Yahoo Autos Watching Volvo's Crash Tests is Oddly Satisfying
Almost four years ago, I was in Gothenburg, Sweden at Volvo's crash test center. There, they literally drove an XC90 prototype into a deep ditch right in front of us, at high speed-for science, and not for the first time. In fact, before the then-new XC90 hit the streets, Volvo had crashed over a hundred physical test cars, while also completing about 30,000 simulations using 3D animation and purpose-built robots.
While a lot of effort has been made across the board recently to make modern cars a whole lot safer, let's not forget that the products also got bigger and heavier in many cases. And since the laws of physics haven't changed, for Volvo, crash avoidance is the number one priority, with high-strength steel being the second line of defense.
What's the 2019 Volvo V60? It's the mid-size wagon many have been waiting for since Volvo's rebirth. It's also a family car that will laugh at a 25-percent-offset frontal impact at 40 mph, sacrificing a wheel to protect you.
Watch the video on YouTube here.
Than, there's the sister product, the new S60 sedan revealed just yesterday. Volvo calls it a sports sedan, which is something new for their core lineup. It's also their first car built in the United States.
Now, let's say you come to a halt with your Volvo sports sedan, and a deformable barrier hits you with 70 percent of its might at 55 miles per hour. Unpleasant, to say the least. But will the expereince break your neck? No. Will it compromise your fuel tank? Nope. Will it fold the roof into the passenger cell? No way.
High-strength steel. For the jobs computers can't do.
Watch the video on YouTube here.
You Might Also Like
