Shocker: Tiny Cars Cannot Defeat the Laws of Physics

Cal26Stang
Apr 19, 2009 at 6:10 pm

Smart cars are for smug people. I would rather ride a sportbike

hotrod_heven
Apr 17, 2009 at 4:57 am

death trap all the way…..not so “smart” ey?

cubefx
Apr 17, 2009 at 1:06 am

GTwildfire,
I totally agree with you. Good examples is For Fusion Hybrid and Chevy Volt. Unfortunately not everyone willing to pay $30-$40K.
But even if those cars where $15K, I still would bought a Smart. For me it is forth car and I use it to run the errands and go to work. I do not need another full sized car.
————————————————————–
What is really funny how media jumped on the story with IIHS holding big media event. They mention 46 death per 1 million accidents in micro cars, and 33 death per 1 million accidents in the mid sized cars. I can live with those chances. Beats riding my Sportster.
————————————————————-
For everyone driving SUV, here is interesting information for you:

Both the SUVs and Minivan do NOT have to meet the federal government’s standard for rollovers. Given that both tend to be top heavy, they are very prone to a rollover in an accident. In many cases, the lack of support for the roof causes the top to come crushing in, causing injury or even death to the people inside.
Rollover crashes kill one of every four people who die in auto accidents, the federal government says. So, how safe do you feel now in your SUV or Minivan????
What happens more often? Head on collision or rollover when your tire blow on the highway?
—————————————————————–
By the way Smart have unique Tridion Cell (roll cage). That how it is works: Small front and rear crumple zones in the vehicle collapse to absorb energy in event of a collision, and the tridion cell then transmits the remaining energy THROUGHOUT the surface of the car.

GTwildfire
Apr 16, 2009 at 7:37 pm

I’ve seen some impressive crash footage of a smart car, its cabin held integrity surprisingly well BUT they are without crumple zones to help with deceleration, meaning the SRS has to do double-duty and that’s just not good enough for crashes over 35 MPH.
-
My gripe is and has been that more efficient cars DON’T HAVE TO be microbial. I don’t know what mental condition is incubating this notion, but it’s apparently contagious.
-
With the use of lighter materials and proper reinforcement, AND with the use of more normal proportions, cars will be more aerodynamically efficient… a design factor that’s being frivolously tossed aside with some newer production vehicles and even concepts we’ve seen.
-
I’m not saying these laundry carts shouldn’t be offered necessarily, but some alternatives that don’t require a mental retooling should be offered someday.

Chevyboy4
Apr 16, 2009 at 6:58 pm

One of those Smart Cars rear ended me last winter. I guess the driver slid on ice and hit me but I didn’t feel anything and kept driving. The police came to my house 2 hours later cause the driver of the Smart Car described my truck and the officer recognized it cause he’s my brother’s friend. The guy’s car was totally smashed, went right under me I guess.

cubefx
Apr 16, 2009 at 7:56 am

What I find questionable is that the IIHS did not find it necessary to hold a media event to “out” the 2009 vehicles that received a poor rating on their standard side impact test (3300lb @ 31mph simulated SUV) and BTW the smart received their highest rating in this one.

Poor rating side impact

Chevrolet Silverado 1500 GMC Sierra 1500 2009 models with optional side airbags
Nissan Titan 2009 models without optional side airbags
Chevrolet Silverado 1500 GMC Sierra 1500 2009 models without optional side airbags
Chevrolet Colorado GMC Canyon 2009 models without optional side airbags
Kia Sorento 2008 models with standard side airbags
Jeep Wrangler 2-door 2009 models without optional side airbags
Chrysler 300 Dodge Charger 2009 models without optional side airbags
Volkswagen New Beetle 2009 models with standard side airbags
Chrysler PT Cruiser 2009 models with standard side airbags
Hyundai Accent Kia Rio 2009 models with standard side airbags

cubefx
Apr 16, 2009 at 7:55 am

Getting in fire retardant suit. I was wandering how long it will take for this story to come up here on CD.

I want to state it first: It is plain physics. If both cars designed EQUALLY, larger always will be safer.

1. lifeonacloud, photo you talking about is VW Fox and not a smart. If you want I can find it for you. Also it was head on with SEMI truck.

2. The reason they tested this 3 cars (Yaris, Fit, Smart), is only because this is ONLY cars ranked 5 stars in STANDARD test. I really want to see Malibu vs Aveo and 500 vs Focus crash tests.

3. Smart is minicar. Yaris and Fit is compacts and weight significantly more. Also they decided to use 4 door Yaris and not 3 door version. Accord and Camry smaller/lighter car then C class.
So they put smaller car against heavier. If anyone watched the video, Smart is the only car which did not have cabin deformation/intrusion.

4. If you take that argument to the nth degree we all should drive 18-wheelers.

5 Next I expect IIHS come up SEMI vs Escalade crash test to prove that SUV is unsafe vehicles for human transportation.

6. This is very convenient test for the domestic car manifacturesrs to boost sales of truck and SUVs with the gas prices low again.

Let the flaming begin!!!!!

GlamismanTJ
Apr 16, 2009 at 7:02 am

Yah people are idiots for thinking a sub-2000 pound car will be a fiar match against a +3500 pound car. When they said those cars were safe, that was in crash tests done with colision between cars of the same size.

SoonerDead
Apr 16, 2009 at 6:17 am

(sarcasm) Obviously this is just a media conspiracy against the eco movement… how dare they insinuate the laws of physics do not change for environmentally friendly things!

lifeonacloud
Apr 16, 2009 at 6:07 am

No fucking shit. There’s a add out somewhere of the “Not so smart car” where one was in an accident and it’s cut in two pieces, top and bottom, whoever was driving it, well…there top half and there bottom half arent together no more. I rode in one of these once and it TOTALLLY freaked me out. I’d feel safer in a fucking go-cart, essentially that’s all it is.

lejourinator
Apr 16, 2009 at 4:12 am

finnally they come to their senses. Now we just wait for them to get over to the hybrids…