Re: procon ten

[Andrew Duane USG/PE <duane@zk3.dec.com>]

Hairy green toads from Mars made Hussey, Dan say:

> I don't know a whole lot about the "Procon Ten" system, but I can tell
> you it is a great safety system.  It came in all '89-on models.  It
> involved some re-engineering of the way the car crumpled on impact.  I
> have heard that it uses a system of pulleys or wires that pull the dash,
> steering wheel, and other opjects away from the driver in any type of
> frontal collision.  

It is. My 100Q has it, and Bentley has a decent writeup.

THe main item is a cable that connects to the transmission housing
and is used as a seat belt tensioner. If the car is hit hard enough
to move the tranny, the seat belts tighten.

There are also some other improvements in structural strength,
crumple zones, etc. that I'm a bit hazy on.

> I'm not sure if this "Procon Ten" system involved any strengthening of
> the front end and the chassis, but this car feels like it has a lot less
> body flex than the 5000.  This safety system enabled the '90 Audi
> 100/200 to be the safest car the NHSTA tested that year.  It beat
> Mercedes, Volvo, BMW, and Saab for that honor.  

That was my '89 100Q, which set an all-time NHTSA record for
crash tests, WITHOUT an airbag.

-- 

Andrew L. Duane (JOT-7)			duane@zk3.dec.com
Compaq Computer Corporation		(603)-884-1294
110 Spit Brook Road
M/S ZKO3-3/U14
Nashua, NH    03062-2698

Only my cat shares my opinions, and she's too psychotic to express it