Re: The Audi A4

[ti@bazooka.amb.org (Ti Kan)]

Mark Edwin writes:
>     Is there is any data on the quality and design of the new A4?

Here is a little data point on the structural integrity and safety
design of the Audi A4.

The German magazine Auto Motor und Sport and its UK sister magazine
Complete Car recently test crashed an Audi A4 into a concrete block
at 34 mph.  The article appears in the September 1995 issue of
Complete Car.

The crash results are very reassuring, and shows that the A4 has
excellent structural design.  The forces experienced by the test
dummies were well within acceptable limits in all areas, indicating
that the driver and passenger would have walked away from this crash
with nary a scratch.  The driver's door was able to be opened,
the passenger cell was largely unscathed, and there were many
evidence of good impact energy management throughout.

To quote: "Safety is moving on apace and the Audi A4 is a good
example of progress made.  Its safety systems ensure an even
deceleration sequence and it's so structurally stable that the
survival space is not reduced to a dangerous degree, even in the
footwell.  Here, it scores better than its rivals."

Compared to the same crash test conducted on the Mercedes C class,
the BMW compact, The Saab 900, and Ford Mondeo (Contour/Mystique),
The Audi now stands alongside the Mercedes at the top of its class.

-Ti
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