VX Commodore Improved Side Impact Protection
Holden has announced a claimed advancement in vehicle safety design that reduces the risk of serious injury in side impact crashes. Using data derived from a major crash investigation program that tackles the problem of side impact injury, Holden safety engineers have developed a unique side structure design which changes the impact velocity profile of the deforming structure, providing car occupants with better protection.
The improved side structure design will be incorporated in the new VX model Commodore, on sale later this year.
Laurie Sparke, Holden's Manager, Advanced Engineering, says although side impact crashes in Australia occur much less often than frontal crashes, they cause almost as many serious injuries and fatalities.
"A side impact collision is more violent because the occupant is immediately struck by the door and the incoming car - whereas in a frontal collision, you have the protection of a large front structure that can absorb crash energy," he said. "It's a technically complex challenge to design a vehicle that gives the best protection possible in a side impact crash. We're fortunate that our long-term collaboration with the Monash University Accident Research Centre (MUARC) has yielded so much valuable data on side impact crashes in this country. We now know, for instance, how severe they are, how often they happen, precisely what kinds of injuries they cause and what long term effects those injuries have."
"Essentially, Holden has designed a side pillar that deforms in a certain way when impacted, changing the velocity profile of the loading on the occupant. As a consequence, the risk of injury to the more vulnerable areas of the body - the head, neck and chest - is measurably reduced," Laurie Sparke said.
Holden is involved in a $1.44 million, four-year Improved Side Impact Protection research project, commenced in 1997 and conducted in conjunction with the Federal Office of Road Safety, MUARC, the Australian Automobile Association and Autoliv Australia.
Initial research findings prompted Holden's introduction, in 1998, of a side impact airbag system, which is unique in that it deploys in two stages, guarding against head and neck injury as well as chest injury. The advanced side pillar structural design to be incorporated in upcoming Commodore models represents the most recent incorporation of research data, and future learning will continue to flow into Holden vehicle design.
The knowledge gained from the Improved Side Impact Protection research project is publicly available and its work is supported and utilised by an international panel of safety researchers.
Critical tools developed include a world-first Harm matrix for quantifying the cost of side impact injuries by body region, ensuring that protection is focused on the most important areas. Another world-first is the development of Injury Assessment Functions for lateral impact loading, which relate side impact injuries to measurable engineering parameters.
Supercharged AMG C-class
Mercedes-AMG has announced details of its awesome, yet to be launched C 32 AMG C-class. The car will arrive in Australian showrooms in mid-2001. Equipped with a compressor-type supercharger, the 3.2-litre V6 engine generates 260kW, with the maximum torque of 450Nm achieved at 4400 rpm. But the peak torque is only part of the story: the torque band of the supercharged six-cylinder engine is equally impressive. Over 400Nm of torque is available at just 2300 rpm and remains on tap right up to the rated speed of 6100 rpm. The C 32 AMG accelerates to 100 km/h in just 5.2 seconds and has a maximum speed of 250 km/h (electronically limited).
The Mercedes-Benz C 32 AMG delivers its formidable power via a five-speed automatic transmission with tip-shift. Specially enhanced shift points (courtesy of the Mercedes-AMG engineers) make for faster selection in all speed ranges.
The specially retuned chassis provides sporty handling with a high level of comfort. Major differences compared with the suspension set-up on the C 320 include retuned spring-damper units all round and a body which is approximately 30mm lower at the front and rear axles. Precise road contact is taken care of by 17-inch AMG light alloy wheels (7.5 inches wide at the front and 8.5 inches wide at the rear). The new C 32 AMG features 225/45 R 17 tires at the front and 245/40 R 17 rubber at the rear, while the newly developed AMG braking system uses 345 x 30 mm internally ventilated perforated disk brakes at the front and 300 x 22 mm internally ventilated disc brakes at the rear.
Record Busters
No.31 in a series of 52 interesting facts about Ford Australia to celebrate its 75th Anniversary Year
Ford V8 cars were among the fastest and most reliable and affordable cars during the decade of the 1930s and were the obvious choice for drivers who wanted to set or break inter-city records.
