end, Walter Eisele, Head of Production and Development for Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks, and his team were highly satisfied with the results. "It's a very special experience when, after so many months of development, you can drive the new Econic and the new Unimog over long distances in the endurance test and under extreme conditions," said Eisele.

Summer testing at 45 degrees Celsius in the shade

The vehicles must of course show their worth in summer tests. These are held every year in the hottest months, July and August, at the test centre in the province of Granada in southern Spain. There, among other things the engineers test the vehicles' performance on climbs into the Sierra Nevada up to an altitude of around 2500 metres in extreme heat which can rise to over 45 degrees in the shade, a dry climate, and strong sunshine. Features tested include the functioning of the air-conditioning and cooling systems. "Whereas the winter trials in Finland test the vehicles for their adaptability in extreme cold, in Spain we make sure that heat and different altitudes do not present a problem. This ensures that our customers can rely on our vehicles for all uses and at all times," Walter Eisele summed up the aim of the sophisticated tests.

Credits: Daimler AG

Copyright © 2013, mercedesgla. All rights reserved.

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SPY: The 2014 Mercedes-Benz B-Class Electric Drive (W 242) spotted in the wintry Scandinavia

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Mercedes-Benz will launch the all-electric B-Class in 2014. The series car was previewed last year at the Paris motor show as a near-production concept vehicle. The provisional technical details indicate a total amount of power of 100 kW (equal to 134 hp) and a peak torque of 310 Nm fully available at the touch of the gas pedal. The constructor boasts the new B-Class Electric Drive can do almost 200 kilometres on a single "tank".

The forthcoming eco-friendly compact MPV under the Three-Pointed Star uses the modular ENERGY SPACE technical platform, that ensures an optimal integration of the rechargeable Li-Ion batteries right underneath the passenger cabin in order to counteract balance and dynamical issues due to added weight. "Refuelling" can be made at any domestic 230 V power supply or at a high-voltage 400 V rapid charge terminal, which takes under an hour.

The new electrically-powered B-Class is currently being tried out in cold weather conditions, somewhere in Northern Europe. The engineers are testing and evaluating the performance of the electric system that puts the W 242 into motion. It is particularly crucial to find out how the batteries can handle low temperatures and retain their "filling" as to not diminish the overall autonomy of the car.

Further technical highlights of the Concept B-Class Electric Drive --> HERE

Image Credits: Autoevolution

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SPY: The 2014 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class (X 156) meets snowy roads in Scandinavia

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Winter is quickly spreading across Europe, so it's perfect time for cold weather testing in Northern Scandinavia. Mercedes-Benz is gradually moving its fleet of future models for some development in Sweden. The first model spotted by spy photographers is the upcoming GLA-Class (X 156), slated to appear towards the end of 2013.

The new GLA will be the fourth member of Mercedes-Benz's New Compact Car Generation (NCCG), after the B-Class, A-Class and CLA-Class. It will be assembled at the Rastatt facility, a well-known excellence center for the production of compact-sized models under the Three-Pointed Star.

The new premium compact SUV builds on the heritage of the G-Class, given its official title, and on the dynamic appearance of the new A-Class. Situated right below the GLK, the X 156 displays a modern and progressive exterior styling complete with some beefy rear shoulders, a prominent front fascia with a larger grille and a higher ground clearance to give it the desired all-terrain vehicles look.

The GLA will be offered in both 2WD and 4WD specification, at choice. The modular MFA platform will form a standard equipment for most of the lineup, while the 4MATIC will be available as an option for the high-end petrol and diesel variants. Specially for its new compact class cars, Mercedes-Benz has developed a new version of its versatile 4x4 traction system to suit the character of such models. Most of the time, it acts like a front-biased platform, with some torque also directed towards the rear axle via the 7G-DCT, whom the system works in conjuction with. At need, the system converts to a real 4x4 configuration and can transfer the entire torque to one wheel, to the front axle or to the rear one, given the most adequate grip.

The GLA portfolio will comprise up to seven different versions, four trim lines (Urban, Style, AMG Sport and the special GLA 250 SPORT variant) and unlimited customization possibilities:

- GLA 180 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY: 109 hp
- GLA 200 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY: 136 hp
- GLA 220 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY: 170 hp
- GLA 180 BlueEFFICIENCY: 122 hp
- GLA 200 BlueEFFICIENCY: 156 hp
- GLA 250 BlueEFFICIENCY: 211 hp
- GLA 45 AMG 4MATIC: 354 hp

Related articles:

- Mercedes-Benz 4MATIC: All-wheel drive for all – in every class

- SPY: First encounter with the 2015 Mercedes-Benz GLA 45 AMG (X 156)

Image Credits: GermanCarForum

Copyright © 2012, mercedesgla. All rights reserved.

