Motor Authority - blog Tag: crash tests

With all the heat surrounding the first set of test drive reviews of the 2010 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG gullwing supercar, the video below is highly relevant, but also pretty disturbing if you're a lover of all things sheetmetal. Showing, in full graphic detail, the carnage that results from crashing one of these beauties, the video demonstrates that speed and power weren't the only design considerations.

Safety was clearly also a primary concern, and though the long, sleek hood deforms badly in the offset frontal crash,it does so to absorb energy and preserve the integrity of the passenger cell-a job it does so well the windshield remains...

With all the heat surrounding the first set of test drive reviews of the 2010 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG gullwing supercar, the video below is highly relevant, but also pretty disturbing if you're a lover of all things sheetmetal. Showing, in full graphic detail, the carnage that results from crashing one of these beauties, the video demonstrates that speed and power weren't the only design considerations. Safety was clearly also a primary concern, and though the long, sleek hood deforms badly in the offset frontal crash,it does so to absorb energy and preserve the integrity of the passenger cell-a job it does so well the windshield remains intact. Later, an inverted SLS AMG is tested to demonstrate the emergency opening of the gullwing doors in the event that the car comes to rest on its shiny lid post-accident. Besides surviving the two-foot drop onto its roof remarkably intact, the car's doors pop open when triggered and are easily removed. The pop-open doors are presumably a feature that would be activated automatically in the event of a real crash to allow the occupants to escape. [YouTube via RPMGo] Read More

It's almost a given that modern cars from the major carmakers will be built and designed to achieve maximal crash safety ratings - especially brand-leaders like the new 2010 Chevrolet Camaro, right? Well, not quite, it seems, as the new muscle car has managed just 4 of 5 stars thanks to below-expected frontal impact scores.

Side and rollover testing still secured 5-star ratings, but the car's front impact 4-star rating dragged down the overall result. Copmared to the Camaro's main rival, the 2010 Ford Mustang, that's a major blow, as the Blue Oval product secured five stars in all tests.

Comparing the numbers tells an even darker story for... It's almost a given that modern cars from the major carmakers will be built and designed to achieve maximal crash safety ratings - especially brand-leaders like the new 2010 Chevrolet Camaro, right? Well, not quite, it seems, as the new muscle car has managed just 4 of 5 stars thanks to below-expected frontal impact scores. Side and rollover testing still secured 5-star ratings, but the car's front impact 4-star rating dragged down the overall result. Copmared to the Camaro's main rival, the 2010 Ford Mustang, that's a major blow, as the Blue Oval product secured five stars in all tests. Comparing the numbers tells an even darker story for the Camaro, as the Mustang scored 457 head injury criterion for the driver and 379 for the passenger, versus 661 and 626 respectively for the Camaro. Chest deceleration figures were equally biased against the Camaro, which scored 53 g for the driver and 49 g for the passenger against the Mustang's much less strenuous 34 g and 40 g chest loads. Finally, the Camaro placed a load of 908 lb and 866 lb on the driver's left and right legs, compared to 478 lb and 551 lb for the Mustang's driver. Those figures reflect pretty intuitively just how much more severe the same impact would feel in the Camaro. Click through to the government's Safercar site below to see video of the Camaro's crash testing for yourself. [Safercar.gov via Jalopnik]2010 Chevrolet Camaro Official Photos Read More

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) today released its annual list of vehicles that had earned the agency’s coveted 'Top Safety Pick' award, revealing that some major milestones had been achieved. According to the president of the IIHS, Adrian Lund, "Top Safety Pick winners are the top performers in tough front, side, and rear crash tests, and they have electronic stability control, a crucial technology that can help drivers avoid many crashes altogether.”

While Ford topped the list with 16 of its vehicles being included, the real celebrations would have been taking place over at Acura. The premium Honda subsidiary... The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) today released its annual list of vehicles that had earned the agency’s coveted 'Top Safety Pick' award, revealing that some major milestones had been achieved. According to the president of the IIHS, Adrian Lund, "Top Safety Pick winners are the top performers in tough front, side, and rear crash tests, and they have electronic stability control, a crucial technology that can help drivers avoid many crashes altogether.” While Ford topped the list with 16 of its vehicles being included, the real celebrations would have been taking place over at Acura. The premium Honda subsidiary garnered a 'Top Safety Pick' for every vehicle in its lineup, while the entire Honda group managed to get 13 of its vehicles into the list. One notable brand missing from the list was Lexus, who along with Infiniti, found many of its vehicles' head and seat restraints were inadequate to achieve the award. Like Lexus, Chrysler also did not get a single vehicle on to the list. Both Toyota and General Motors had eight vehicles on the list, but their focus on less expensive vehicles made it difficult to include advanced safety features as standard on cheaper models. A total of 72 cars were on the list, and a large number of these were in the SUV or large car category, however one notable exception to this rule was the Honda Fit (Jazz). As the only subcompact on the list, the Fit managed to shatter the myth that size equals safety, although the lack of other minicars indicates that it is difficult for carmakers to make these cars safe when the profit margins are already so slim. The large number of offerings from Detroit indicate that new safety technology is hitting its mark, and the disappointing result from Chrysler was said to have been avoidable had some of their cars had better head restraints. Meanwhile, Ford now claims that the results show that American cars can compete with Japanese and European cars when it comes to safety. The full lineup of Top Safety Pick winners is listed below: Large cars Acura RL Audi A6 Cadillac CTS Ford Taurus Lincoln MKS Mercury Sable Toyota Avalon Volvo S80 Midsize cars Acura TL Acura TSX Audi A3 Audi A4 BMW 3-Series (4-door) Ford Fusion (with optional ESC) Honda Accord (4-door) Mercedes C Class Mercury Milan (with optional ESC) Saab 9-3 Subaru Legacy Volkswagen Jetta Volkswagen Passat Midsize convertibles Saab 9-3 Volkswagen Eos Volvo C70 Small cars Honda Civic (4-door with optional ESC, except Si) Mitsubishi Lancer (with optional ESC) Scion xB Subaru Impreza (with optional ESC) Toyota Corolla (with optional ESC) Volkswagen Rabbit (4-door) Minicars Honda Fit (with optional ESC) Minivans Honda Odyssey Hyundai Entourage Kia Sedona Large SUVs Audi Q7 Buick Enclave Chevrolet Traverse GMC Acadia Saturn Outlook Midsize SUVs Acura MDX Acura RDX BMW X3 BMW X5 Ford Edge Ford Flex Ford Taurus X Honda Pilot Hyundai Santa Fe Hyundai Veracruz Infiniti EX35 Lincoln MKX Mercedes-Benz M Class Nissan Murano Saturn Vue Subaru Tribeca Toyota FJ Cruiser Toyota Highlander Volvo XC90 Small SUVs Ford Escape Honda CR-V Honda Element Mazda Tribute Mercury Mariner Mitsubishi Outlander Nissan Rogue Subaru Forester Toyota RAV4 Volkswagen Tiguan Large Pickups Ford F-150 Honda Ridgeline Toyota Tundra Small Pickups Toyota Tacoma Read More