DEVELOPING A PRACTICAL SAFETY CAR

Collaboration among the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), an independent automobile research company (Calspan) and the Chrysler Corp. has produced an ultra-safe, fuel-efficient and very practical car. Called the Calspan-Chrysler RSV (Research Safety Vehicle), the five-passenger hatchback only weighs 2651 lb (1203 kg). This car is based on Chrysler's Simca 1306 which has been restructured to permit a safe front barrier collision at 50 mph (850 kmh) and safe car-to-car impacts of 45 mph (72 kmh) on the side and 50 mph (80 kmh) in the rear. It also has an "inflatabelt" restraint system, new run-flat tires, a special soft front end designed for pedestrian protection, transverse front-wheel-drive and other safety features, including see-through head restraints. The new run-flat tires contain a plastic ring which clamps around the wheel and permits the tire to run for 50 mi (80 km) at up to 50 mph (80 kmh). Rubber-like front and rear ends on the car protect it from a 6 mph (9.6 kmh) front end barrier impact and 2 one-half mph (4.0 kmh) rear barrier collision. This RSV is powered by a 85.4 cu-in. (1.4 l) four-cylinder engine that provides a combined city-highway mileage of 30 mpg (12.8 kml).

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/31209162
• Corporate Authors:

  Automotive Industries International

  Chilton Way
  Radnor, PA  United States  19089
• Authors:
  • CALLAHAN, J M
• Publication Date: 1977-1-1

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 42-43
• Serial:
  • Automotive Industries
  • Volume: 156
  • Issue Number: 1
  • Publisher: Randall Publishing Company
  • ISSN: 1099-4130
  • Serial URL: http://www.ai-online.com

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automobiles; Automotive engineering; Crashworthiness; Frontal crashes; Fuel consumption; Impacts; Motor vehicle bodies; Research; Restraint systems; Safety; Safety equipment; Safety vehicles; Tires; Vehicle components; Vehicle design
• Old TRIS Terms: Automobile bodies; Occupant restraint; Run-flat tires
• Subject Areas: Design; Energy; Highways; Research; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00165182
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Engineering Index
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Mar 29 1978 12:00AM