D.J. Sutherland and Flight-Lieutenant J. R. Balmer set a number of records in a 1934 Ford V8 in a marathon dash of 9,600km from Melbourne to Darwin. They did it in five days, 20 hours and 53 minutes - a rather blistering pace when you consider the state of the roads in those days! To prove a point, they turned around and drove back to Melbourne - covering the distance in just over seven days. On the return journey they were bogged several times in salt pans!
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21st Century Performance Shines
The high performance modification manual - 21st Century Performance - written by AutoSpeed's editor, Julian Edgar, has been receiving extremely positive reviews. Street Machine magazine said that it "goes for the technical jugular swiftly" and "covers a lot of ground, starting from fundamental theory to affordable modifications and home-grown budget how tos." The magazine said "its quality is light years ahead of the common 'photocopied cardboard' looks typical of similar-style publications that the public is expected to swallow", and that it's "a comprehensive guide to the anatomy of local performance hardware (that) should spark inspiration for both beginners and veterans alike." The review in Performance Build-Ups magazine included lines such as "Edgar takes readers through the basics of each subject and then effortlessly (almost) introduces more advanced aspects as you progress through the chapter", and "no matter what criteria you use, this book would have to be on the (buying) shortlist". The review concluded: "There's only one thing wrong with this book: I didn't write it!".
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Position Vacant: Staff Writer/Photographer
AutoSpeed has available a full-time position for a writer/photographer. The job task involves the preparation of Feature Car stories, Special Features and New Car Tests for www.autospeed.com.
This is a unique opportunity to be at the forefront of automotive media, joining a publication that is experiencing phenomenal growth rates and is already easily the most popular modified car site in Australia.
The chosen applicant will:
- Have a wide knowledge of new, used and modified cars, especially from an Australian perspective
- Have excellent written English skills
- Have excellent personal and presentation skills
- Be competent in photography using digital and/or film cameras
- Have excellent skills in finding and assembling information
- Have a good working knowledge of word and image processing PC software
- Be equipped with a PC and good Internet connection
- Have a proven track record of success in an endeavour
- Have a full driver's license
- Be prepared to attend afterhours motorsport events and shows
- Take pride in the accuracy and detail of their work
- Be self-disciplined and responsible
- Be able to work without direct supervision
- Be able to work under pressure, meeting strict, frequent deadlines
- Be prepared to travel both nationally and internationally
- The potential for job advancement is high.
Applicants should send a full resume to:
AutoSpeed
PO Box 175
O'Halloran Hill
5158
South Australia
Inquiries can be directed to editor@autospeed.com
Quickies
- Suspension specialist Whiteline has upgraded their web site. Now included are: new "funnies", an update to the "Sounds like...." competition, release of heavy duty rear swaybar mounting kits for Subaru, carbon fibre look strut braces for Subaru, and a drop in price of the strut brace range. www.whiteline.com.au
- In an amazing backflip, Mitsubishi Motors Australia now state that in fact some Australian-delivered cars are subject to the massive Japanese recall. Mitsubishi Motors' Australian Managing Director, Mr. Tom Phillips, has said that further checking in Japan had revealed that the reported Pajero brake hose problem had already been the subject of a recall in Australia. Approximately 80% of owners have already had their cars fixed since being first notified in July 1996. The Lancer/Mirage crankshaft pulley bolt problem has also previously been actioned in Australia. However, it had been treated as a field service fix, and of the 10,600 Australian cars, 50% have been rectified since the campaign first commenced in December 1997. As a result of this new announcement, this will now be treated as a recall, and the normal follow-up procedure implemented with the outstanding affected owners. It has also come to light that approximately 2,000 Galants sold in Australia will be subject to a recall because of a possible problem with the lower suspension arm. The normal recall procedure will be implemented and the owners of affected vehicles will be notified.
- According to the NRMA study on Vehicle Operating Costs released in June 2000, the Daewoo Nubira offers the best value for money in operating costs in the Small Car class.
Since the recent introduction of lead replacement and high octane unleaded fuels in Australia, we have heard a constant stream of rumours that some cars are quite unhappy on the new fuels. As when making any tuning change, it's wise to assess the affects of the fuel on the engine behaviour before caning the engine.....
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