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Pulled this off the MSNBC website. Here's what SAAB had to say about the latest bumper test results:
"SAAB
Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s recent 5-mph bumper tests on the 2002 Saab 9-5. We believe the 9-5 performed as expected in the rather severe IIHS test. While Saab takes this and other tests and real-life safety studies into consideration in our design processes, we must design bumpers that not only meet varied global market demands, but also perform many safety-enhancing duties.
A vehicle’s bumper structure is quite complex. It is often the first line of defense in a collision and must be designed to enable the air bag sensing system to properly distinguish a low-speed impact from a high-speed one in the collision event. Therefore, a high level of design is incorporated into bumper systems — including real-life variables like weight and aerodynamics, impacts on pedestrians, ability to sense collisions and ability to protect other major parts of the car. While considering all of these aspects, Saab continues to provide owners with bumpers that meet 5-mph damage criteria — twice the U.S. government bumper standards.
Since the early 1970s, Saab has been a pioneer in the real-life safety philosophy of designing “crumple zones” into its vehicles’ front and rear unibody structures. These “crumple zones” are designed to help absorb the kinetic energy from an impact rather than allow the full force of the impact to pass on to the occupants in the passenger compartment. Simply put, Saabs are designed to give up their lives to better protect the lives of the occupants inside them.
The ratings in the IIHS bumper tests are based solely upon the costs associated with repairing the tested vehicles after each of four different simulated impacts by including the possible medical costs for any injured occupants. In the design and engineering of its cars, Saab prioritizes occupant protection over potential vehicle repair costs not only because humans are more expensive to repair than cars but also because humans are more valuable."
posted by 155.58.51...
, Tue, 28 May 2002 21:03:54
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