Car Crash Test

[hungdynasty]

First watch this if you haven't

Crash Test

Question. Do car manufacturers need to send their cars to pass this kind of test(in america and europe) before they put those cars on market?

I also wonder how about for those small number and independent manufacturers like Lotus, Ferrari, Aston Martin......., so far I have never seen any crash test on those cars.

 

[Kestas]

It depends. Some cars are manufactured to american standards and sold throughout the world. As long as the foreign standards don't exceed american standards, the car is sold as is.

Some automakers tweak the manufacturing of their cars to take advantage of the less rigorous standards in other countries to reduce manufacturing costs.

Conversely, foreign cars must meet american crash standards in order to be sold in the US. Not all cars are created equal. Some are better than others. The question remains, "What are these standards?" I don't have the detailed answer. I believe one standard is that a 150-lb unbelted adult must survive a 30 mph frontal collision. Dummies (which are now very expensive units) are calibrated to determine what is "survivable".

I'm guessing that some cars are exempt from certain standards, such as those with very low production volumes. Otherwise, people with the '32 Ford street rod or '66 Cobra reproduction couldn't get their cars titled for use on public roads. Perhaps the exotic sports cars come under this exemption.

The moral of the story from the video is that the car's value does not necessarily reflect its level of safety. For example, the old Taurus/Sable is underappreciated by the public as a safe vehicle.

 

[MrCritical]

I think most kit cars get by being registered as "used cars" because their frame comes from a mustang or whatever.

My understanding that no matter how exotic or expensive the new cars must pass the crash test to be sold here. Hence there are several models not available in the U.S.

 

[Lonnie]

That read splotch did not look good, ouch!

 

[9c1]

In spite of what the folks publicizing those tests might want you to believe -- those are NOT government tests.
Note that they are the National Institute for Highway Safety. That is a private group funded by the insurance industry. Their agenda is to reduce insurance expenses -- medical and auto repair. They regularly run tests that are more severe than the government requires -- then highly publicize the winners and losers.
You have to decide how relevant their tests are to your safety, and how much meeting their test standards might add to the weight and cost of operating an automobile. They do lobby government officials for reduced costs of accidents. Their goals may, or may not, be the same as your goals.

 

[Lonnie]

If I were going to spend the money for an upmarket sedan like those that tested, I would skip the BMW just because it failed to perform up to the standards of its peers.