New Mercedes climatic wind tunnel creates own weather

Not that Mercedes-Benz wants to eliminate any need for real-world testing, but it would like a head start.

The Stuttgart-based automaker has inaugurated a new climatic wind tunnel at its Mercedes-Benz Technology Centre in southern Germany. The new facility will be used to prepare prototypes before they begin their real-world road testing by given them a rigorous run through different climate conditions.

And what are those conditions? Well, this new climatic wind tunnel can bring temperatures down to as low as minus 40 degrees Celsius (- 40 Fahrenheit) and up as high as 40 degrees (104 degrees Fahrenheit), which can mimic the most extreme climates the cars are ever likely to face.

The wind tunnel can also produce snowstorms and hurricane-force winds up to 200 km/h (124 mph).

We hope those technicians know where to stand when they turn on this machine.

High-res photos: http://www.worldcarfans.com/111071835014/new-mercedes-climatic-wind-tunnel-cr...

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Mercedes
• climatic
• wind
• tunnel
• weather
• storm

[anotherone10]

That C-Class coupe is so cool.

[trandaltrantran]

All Mercedes need to do now is build a weather machine to achieve world domination.

[LamboGallardo560]

@flawns

Climatic wind tunnels don't do "wind testings". The only reason they have wind at all is so they can simulate rain and snow while driving. The real purpose is to make rain, freezing rain, snow, or heat from UV lights to make sure things like the heat and AC work along with making sure the engine and transmission don't overheat or to see how long they take to heat up in the cold.

[LamboGallardo560]

@Northgtabeast

A hell of a lot. GM just built one at my university (UOIT in Oshawa, the wind tunnel is called ACE) and I worked there this summer. The whole school gets 8MW of power, the wind tunnel building gets 5MW out of the 8 and the fan alone sucks up 3MW at full power.

[BimmerBoost]

Now this is some high-tech weather testing and pushing the envelope. And people wonder why American car companies need bailouts? Mercedes weather testing is more advanced than all the Chrysler plants.

- BenzBoost. com

[pekipb]

Where is lightning strike?

[ancsakeresztes]

really cool!

[duncansport]

@flawns Im sure the automotive industry will stop most or all of there wind tunnel testing because you sit in traffic.......

[albodude93]

@Antonio001z lmfao!! Fuck yea

[TokaMrevlishvili]

Mercedes Benz RULES!!!!

[flawns]

These marketing videos are sooo stupid....its fucking SIMPLE science every single car can go through the same thing.

honestly....these "wind testings" are a waste of time and money....

(unless its for a foumla1 car or a HIGH end exotic)

I live in CA, where traffic is a bitch, yeah im going to be sitting on the freeway 70% of my driving time, "WIND RESISTANCES" is going to be unless for me in stop and go conditions

[TheMptron]

на АВТОВазе так же...че вы думаете

en: In Russia at factory as