Vladi

So the first Lexus to feature LC taillight design is Toyota Prius

bitkahuna

iTrader: (20)

^^^ only upside down.

DFGeneer

Well, allow me to doubt that "trickeries" can reduce Cd by whole 30%.
Besides, the only trickery festured in CLA180BE, but not in CLA250 is the adjustable radiator shutter. Tyres might be thinner too, but that only results in a lower Frontal Area and should not influence Drag Coefficient.

The discrepancy in the numbers is most probably coming from the more optimistic calibration of the MercedesBenz wind tunnels. As stated in the C&D article "All wind tunnels strive to accurately quantify the aerodynamics a car will experience in the real world. The vehicle and the tunnel constitute a system with complex interactions. As a result, drag and lift measurements on a particular vehicle can vary from one tunnel to another."

But still, we all drive our cars in the real world, so it won't hurt if all the marketing numbers are closer to reality.

SW17LS

This thing is hideous.

The Prius has had a two piece rear window in the hatch since the second generation in 2004.

pbm317

Rearward visibility... The rear end is so high for aero, that if only reliant on the top hatch glass, it'd be like a pickup truck with a giant tailgate in the rear. You would barely see a car that's directly behind you.

ydooby

Besides the trick radiator shutter and thinner tires, the CLA180 BE also has far more aerodynamic wheels and rear diffuser, with the wheel design being the biggest contributor to a lower drag. I was hoping the new Prius would adopt that kind of wheel design too, but apparently it may drive up the cost more than what Toyota is willing to price the Prius at (black paint costs too much? ).

spwolf

it is just a pr piece by MB... Prius already has plastic wheel design for base model, and many other vehicles do offer wheels that are as closed as possible, it does not bring 30% Cd improvement.

Before mentioned A3 easily beats CLA 180 Blueefficiency model in fuel consumption data without special 15" wheels, with 1.4 TFSI engine thats significantly stronger.

So I would not worry or give credence to manufacturer PR's too much... important thing is what happens when you drive it, and thats where Prius proves its worth - or not. So far, they did pretty good job with nobody being able to touch it after years on the market.

LeX2K

The front end looks like a deformed radioactive fish. Whatever Toyota designers are smoking that is some bad ****.

DFGeneer

That is a very good example. It brings the nasty question "If the Cd of the CLA is that better, must be the drive train efficiency of the CLA that is that worse than the A3 sedan's?" I am sure MB does not want to imply that.

GS3Tek

iTrader: (8)

I like the front, but man, when you get to the back...................WTH happened there???


This lucks much better
Probably have to wait for a refresh for them to clean this up

spwolf

Doesnt the teaser imply that lights will be connected? Doesnt seem like that on the spy shots, dont see them on the trunk.

ydooby

I think the red hue on the glass splitter is simply a reflection of the nearby lighting.

Allen K

iTrader: (4)

Call me crazy, but I actually kind of like it

Beats the bland-mobile that currently litters the road (primarily in the left lane...)

PhilipMSPT

iTrader: (5)

The teaser is a red car.

spwolf

most likely answer, thanks.