[StylinRed]

Luxury cars flunk new tougher crash test (http://www.abc15.com/dpp/news/national/luxury-cars-flunk-new-tougher-crash-test)

Luxury cars flunk new tougher crash test

NEW YORK -

For years, cars have been doing better and better in crash tests. Now, a tough new test by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has given a black eye to a number of luxury and near-luxury automakers.

Of 11 models tested, eight flunked a new test which is designed to mimic the most dangerous sort of frontal crash -- when a vehicle strikes another car or an object, such as a tree, with just a small portion of the front bumper.

Virtually all new cars in recent years have earned good ratings from the privately funded IIHS' crash tests, as automakers have worked to improve safety. So the IIHS created the new tougher test which is known as the "small overlap" impact.

"Nearly every new car performs well in other frontal crash tests conducted by the Institute and the federal government, but we still see more than 10,000 deaths in frontal crashes each year," Institute president Adrian Lund said.

In the new front crash test, the vehicle, traveling at a speed of 40 miles per hour, hits a barrier with just a quarter of the driver's side bumper, concentrating the impact force in a small area and causing the vehicle to spin.

About a quarter of the serious and fatal injuries seen each year are caused by "small overlap" impacts, according to the Institute. These crashes can also cause severe foot and leg injuries as the car's front wheel is pushed back into passenger compartment.

The smaller impact area makes it harder for the car's steel structures to spread impact forces around the driver. The spinning motion after the impact also makes it harder for the car's airbags to protect occupants from hitting parts of the car's interior.

In current front impact tests, which will still be used along with the new test, 40% of the car's front bumper strikes the barrier. Financed by auto insurers the IIHS performs a regimen of crash tests that's different from tests performed by government safety regulators.

In the most recent round of IIHS results only Honda's Acura TL and Volvo S60 earned the Institute's top rating of "good." Nissan's Infiniti G earned a rating of " Acceptable." The Acura TSX, BMW 3-series, Ford's Lincoln MKZ and Volkswagen CC earned a rating of "marginal," the second-worst of four possible ratings.

The Mercedes-Benz C-class, Lexus IS and ES and the Audi A4 earned the worst rating, "poor," in the new test.

Most automakers with models that performed poorly in the tests pointed out that their cars still meet all federal safety standards and have done well in other crash tests. Automakers also pledged to work to do better in the test with future models.

"With this new test, the Institute has raised the bar again and we will respond to this challenge as we design new vehicles," said Brian Lyons, a spokesman for Toyota Motor Sales, USA, which sells Lexus vehicles.

Mercedes-Benz objected to the new test.

"As a leader in automotive safety, we have full confidence in the protection that the C-Class affords its occupants -- and less confidence in any test that doesn't reflect that," the German automaker said in a statement.

[SpeedStars]

2012 Lexus IS 250/350 small overlap test - YouTube

There's the vid of the IS250 crashing during the small overlap crash test. At 40MPH, the front frame literally bent. Totally unsafe.

[smoothie.]

HOLY CRAP.

Shouldn't they release this stuff before the cars are sold?

[EvoFire]

I don't think many cars will fair well in that test, especially if we are talking about hitting the corner of the car dead straight. If we are going to go there, then most cars will weigh significantly more, which means you once again have to beef up the impact structures some more. Its kind of never ending.

Also I don't think that test is representative of real life impacts. First its rare to have a dead straight accident on the corner, then the issue of hitting a completely immobile object. Other than trees I don't think there are many unmovable objects to hit on the road.

[inv4zn]

As a consumer, on one hand it's great that they're constantly updating test standards to allow safer vehicles on the road, but also know that these are driving up the costs of vehicles.

If I were an automaker I would hate the IIHS lol

[BaoTurbo]

Holy, that wall just shredded the whole chunk of the driver side. I feel bad for the dummy :okay:

[CP.AR]

volvo :troll:
That'll buff right out no problems, just drive her home and the dents will pop out sooner or later
because volvo

http://youtu.be/P93ZMcwX0ag

[yray]

we are gonna bubble cars when we die :lawl:

[c3m]

HOLY CRAP.

Shouldn't they release this stuff before the cars are sold?

I think they randomly buy one from the normal production. That way automakers can't cheat and beef up everything for the test and then cheap out on the production.

[GLOW]

"As a leader in automotive safety, we have full confidence in the protection that the C-Class affords its occupants — and less confidence in any test that doesn't reflect that," Mercedes said in a statement.

