Crash Testing?

[voyager]

Have the Elio driver sit in an oversized beanbag... that can function as the rear-passenger's 'airbag'...

 

[bunchathrees]

The Elio now comes with a 5 point harness equipped bean bag. I can see that. I'd buy that.

 

[AriLea]

Then why do they show them in car commercials? I always thought it showed "Look at how safe this vehicle is! See the airbags going off? Must be safe!"

But really, I just love watching things smash, and I'd love to see the Elio crunching in a "I won't die in that thing" kind of way.

One tactic is to do only existing models, not a new model. Unless on the balance of things the press time is worth it.

They are indeed very carefull on how these things are presented.

I should mention, in the past it was a very big problem as cars modernized. The old heavy land-yahts didn't always show as much damage as newer vehicles because crush-zone were detirmined to save lives. When with out a verbal explination of just the images would convince the public that old and heavy was safer, When in fact cushed and mangeled was much-much safer. The Viking 6 vehicle I worked on was to show a high-mileage car could be safe. It beat the safety of all production consumer vehicles at the time exhibiting very nicely how crush was better than sturdy. It had 24in of plastic foam in the nose.

 

[electroken]

50 years of safety engineering: 1959 Chevy Bel Air vs. 2009 Chevy Malibu in a 50% offset crash test:

 

[DigitalDan]

The dummy in the Bel Air is hurtin' for certain. Most likely dead. The dummy in the Malibu probably walks away.

 

[jessemck]

Wow, they don't make 'em like they used too!!!!

 

[Sethodine]

Wow, look at that! Almost no intrusion into the Malibu's seating area!

 

[Coss]

What a shame, that 59 was in good shape before they turned it into scrap. (Even though it was a 4 door).
On the 59, you could probably save from the parcel shelf back and turn it into a couch

 

[Ekh]

I wrecked ours. Separated my shoulder permanently which kept me out of vietnam. Thank you Chevy!

 

[bunchathrees]

I wrecked ours. Separated my shoulder permanently which kept me out of vietnam. Thank you Chevy!

I don't know if you've had the opportunity to travel there for pleasure in the intervening years, but you'd absolutely love Halong Bay.