Mercedes-Benz: Philosophy
Only a calm environment can keep you relaxed
Various types of noise and vibration can have an adverse effect on the driver. Traffic noise, wind noise, tyre noise. Vibrations from the road and from the engine, transmission and propeller shaft.
Mercedes-Benz considered it imperative to eliminate these disturbing influences because particularly on long journeys, they can affect the driver to the point where his performance deteriorates.
The various causes of noise and vibration were determined and analysed so that the could be reduced below nuisance level.
Some parts of the bodywork were, therefore, modified and stabilised so that the wind noise disappeared. The whole body shell was tested many times in the wind tunnel to calculate the best and "quietest" aerodynamic shape.
Not only the noises themselves were analysed but also the effect of differing noises on the human ear. It is not necessarily the strength of noise that is important but also the frequency range. Some noises are pleasant, others unpleasant.
One criterion of the noise level inside an S-class car is that you must be able to converse normally at any speed.