> The latest (2007>) Smart ForTwo gained a four star rating in the
> European NCAP tests. =A0This rating indicates a very high degree of
> protection for vehicle occupants.
>
> The earlier model performed less well but still gained three stars.
>
> A careful look at this video of the actual NCAP test will tell you
> that the Smart ForTwo does indeed have a crumple zone. =A0The 2007 model
> is about 4.5 inches (112mm) longer than the earlier model and all of
> this additional length is at the front of the car, accounting for the
> improved performance and a four star rating:
I did not know about the new longer crumple zone. I am going solely
off the crash tests that I have seen done with the smart car, and am
not sure which generation I saw.
One thing I just noticed that I did not specify in my earlier
statement is that I am talking about high speed crashes. That is where
high levels of acceleration, (or deceleration if you 'd like to think
of it as that) matter.
In the Smart the safety cage stays remarkably and impressively intact.
It actually performs better than most cars. However, doing the math
shows that even using a uniform deceleration--which is ideal,
unrealistic, and definitely best case scenario--still yields a high
deceleration experienced by the passengers. Simple physics can't be
denied. It really is as simple as dividing the velocity at the
beginning of the crash by the amount of time that the body is
decelerating. This gives the deceleration (technically it is referred
to as an acceleration.) This time is a function of how far the body is
allowed to move after the crash, which for most cars is a function of
how far it crushes. Technically the smart gives you a little more
since the shoulder belts give.(This doesn't help for abdominal
injuries though.)
The mass of the Smart works against it for head-on collisions. In most
situations, unless the smart is going siginficantly faster, it means
that the smart will move backwards following the crash. It won't just
be the acceleration of stopping the car, but the car will experience
the acceleration of the car gaining velocity in the rearward
direction.
Even though the cage stays intact, and the belt tensioners allow some
give to the shoulder belt, which lessens the jolt to the torso, there
is still going to be a higher chance of casulaties at high speeds than
a car that has more crumple zone.
So while it is impressive,and I'd even be willing to experience a
crash in one at up to say 25 mph, I doubt a crash is surviveable at
much over 45.
Look at this video.
http://crashtestvideos.magnify.net/item/LS8J2JD0GR5D9RQK
Is that with the new one or the old one?
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