How Volvo

摘要

Crash tests that replicate real-world incidents such as running off the road and into a ditch are helping Volvo to save lives. You have to feel sympathy for Thor, the driver who ignored the lane departure warning in his pristine new Volvo XC90. The SUV drifted into a ditch at 50mph, after which it was launched into the air before crashing with a thud into an embankment. Fortunately, Thor and the family he was carrying aboard his bright orange XC90 were crash test dummies. Even at that speed, a surprising amount of violent energy was released. The hapless piece of driving by Thor - his name actually stands for Test device for Human Occupant Restraint - occurred at Volvo's test facility in Gothenburg. The Swedish manufacturer proudly claims that the new XC90 is the "safest SUV in the world". It is keen to highlight how it has refined its crash test procedures to take into account the kind of real-life incidents that occur on roads around the world.