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Original accessories from Mercedes-Benz undergoing internal load testing: Safely passing the toughest tests in the world

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Before a product is approved by Mercedes-Benz and can carry the Mercedes-Benz Genuine Accessory seal of approval, it must first pass a series of extremely demanding internal tests. The strict quality and safety standards of the premium manufacturer go well beyond all legal requirements. The rigorous schedule includes crash tests, shake tests, emergency braking at different speeds and sudden changes of lane. There are also strenuous endurance runs, simulating the life of a car in time compression, and also salt spray tests and climate chamber testing. The programme is rounded off with aerodynamic and acoustic measurements. The test requirements are well in excess of what a Mercedes-Benz customer would experience under normal driving conditions.

No compromises with safety-related assemblies

The gruelling quality tests can last up to four months before a new product is approved as a “Genuine Mercedes-Benz Accessory”. Testing of safety-related assemblies, such as carrier systems or roof boxes, is especially demanding.

As a rule, the development, design and testing of accessories is generally aligned towards the model or component it will be used with. Roof racks, for example, are always tested with the type of Mercedes-Benz model on which they are to be mounted. This is done to ensure that the boxes conform precisely to specific aspects such as roof geometry, vehicle dimensions or the intended use of the particular model series. The procedure also helps ensure that the accessory does not damage the vehicle in any way.

Extreme stress loads on the vibration table

Some of the most spectacular tests are those carried out on the vehicle body test rig, also known as the vibration table. Here, the roof and the carrier are shaken back and forth and up and down with such a level of violence that most casual observers are left feeling dizzy. Despite the exceptionally high forces that are brought to bear on the carrier, a bicycle or anything attached to it must not fall down, become loose, or damage any other part of the vehicle. An accessory may feature the Mercedes-Benz star only after it has passed this stringent test and withstood the extreme loads it has been subjected to.

Tests tougher than the “City-Crash”

The internal crash tests at Mercedes-Benz are conducted at higher speeds and acceleration rates than those required by the DIN 75-302 (German Institute for Standardisation) or ISO 11154 (International Standard Organisation) standards, or also the “City-Crash”. Although not required by law, the latter test is recommended by the German consumer watchdog organisation Stiftung Warentest, and by the German Automobile Association (ADAC). The test is meant to simulate a typical rear-end collision at a moderate speed in an urban setting.

A roof rack’s life examined in time compression

Laboratory examinations are supplemented with extensive driving tests on Mercedes-Benz test tracks and in situations based on real-life traffic. One such test is the special driving endurance test over a distance of 25,000 kilometres with a 50-percent roof rack overload. The route here includes fast stretches of motorway, together with winding secondary and rural roads. There are also several hundred kilometres of testing over rough road surfaces.

Additional tests are conducted for handling, emergency braking manoeuvres at various speeds and for driving dynamics, such as the ISO evasion test. The programme is rounded off by high-speed drives and extended trips on rough road test circuits.

Optimised aerodynamics means lower fuel consumption

A key aspect of accessory development involves optimising aerodynamic and acoustic properties. The roof racks and boxes are put through an extensive testing programme in a wind tunnel, where they are placed at different angles to the wind and driven at various speeds, up to the maximum speed of the Mercedes-Benz model in question. A predefined internal benchmark serves as the target value that a new product must achieve. Customers benefit from the resulting improvements in aerodynamics in the form of significantly lower fuel consumption than would be possible with a comparable non-genuine accessory.

Acoustic properties are then tested and optimised on the road; the goal here is to eliminate any unpleasant noises such as whirring and whistling. In many cases, these can be identified only when the accessory is driven with the vehicle it is to be used with, which is also why each rack is approved only for specific model series.

Corrosion tests that go far beyond the norm

Great efforts are also made to ensure the long-term quality that is the hallmark of every Mercedes-Benz product. For example, the corrosion tests conducted on individual components in saltwater sprayers last more than twice as long as the time stipulated in the DIN 75-302 standard. In addition, the products are put through extended corrosion tests while mounted on the vehicle, and are also exposed to extreme temperatures in a climate chamber. All of these tests are meant to ensure that the racks will not develop hairline cracks in freezing temperatures or deform in extreme heat.

Design: perfect alignment with the vehicle silhouette

Mercedes-Benz applies the strictest criteria to design, which is why genuine accessories are developed in close cooperation with design engineers for the vehicle models at the Sindelfingen Design Center. The roof boxes and roof rack systems thus blend in harmoniously with the design lines of the Mercedes-Benz passenger cars, combining maximum functionality with supreme elegance.

Credits: Daimler AG

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