The new Volvos exhibit a peculiar behavior during frontal offset crash tests

Now you can get whiplash from hitting something in front of you.

Seems like the Volvo just fell apart and kept going. I guess that's what they were going for?

I'd much rather be in the Volvo.

Sure, but you're driving a Volvo...

I'll take my chances in my Audi, and not look like a soccer mom in a Volvo.

That job, running cars into things all day long, would be a blast.

quote:

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Sure, but you're driving a Volvo...

I'll take my chances in my Audi, and not look like a soccer mom in a Volvo.

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quote:

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Sure, but you're driving a Volvo...

I'll take my chances in my Audi, and not look like a soccer mom in a Volvo.

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You sound insecure and like you don't love your non-traditional family.

The exact geometry of the Offset crash was the reason the Volvo's path was different after impact. Had the Audi's path been an inch or two more towards the passenger's side, it probably would have slid more forward as the Volvo did. Conversely, if the Volvo's initial path were shifted a couple of inches to the left, it's path after impact would have probably been more like the Audi's.

I doubt that the Volvo engineers specifically designed their car for that behavior in the specific test but conceptually they always want the car to have the lowest instantaneous G Forces placed on the cabin (and occupants) and the deflection technique seen here certainly achieved that goal. In a direct frontal collision with a fixed object, the Volvo can't "escape" the instantaneous stop and attendant loads.

tl/dr: Both vehicles are safe to drive.

Slight build variations in vehicles responsible for differing paths.

PS: I'd drive the Volvo before the Audi, personal choice.

So basically if you hit a speed bump too hard your front wheel is going to tear off.. cool