We Time-Traveled to Build the New CLA | Because it’s Mercedes-Benz Episode 6

this. >> Yeah. Or maybe like this. >> AI integration. A driver display that shows people and vehicles near you. More than 750 km range on a single charge. How do people come up with this stuff? >> R&D, of course. Do you not know how many smart people work on this stuff? >> I mean, yeah, but that doesn't really answer my question. >> Do you really want to know? >> Well, what if there was a way to experience how they do it? Follow me, but keep it quiet. [music] Oh, you've got to be kidding me. [music] Huh? What's this? I think this is [music] our first destination. And we might be able to put the date on here. Let's go back to a time when it all began. [music] >> [music] [music] [music] >> As you can see, this one is a special episode of our series, so it's [music] kind of hard for me to do my little introduction speech. Actually, I don't even know where the hell we are. >> Looks like we missed a party. >> Yeah, good one. Yeah, I feel like we missed a big one. [music] >> What did we miss? What happened here? >> Actually, last night we had a very nice party here around in Electric Software Hub. We did it. >> Yeah, we celebrated actually our mission to to [music] get the Vision EQXX to to Cass more than,000 kilometers without recharging the car. We started here in the electric software hub in Zilfing and drove all the way down over the Alps to Casis in France. That's a Mediterranean Sea. [music] We're pretty bold and uh very proud that we did it. >> How long did that take? >> Well, we started uh [music] yesterday morning at 7 and arrived before sunset, though that was a clear mission that we want to get some some sun in in France. >> Did the mission go perfectly to plan or was there any problems along the way? Well, we were pretty good prepared, but like always, you cannot say it's [music] 100%. And we got some rain. We got some snow actually. We also got some challenges from engineering side. So, in Switzerland, [music] we had this little breakdown of the DCDC converter. an update. >> We knew it from the past. We tested it a lot, but this situation was just frozen atmosphere here in the mission control. And finally, we powered up again and go running. Yeah, >> I mean, it looks like a really big party you guys had. >> I'm sorry. Um, I just got a message that the guys drove back again. In the next minutes, it will arrive back here in Zilfing. Though, if you have time, we can have a look at the car if you like. >> Kind of sounds fun. Yeah, >> I'm bringing this. Oh. [music] >> Wow, [music] that looks cool. Yeah. Look at >> this. >> This is wicked. This is the EQXX. >> Yeah. You like it? [music] >> Pretty impressive. It's very streamlined looking. >> Yes, it is absolutely efficient. >> And these [music] are very small. >> Absolutely. Those are very small also because of uh drag coefficiency and we had some nice discussions about efficiency all the way [music] uh through the project and uh that was one topic. Yeah. Yeah. And finally today it's back here in the electric software hub. Well, besides [music] the mirrors being efficient, what else about this car makes it so efficient? >> Actually, everything. So, each part from the front to the back, from the solar roof to the battery, every part is focused [music] with efficiency. And this clear goal was set up in the very beginning of the project. And you are familiar with electric driven cars. So, you know about consumption, about energy. [music] Typically cars around there are about 20 kilwatt hours, maybe 15 are good ones. And we said we want to have below [music] 10. >> I feel like everything like every component of this car will have its own way of making it more efficient. Like I'm just looking at the wheels. Like I'm guessing they're like lightweight. You can see the body shape. Like [music] it's so aerodynamically that the air flows across it. There's no drag. Even the seats, they don't look the comfiest thing in the world, but I feel like they're probably a lot lighter, so you don't carry so much weight, >> obviously. >> So, the second is the solar roof on the top. You you can generate energy. Actually, yesterday we generated energy in Italy, especially when when sun came up and we drove down the Alps and the the power net uh where all the lights and the stuff were powered from were 100% powered by the solar and just was just [music] fine to do that. So you guys probably learned a lot from the drive. Are you guys going to be taking that information and use it for other cars in the future? [music] >> Actually the the electric drive unit are very much related uh from the Vision EQX to the CLA uh electric version. >> Sounds really exciting. Can't wait to see that all happen. >> Something tells me that's not going to be a problem. Well, that smells like more time traveling. >> [music] >> Where are we? Is this the future? >> I mean, it says it's 2023. >> Hi. >> Hi. >> Hello. Where are we? [music] >> We're in the Mercedes wind tunnel. Welcome. >> We just saw the EQXX, which looked insane. This looks like just a passenger [music] car. >> Well, it is a passenger car. A prototype of one. >> Oh. And this will be sold in 2 years. >> So, no one's [music] seen this before. >> No, it's top secret still. >> Oh, wow. Cool. What happens in here? Cuz I feel like this is some kind of [music] testing facility. >> This is the acoustics wind tunnel, and we optimize the drag, also the lift values, all aerodynamic forces, and also the wind noise. >> EQXX, [music] we just saw it do a record drive. What's special about this? This car will actually go to a record drive too, but it's a [music] different kind of record drive where we will try to drive 24 hours and it make as many kilometers as possible. >> Oh wow. Why is driving for 24 hours so important with [music] this vehicle? >> Well, we want to show with an electric vehicle how far we can get. >> But I'm excited for this record drive. Do