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

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, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.

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

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

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

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

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, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.

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