Mercedes-Benz B-Class aerodynamics tested [w/video]

Mercedes-Benz has produced a video testing the aerodynamics of its new B-Class – which it claims is the most aerodynamically efficient car in the world – using a wind tunnel and fluorescent paint. The W245-generation B-Class has the lowest aerodynamic drag in its segment with a Cd of just 0.26, thanks to features such as serrated front wheel arch spoilers, optimized cooling airflow and a Pagoda roof to help airflow over its profile. The car's aero properties were put to the test at the MIRA vehicle test facility in the UK using fluorescent paint in 60mph winds to highlight its flow dynamics, only visible under UV lights.

One Lap of the Web: Porsche 959s, the Alfa Romeo 4C and the Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG vs. the BMW M135i

We spend a lot of time on the Internet -- pretty much whenever we're not driving, writing about or working on cars. Since there's more out there than we'd ever be able to cover, here's our daily digest of car stuff on the Web you may not otherwise have heard about. -- When initially produced to satisfy FIA homologation requirements in 1986, the Porsche 959 was the world's fastest street-legal production car.

Mazda outlines weight-loss program

Mazda Motor Corp. will reduce its vehicle weights by at least 220 pounds beginning in 2011, with a combination of lighter-weight materials, smaller vehicle footprints and new engineering processes, a top executive says. The typical Mazda vehicle has gained 80 pounds with each successive redesign, “mostly in larger tires and wheels, and safety equipment,” said Robert Davis, senior vice president of product development and quality for Mazda North American Operations.