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Small car versus big car: How old-fashioned design fails miserably in a collision
In vehicle safety testing, collision testing has become an important means to ensure passenger safety. By simulating various crash scenarios, engineers can evaluate how older car designs perform under modern safety standards, especially in collisions between small cars and large cars, where the disadvantages of older car designs are clearly revealed.
Crash tests measure how well a car protects its occupants in an accident, and this can vary significantly between designs from different generations.
Basic types of collision tests
Crash tests are usually divided into several types, including front crash tests, partial overlap crash tests, small overlap crash tests and side crash tests. Each type of test simulates situations that might occur in a real collision to ensure the safety and reliability of the vehicle design.
Collision between small and large vehicles is not equal
With the popularity of SUVs and large sedans, small cars often suffer in crash tests against similar or larger vehicles. Whether it is the distribution of collision force or the strength of the structure, small cars can hardly compare with large cars. This is particularly true in large-scale crash tests, where older models simply don't win.
For example, some older vehicle designs perform poorly in frontal crash tests because their structures are unable to effectively absorb the energy of a crash, putting passengers at high risk.
Consumer Response
According to historical data, a car's crash safety rating is critical to consumer choice. For example, in 1998 the Rover 100 received a one-star rating in the EURO NCAP test, which led to a sharp drop in sales and the early retirement of this 18-year-old model. In 2005, the Daewoo Kalos was heavily criticized by the market for only receiving a two-star rating, and ultimately failed to recover its sales.
Apply advanced technology
Due to the high cost of full-scale crash tests, more and more automakers are choosing to use computer models for simulation tests. This not only saves budget, but also allows the performance in different collision scenarios to be predicted during the design phase. As technology improves, these simulations can provide more accurate data, helping engineers continually improve their designs.
In addition to traditional collision tests, track tests and dynamic rollover tests have also become emerging testing methods to more comprehensively evaluate the safety performance of vehicles.
Summary and reflections
As people pay more attention to and demand more vehicle safety, modern automotive technology must continue to innovate to adapt to the market. The fragility of older car designs in crash tests clearly reflects the need for technological advancement. What we must consider is how future vehicle designs should balance safety performance and user experience, and how consumers should make wise choices?