"With this new test, the Institute has raised the bar again and we will respond to this challenge as we design new vehicles," Toyota said

sounds like one says :fuckthatshit: and the other :accepted:

[ilvtofu]

Seems like where the wheel ends up plays a large role in the rating of the cars

Damn, C Class looks considerably stronger than the IS but still a poor rating from IIHS.
The A pillar held it's shape better than any of the other cars IMO.
2012 Mercedes C class small overlap test - YouTube

On the "acceptable" G you can actually see the wheel break right off,

The wheel pretty much came off the TL and almost tore the door off but it gets a good rating. I guess with the wheel flying out it doesn't push into the cabin like the C Class
2012 Acura TL small overlap test - YouTube

Same with the S60 where you can see it fly off and continue to roll. Instead of just folding the hood also came off and slid up the A pillar/window
2012 Volvo S60 small overlap test - YouTube

[StylinRed]

I don't think many cars will fair well in that test, especially if we are talking about hitting the corner of the car dead straight. If we are going to go there, then most cars will weigh significantly more, which means you once again have to beef up the impact structures some more. Its kind of never ending.

Also I don't think that test is representative of real life impacts. First its rare to have a dead straight accident on the corner, then the issue of hitting a completely immobile object. Other than trees I don't think there are many unmovable objects to hit on the road.



cnn just talked about it and noted a double digit percentage of accidents happen this way

cant recall what that number is though

[too_slow]

Not surprised @ the Volvo results; am pleasantly surprised by the Acura's score.

Holy f*ck @ Lexus.. My parents were considering a CPO IS350 CPO, maybe I should show them that video

[Harvey Specter]

Wow, some of the videos are shocking to be honest with you guys. I would expect better for cars in this price range.


This is how the cars should hold up;

2009 BMW 7-Series CRASH TEST - YouTube

CRASH TEST SLS AMG - YouTube

CRASH TEST Mercedes S-Class - YouTube

And be glad we're not driving chinese made cars...yet;

Crashtest Comparison: German vs. Chinese Cars - YouTube

[dru]

Anyone else notice that the three 'best' ranking (S60, TL, and G) all had side curtain airbags? The 3-series had them as well, but ranked poorly.

[hirevtuner]

so you are pretty much dead in the chinese built car in event of an accident
should be kill the car maker but not the driver

[AstulzerRZD]

Damn. As if today's A-Pillars weren't already thick enough...
At the same time, I reckon that this test would be a worst case scenario

[Rikaro]

Wow, some of the videos are shocking to be honest with you guys. I would expect better for cars in this price range.


hmm the video you've shown are not really the same kind of tests. Most of those cars failing the small overlap tests are fine with the normal tests when the crash area is covering a bigger frontal area.

[Harvey Specter]

I find it odd that a few years back most of these cars were passing these safety tests without any major issues, we're now approaching 2013 and all of a sudden the quality has gone straight down. I guess to save money car manufacturers are skimming on things the consumer can't physically see like overall build quality.

[SkunkWorks]

Crazy how the entire steering column completely shifts over and the dummy nearly misses the airbag in the CC.

2012 Volkswagen CC small overlap test - YouTube

[Harvey Specter]

hmm the video you've shown are not really the same kind of tests. Most of those cars failing the small overlap tests are fine with the normal tests when the crash area is covering a bigger frontal area.

My bad.

[RabidRat]

I wonder how non-luxury vehicles did in these tests, like Ford Focus, Nissan Sentra, Mazda 3. Like if they're comparable or not even close.

[satek]

means cars will be heavier in the future....that blows.

[belaud]

Reminds me of this :lawl:

Chinese car crash test failure - YouTube

[radioman]

Watching all these video made me curious about my own car.

This is the only video I could find

2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe NCAP Frontal Impact (New NHTSA Test) - YouTube

Trying to find more.

[RRxtar]

havent watched all the vids but seems like the cars that glance off the object (volvo, TL) rate better than the ones that get hung up and jam into them to a dead stop. not much surprize in that. but interesting how it happens

[mb_]

They should have done a smart car. :lawl: :joy:

[nabs]

pretty good for my car.

Crash Test 2005 - 2008 Acura TSX / Honda Accord IIHS - YouTube

[radioman]

wow no glass broke like the genesis but they're different tests.

Looks solid.

