samoht
September 3rd, 2022, 01:55 PM
...because many Americans still get behind the wheel without wearing a seat-belt.
At least, that's according to David Twohig, who was the chief engineer. He's just posted a piece on The Intercooler (https://www.the-intercooler.com/library/features/how-to-lose-weight-part-one/) (paywall) talking about weight reduction and using this question as a case in point.
Basically, the mandatory US Federal safety standards include tests where the front occupants are not wearing seat-belts.
To pass them, the whole front end of the car needs to be designed to absorb the crash deceleration more slowly, while the larger airbags ensure the passengers are caught 'like a baseball glove' into them. Conversely in Europe, it's assumed the occupants are belted up, pre-tensioners cinch them down into the seat, and the crash protection can revolve around the assumption that the driver remains firmly attached to their seat.
David suggests that the A110 would have needed to be 'more than 80kg' heavier to pass US crash tests, perhaps getting on for 10% more added to the 1100kg Alpine. This is a very significant difference, and would have compromised the lightweight ethos.
Anyway, I thought it was interesting to hear this from the horse's mouth, so to speak, and surprising that the difference in crash test standards makes such a significant difference to the whole car - I thought it was just a matter of installing slightly larger airbags and job done, but it's clearly a much more far-reaching challenge to meet.
I don't necessarily know that every car is 10% heavier than it need otherwise be solely to protect unbelted occupants from flying through the windscreen, or whether it's just very lightweight cars like the A110.
Incidentally The Intercooler are posting some really good stories, David Twohig who did the Qashqai, Zoe and Alpine, Ian Callum who styled a number of great British cars of the last couple of decades, as well as my long-time fave Henry Catchpole. But I can understand if £5/month may not be an attractive price.
At least, that's according to David Twohig, who was the chief engineer. He's just posted a piece on The Intercooler (https://www.the-intercooler.com/library/features/how-to-lose-weight-part-one/) (paywall) talking about weight reduction and using this question as a case in point.
Basically, the mandatory US Federal safety standards include tests where the front occupants are not wearing seat-belts.
To pass them, the whole front end of the car needs to be designed to absorb the crash deceleration more slowly, while the larger airbags ensure the passengers are caught 'like a baseball glove' into them. Conversely in Europe, it's assumed the occupants are belted up, pre-tensioners cinch them down into the seat, and the crash protection can revolve around the assumption that the driver remains firmly attached to their seat.
David suggests that the A110 would have needed to be 'more than 80kg' heavier to pass US crash tests, perhaps getting on for 10% more added to the 1100kg Alpine. This is a very significant difference, and would have compromised the lightweight ethos.
Anyway, I thought it was interesting to hear this from the horse's mouth, so to speak, and surprising that the difference in crash test standards makes such a significant difference to the whole car - I thought it was just a matter of installing slightly larger airbags and job done, but it's clearly a much more far-reaching challenge to meet.
I don't necessarily know that every car is 10% heavier than it need otherwise be solely to protect unbelted occupants from flying through the windscreen, or whether it's just very lightweight cars like the A110.
Incidentally The Intercooler are posting some really good stories, David Twohig who did the Qashqai, Zoe and Alpine, Ian Callum who styled a number of great British cars of the last couple of decades, as well as my long-time fave Henry Catchpole. But I can understand if £5/month may not be an attractive price.