you think it's going to be successful? >> I don't know. We'll hope so that we'll break the record. I've got a good feeling about it. [music] [music] Do you think it would be possible if a person did this test? >> Should we try it? I don't see why not. We've been talking so much about the exterior of the car. Now, I think it's time to look at its inner values. >> Hell yeah, finally. You're talking about the engine, right? >> Yeah. Not really. Let's check out what's behind that CLA screen first. >> Hi there. >> Nice to meet you. Nice to meet you, too. >> This looks great. We [music] saw it in a wind tunnel before it was actually released to the world and now to see it in the real. Yeah, I'm happy to show you the new CLA. So, [music] let's have a look into the car and I'd like to show you and give you a bit more insight into our new MBUX and MBOS. Okay. So, let's have a ride. [music] Let's go see what it's like in a while. >> Yeah. MBOS it's the brain and also the heart of the car. With MBOS we are also able [music] to update for example autonomous driving. So the functionalities, body and comfort functionalities but also drive and charge so the cars always remain up to date. [music] You can go to the view of the surround navigation which is also very nice. You should see it. We tested it on a test drive in Copenhagen. When you have much more cars around and also pedestrians and bikes gives you a good overview of the situation. >> [music] >> This might be a step back um to talk about this, but I just had a curiosity. What's the difference between a voice assistant and a virtual assistant? >> Voice assistant now turned into a virtual assistant, which means you cannot only ask it as you had in the past about car functionalities or navigation. [music] It's so much more now. So, we integrated intelligence in it. So, we have chat GPT 4.0, Google Gemini, but also Microsoft Bing for the latest information from the web. So, you can ask her pretty much everything. Let's figure out how smart she really is. Hey, Mercedes. >> How may I help you? >> How do you time [music] travel? >> Time travel remains a theoretical concept explored [music] through physics and imagination. Time travel has not been proven possible. >> I don't think we have a problem with that. With the CLA, I got a really fan of the co-driver display because you can do so much cool stuff on it and you can do gaming. See, you pass me so quickly. I just feel like your car is better than mine. >> Wait, there you are. Wait, NO, WAIT, [screaming] WAIT, WAIT, WAIT, WAIT. >> Eat my dust. Becky, do >> you find that you're using AI more and more throughout the operating [music] system? >> Yes, definitely because it helps you to really have an assistant on board. So, also now while traveling, the question is how can I use the time best while driving? And uh a lot of people are still watching on their smartphones and of course we're also taking care the people can focus on the road and so we have the assistant really [music] helping to take care. So whatever I'm now trying to plan or do she can really help me. [music] >> Hey Mercedes. >> Yes. >> We're going to be in the area till tomorrow. What is there to do around here? >> I can hardly wait. In your area you can enjoy the Wutach Gorge for spectacular hiking. So you're really giving time back when you're driving in the car. >> Also, you can start, of course, the navigation to that place you've uh chosen once. >> With all this technology and AI being put into the operating systems, you know, where do you think Mercedes-Benz is going? What are the cars going to be like in the next 30 years? >> Oh, that's a really interesting question. So, to be honest, [music] I can't tell too much. Wonder if we should check it out. Let's go. >> [music] >> What [music] in the world? Where are we? I don't know. Look at this place. What is that sound? I think it's coming from in there. You want to go? Come. Sure. I wonder what kind of car is in there. H What are you doing there? >> What the Some things never change. Wait, wait, wait. Tell us what Mercedes-Benz have been doing the last few years. >> Oh, girl, where do I start? It's [music] [music] >> like a you know when you put your hand out the window. >> Yeah. >> Yes, it is exciting. But for mass production, we take >> I love the way you you went straight into like well for mass analytics for mass production it will take approximately 1 year and 5 days because we know from the data that it will take x. >> Are you ready? >> I think so.

In this special episode of Because it’s Mercedes-Benz, Becky and Elly finally come face-to-face with the highly anticipated new CLA model. Curious as ever, they want to discover the secret steps that make the development of such an advanced car possible. If only there were a way to travel back in time and experience the development firsthand…

Their adventure begins in 2022, where they meet Tim, who shares the fascinating story of the Concept EQXX and its record-setting drive. Tim explains how the insights gained from the EQXX helped shape the development of the new CLA, bringing cutting-edge efficiency and technology into the production model.

Next, our hosts travel slightly forward in time to the legendary Mercedes-Benz wind tunnel, where they meet Roger. Here, they witness firsthand how rigorous aerodynamic testing helps create the CLA’s sleek, efficient silhouette.

Finally, Becky and Elly return to the present day, where they team up with Sarah for their very first drive in the new CLA. On the road, they explore the latest digital innovations, including the MBUX system, AI integration, and more features that make the CLA truly state-of-the-art.

Make sure to check out the other episodes of the Because it’s Mercedes-Benz series, and join Becky and Elly as they uncover the stories, people, and technologies behind every Mercedes-Benz.

#BecauseItsMercedesBenz #MercedesBenz #CLA

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