[!Aznboi128]

Nabs if you look at the video of the 1st page you can see those cars are hitting only 20% on the front. It's basically where the headlight is. Your tsx video is 50%, much different

[supremematt85]

HOLY CRAP.

Shouldn't they release this stuff before the cars are sold?

I think they randomly buy one from the normal production. That way automakers can't cheat and beef up everything for the test and then cheap out on the production.

Not surprised @ the Volvo results; am pleasantly surprised by the Acura's score.

Holy f*ck @ Lexus.. My parents were considering a CPO IS350 CPO, maybe I should show them that video

Wow, some of the videos are shocking to be honest with you guys. I would expect better for cars in this price range.


This is how the cars should hold up;

2009 BMW 7-Series CRASH TEST - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Fm1C8VDbMo)

CRASH TEST SLS AMG - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SJbq7Xnpvc)

CRASH TEST Mercedes S-Class - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9heu7-iWZuo&)

And be glad we're not driving chinese made cars...yet;

Crashtest Comparison: German vs. Chinese Cars - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ULm6QrC428)

I find it odd that a few years back most of these cars were passing these safety tests without any major issues, we're now approaching 2013 and all of a sudden the quality has gone straight down. I guess to save money car manufacturers are skimming on things the consumer can't physically see like overall build quality.

NEW TEST, people are surprised shit doesn't pass


oh god no

please

help


Also did they point out that its going to take 5-10 years to develop a proper way to pass the test in these cars.

[Vege]

My accident in a IS250 a few years ago. It was a slightly off centered head on collision on Marine Drive just before boundary around the blind slight curve. The Matrix was speeding and lost control into oncoming traffic which happened to be me. I walked away from the accident with only a broken collar bone. The driver of the Matrix had two broken legs. I wouldn't hesitate to buy another IS.

[asian_XL]

overlap test? how about this? we need roll rage for every single car.

BTW, driver and co-driver only suffer minor injury

Jeremy Foley Goes Over Cliff On Pikes Peak(Full Uncut Version) - YouTube

[nack]

Crash Test 2004 - 2009 Lexus RX 330 , 350 , 400h / Toyota Harrier IIHS - YouTube

:awwyeah:

[GLOW]

My accident in a IS250 a few years ago. It was a slightly off centered head on collision on Marine Drive just before boundary around the blind slight curve. The Matrix was speeding and lost control into oncoming traffic which happened to be me. I walked away from the accident with only a broken collar bone. The driver of the Matrix had two broken legs. I wouldn't hesitate to buy another IS.

i remember my coworker sending that pic to me and telling that same story how the matrix guy had broken legs. my coworker had an IS250 too :)

[Harvey Specter]

Reminds me of this :lawl:

Chinese car crash test failure - YouTube (http://youtu.be/g5SRyG6UR2A)

Lol, wow.

[EvoFire]

cnn just talked about it and noted a double digit percentage of accidents happen this way

cant recall what that number is though

That I have no clue about, thus I'll take your word for it.

Wow, some of the videos are shocking to be honest with you guys. I would expect better for cars in this price range.


This is how the cars should hold up;

2009 BMW 7-Series CRASH TEST - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Fm1C8VDbMo)

CRASH TEST SLS AMG - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SJbq7Xnpvc)

CRASH TEST Mercedes S-Class - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9heu7-iWZuo&)

And be glad we're not driving chinese made cars...yet;

Crashtest Comparison: German vs. Chinese Cars - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ULm6QrC428)

Those are not the same tests. The ones you posted of are offset tests where the contact point is roughly 50% of the frontal area of the car. Between 20 and 50% is going to make a difference. We are talking about putting the same amount of force on an area that is less than half in size. Also the reason why bullets do so much damage while being so small.

I don't think Chinese cars will fly well here anyways. Thing is Chinese people probably won't buy it themselves :fullofwin:

Anyone else notice that the three 'best' ranking (S60, TL, and G) all had side curtain airbags? The 3-series had them as well, but ranked poorly.

It deflects the hit instead of absorbing it, kinda like trying to punch you the face but instead I miss and my fist slides off. But I would argue that you have a good chance of hitting something else pretty hard when it does that. Crash tests are in no way a real indication of what happens in real life. See my previous post about the miniscule chances of hitting something on the corner of your car dead straight and that something is an unmovable object.

[CP.AR]

I FEEL SAFE NAO

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ScLSNK_V7g