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Engineer: 2012 Focus Crash-Tested 80,000 Times

5K views 7 replies 8 participants last post by  jpd80 
#1 ·
Engineer: 2012 Focus Crash-Tested 80,000 Times
Ford Focus safety engineer divulges details of the new compact.
www.FordInsideNews.com
December 17, 2010
By: Nick Saporito


In what is becoming a regular occurrence out of Ford social media outlets, a Ford employee of significance chatted with consumers on Facebook today. Today's employee guest was Matt Niesluchowski, whom is in charge of all safety related features on the upcoming 2012 Focus. Niesluchowski divulged several new details about the new Focus and the 'focus' Ford has placed with safety on it.

Perhaps the most notable specification mentioned is that the new Focus was crash tested 80,000 times in real life and another 12,000 simulated crashes. That seems like a lot, but Nieslouchowski claimed that Ford's crash testing is amongst the most efficient in the world.

Also mentioned was the fact that the Focus B-pillar is pioneering a new tailor rolling process so that it can be fabricated from very high strength steel. Niesluchowski stated that this new process allowed for the B-pillar design to be what it is today without compromising the safety aspect of the vehicle.

One participant asked what the biggest safety difference is between the last generation Focus and the 2012. The response was that the new Focus is leverage much more high strength and ultra high strength steel- including Boron steel.

Another participant asked if the 2011 Explorer's inflatable seatbelts would make their way into the new Focus at some point, but Ford dodged the question by stating that the inflatable seatbelts would be rolled out to additional vehicle lines in the future.

The new Focus comes standard with six airbags and will be launching in the United States towards the end of next month.
 
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#4 ·
Good thing some stuff is so complex that a xerox copy will not get you anywhere near pulling the engineering off.

By Now the Chinese spies probably have a data on design of safe cars stolen from just about anywhere, Japan, Korea, US, Germany etc, but its probably so complex that their engineers used to copying instead of solving problems cannot crack it, yet..

I think.
 
#7 ·
I've seen that episode and the idea is incredibly sound...but man...that would be a serious adjustment to buying a car with that kind of "golfball" dimple pattern in it...I mean wow!

If anyone wants to watch the episode...it has a cameo of a nice 2002 Taurus as the test car...here's a link, the episode is being hosted by Autoblog.com.

Enjoy!
RG59061
 
#8 ·
Engineer: 2012 Focus Crash-Tested 80,000 Times


In what is becoming a regular occurrence out of Ford social media outlets, a Ford employee of significance chatted with consumers on Facebook today. Today's employee guest was Matt Niesluchowski, whom is in charge of all safety related features on the upcoming 2012 Focus. Niesluchowski divulged several new details about the new Focus and the 'focus' Ford has placed with safety on it.

Perhaps the most notable specification mentioned is that the new Focus was crash tested 80,000 times in real life and another 12,000 simulated crashes. That seems like a lot, but Nieslouchowski claimed that Ford's crash testing is amongst the most efficient in the world.
I have a big problem believing this. There is no way that Focus was real time crashed 80,000 times.
The figure of 12,000 combined simulation and real time crashes is true enough because the whole
reason for simulation software is so that real time crashes can be reduced, not increased.

Check out what was said by the same engineer in another article, very different:
LINK
Ford safety engineers in the United States and Germany crash tested the new 2012 Ford Focus more than 12,000 times in real and virtual worlds to prove out innovative new technologies designed to protect occupants in crashes.

The new Focus, which debuts around the world starting early next year, underwent an exhaustive testing regimen of occupant and full-vehicle computer simulations. Those simulations have become so realistic that the number of physical vehicle crash tests has been significantly reduced.

“Developing the Focus to meet the global safety standards has resulted in improved crash performance to help protect occupants in crashes,” said Matt Niesluchowski, Focus safety manager.

“Ford’s safety team had a head start in working together around the world, which helped tremendously in ensuring the new Focus meets or exceeds a complex web of global safety regulations.”

The thousands of computer aided engineering (CAE) crashes and simulations allowed engineers to test hundreds of designs. The physical crash tests, conducted after a battery of virtual simulations, verify and validate the computer simulations to ensure every internal and external requirement is met.

“We are using more computer simulations than ever to optimise the designs of all the components that make up a vehicle to help enhance safety,” Niesluchowski said. “The complexity of crash tests, with hundreds of parts and systems interacting, still requires physical testing to validate those simulation results.”
 
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