Mercedes breaks its cars and wants to show you all about it!
- Published on 21/10/2026 18:22
Two CLA vehicles, each weighing over two tons, launched at 56 km/h towards a frankly inadvisable encounter. At Mercedes, even crumpled metal gets its own communication operation.
In automotive advertising, the bodies shine, roads are deserted, and no one ever misses a priority. Mercedes also enjoys this lovely world. But the brand clearly likes to show what remains when the scenario goes wrong. Images, videos, slow-motion: come closer, watch how well our cars smash!
On October 20, the manufacturer presented a spectacular side crash test between two standard CLA models. A Shooting Brake with electrified thermal power hits the driver’s side of an electric sedan. Both vehicles are traveling at 56 km/h, with no prior braking. Eight dummies, representing four adults and four children, participate in this particularly tumultuous family reunion.
Real Crash Tests
The exercise is severe: on the side, the body has much less space than at the front to absorb the energy of the impact. And under the floor of the electric CLA lies a battery that is best not to mishandle.
According to Mercedes, the cabins maintained their integrity, measurements taken on the dummies indicate a low risk of serious injuries, and the high-voltage battery remained intact. This is the real product sold by these images: trust.
Of course, this demonstration is organized by the manufacturer, which presents the results itself. It does not summarize all possible accidents. But publicly exposing its cars to such treatment implies solid technical convictions. And some repetition: Mercedes announces about 15,000 simulations and 150 physical crash tests for each new model.
Where a crashed car might embarrass a communications department, Mercedes sets up cameras. One must be sure of one’s strengths to turn two wrecks into advertising. And quite skillful to entice someone to buy a car starting by smashing it.
ALSO READ: Crash-for-Cash: the road scam that is exploding!
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This page is translated from the original post "Mercedes casse ses voitures et veut absolument vous le montrer !" in French.
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