VIDEO: Tata Nano gets its crash on
Tata Nano European crash testing - Click above to watch the video after the break
To all those who thought reports of the Tata Nano passing European crash testing were worthless without pics, we now have a few of those plus one better: Video. It seems the actual Nano submitted for the 50 km/h side impact test and 56 km/h offset frontal impact test was a mildly fortified unit with some extra foam added to the cant rail (the structural member supporting the B-pillar), a reinforced front longitudinal structure, and some added structure behind the front bumper and in the front doors. A remotely-triggered airbag was also fitted for this test.
These comprehensive modifications were apparently enough to prompt Nic Fasci, the U.K. engineer running the tests, to say, "It looks no different from other cars doing this test. It's a good crash." Tata believes these results bode well for its chances of putting the Nano on European roads by 2012, when the Indian automaker is expected to debut a slightly larger version of the diminutive car complete with a full slate of safety equipment, including fully functional airbags.
Click here for a full rundown of the Tata Nano's European crash testing results and click past the break to watch the video. Hat tip to Darren J!
Gallery: Tata Nano European crash test
[Source: Automotive Engineer via TataForum.com]
Video:
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
usingthelou 12:34PM (7/15/2009)
I didn't see much but from what I did see, it didn't look too bad.
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asng15 6:27PM (7/15/2009)
the indians can put the Jaguar sign on it , and change to a high class British royal name =====> "JAGUAR BABA" then another mini nano is here for the US lol
polo 12:09PM (7/16/2009)
They're not going to put the Jaguar sign on it. Why would they dilute their high-end brand, this will still be a low-priced car.
Reno20k 12:35PM (7/15/2009)
Unfortunately, like with the smart crash footage, this shows a crash test scenario, not a real crash. In a real crash the concrete wall would be also moving and would plow right into and drag the nano instead of a rebound. Still impressive for such a small car but I'm hesitant about it's safety.
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Azael 1:16PM (7/15/2009)
An inelastic collision like you describe is extremely rare. For this to happen, the Nano would have to hit a vehicle with more momentum perfectly head on and then deform in such a way that it hooks on to that vehicle. That way, it can withstand the massive amounts of force pushing the Nano away from the heavier vehicle.
If the Nano can meet these requirements and those slippery back wheels dont just skip to another direction and stay perfectly straight in line with the collision then it may get dragged around. Otherwise, it will most likely just bounce off from the heavier vehicle.
Hopefully, the Nano doesnt bounce onto oncoming traffic.
cm 2:34PM (7/16/2009)
So that you know, car manufacturers begun to oppose to the introduction of deformable barrier crash tests - because they yeld worst results than the non-deformable barriers used earlier.
Moving barriers or not, that's irrelevant - what matters is the combined speed, and there's a reason tests are made the way they are - they mimics real life conditions based on statistics and, anyway, cars withstanding higher speeds means their passengers won't - that's the reason cars seem so fragile today, compared to just a few decades ago...
cm 2:39PM (7/16/2009)
"In a real crash the concrete wall would be also MOVING and would plow right into and DRAG the nano instead of a rebound."
LOL on that - moving concrete walls... :)
Stu L Tissimus 12:37PM (7/15/2009)
...I'm going to go watch some Chery crash tests to make up for how anticlimactic this one was.
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Wobbly_ears 12:38PM (7/15/2009)
Wow, this is impressive!
To be honest, I was expecting Nano to fold up like China's Brilliance sedan did during it's crash. The fact that it maintained structural integrity while crash zones worked as designed is impressive.
Looks more likely that Tata is serious about bringing Nano to Western markets.
Whether they succeed in Western markets or not, this is good news for the Indian motorists. The fact that more & more cars sold in India now meet Euro crash safety metric makes the roads there a little safer for everyone. Designing for stringent western safety standard forces manufacturers to adhere to same standards for domestic production.
I think when Mahindra's truck makes the trip to US, it might also make good score on crash tests.
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Joe K. 12:38PM (7/15/2009)
Well I do know that an eggs shape is pretty strong on its tip, so that good.
I would be interested in seeing the forces exerted on the occupants since it doesn't look like much deceleration happened at impact, it just deflected. I'm sure the accident is worse than it looks for that reason.
When do they side-crash this vehicle?
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Bird 12:52PM (7/15/2009)
?? From what I can see, all the deceleration happened at impact. It was moving forward, and then it stopped, the back wheels hopped to the side. It was no longer moving forward. It's not like it went further into the barrier.
You can make the frame as rigid as you want, you'd have to, but what makes these tiny little cars dangerous is the lack of space to put crumple zones, which, amongst other things, lowers max deceleration.
Joe K. 1:08PM (7/15/2009)
Bird, i think we are basically saying similar things, but using different definitions of terms.
Other cars, say the 2008-9 Ford Taurus that is one of the best vehicles ever tested by the IIHS, slows down a considerable amount while impacting the barrier. It doesn't deflect its momentum away from the barrier, the crumple zones absorb the energy. This car due to its small crumple zone area and stiff cabin chassis and low weight when impacting the barrier is deflected in another direction which causes that force from the change in direction to be applied to the occupants of the vehicle. This is why I said I would like to see what level of deceleration force the occupants were subjected too. Sudden changes in direction can cause massive amounts of damage to brains, spines, limbs, etc. The keys to a successful crash test is creating a cabin that is solid as to not come in of the occupant while slowing the cabin down over the longest period of time possible as to not introduce too drastic of accelerating/decelerating forces on the occupant. This car has one of those pieces, but not both.
cowboy bob 9:26AM (7/16/2009)
Joe, you are quite correct. The fact that de-cel is virtually instantaeous results in mark free corpses. I'll keep my Silverado, and drive less.
harry4657 12:45PM (7/15/2009)
im not so sure that bouncing is better than folding in this kind of small vehicle. if it stay intact, that can also means the occupants exert the full force as well
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Rich 10:00AM (7/16/2009)
What do you want? The wall to fold up and run off with its tail between its legs? Of course it's going to bounce a little. Bouncing is better than the entire passenger compartment being the crumple zone. You're forgetting that the speed of impact is a test parameter, and does not correspond to the actual driven speed of the vehicle in a real world crash scenario.
By way of comparison, two "mid sized" (i.e. "very large passenger", for non-U.S. readers) cars colliding at this speed (total velocity of impact, not this speed *each*) would also bounce off each other by a distance comparable to that of the Nano.
tgriffith 12:46PM (7/15/2009)
Hey, if Tata can get this thing to Western safety levels, they might have a shot with it. Still though, I'm not convinced I'd want to be in one. Especially in DC, where people tend to get in a lot of wrecks!
http://www.cargurus.com/blog/2009/07/15/how-are-the-drivers-in-your-city/
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dukeisduke 12:46PM (7/15/2009)
Cool, been waiting to see this. Next, I want to see it get t-boned by a F-350 Super Duty 4x4 Crew Cab.
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Coolio 12:52PM (7/15/2009)
Yeah, then you can wash the Nano off the windshield like a bug...
Alex 1:04PM (7/15/2009)
And i would like to see the F-350 Super Duty get smashed by a Freightliner carrying a full load.
Soccer Mom 1:25PM (7/15/2009)
Alex, and i would like to see the Freightliner t-boned by a freight train.