ravenx
01-21-2000, 05:38 PM
<center><img src="http://131.107.68.28/AudiWorldPics/2000/A3_Frontal_Crash.gif"></center><p>The Audi A3 proved to be a very strong car that protects its occupants from serious injury. It was especially competent in resisting side impact, but there are aspects of the knee impact areas could be improved for frontal impact. Worthy of its 4 stars in frontal and side impact and 2 stars for pedestrian protection. The pedestrian performance was patchy, attention had been paid to protection for both child and adult head impacts but this was marred by a very rigid front at the level of pedestrian legs.
*Frontal Impact*
The driver's door was almost undamaged giving support to the door aperture, keeping the body shell structurally stable and intrusion levels relatively low. However, seat belt loading on the chest could usefully be reduced particularly for the passenger. For both legs, there were some
hazards in the knee impact area. These could cause high loads on the upper legs and damage to the knees themselves. These hazards were in connection with the possibility of striking the column lock, adjuster lever and angle adjuster bracket.
*Side Impact*
The A3 features seat mounted side-impact airbags. The door had a box section beam at the car waist level and a lower extruded aluminium beam located just above the sill. This latter beam interlocks with the sill to provide additional impact strength, and helped to ensure the door came in vertically. After the impact there remained approximately 70mm between the side of the seat and the intruding door. All dummy's ribs were protected by a combination of the seat mounted airbag and the structural seat wings. Padding inside the door protected the pelvis.
*Child Restraints*
The rear seat belts had an automatic locking provision for use with child restraints but no instruction label was provided on the belts. With the recommended child restraints, the car's seat belt buckle marginally interfered with guide slot on the child restraint and prevented the belt from being properly tightened. There was a pictogram on the centre door pillar to advise against using a rearward facing child restraint in the front seat. There was also a text label fitted to the windscreen, which could easily be removed. This label did not warn of the risk of serious injury or death, if a rearward facing child restraint was used with a passenger airbag.
*Pedestrian Protection*
Audi does not appear to have taken any steps to design the bumper or bonnet leading edge for protecting the legs of pedestrians. All of the test sites gave poor performance. Protection was better for the head where only four of the twelve test sites gave poor protection. The A3 needs more work to make it pedestrian friendly.
FACTORS / RESULTS
Frontal Impact Head
Driver airbag head contact: Central stable contact
Steering wheel displacement: 59 mm upwards - 32 mm rearwards
Chest
Contact with steering wheel: No
Screen pillar displacement: 54 mm rearwards
Passenger compartment stability: stable
*Upper leg, knee and pelvis*
Stiff structures: Column adjuster bracket, lever and lock
Concentrated knee loading: Column adjuster bracket, lock
*Lower legs*
Vertical brake pedal movement: 26 mm downwards
Footwell rupture: No
Feet and ankles
Horizontal brake pedal movement: 146 mm rearwards
Footwell rupture: No
*Child Restraint System (CRS)*
Front passenger air bag fitted: Yes
Air bag disabling / warning label: Pictogram without text, removable label on screen
Installation
18-mth-old (behind passenger) Marginal compatibility with car seat belts
3 yr (behind driver): Marginal compatibility with car seat belts
Forward head movement 18-mth-old - 3 yr: Controlled - Controlled
Neck protection
18-mth-old: Adequate
Chest protection 18-mth-old - 3 yr: Adequate - Good
*Side Impact Child Restraint System (CRS)*
Installation 18-mth-old (struck side) - 3 yr (non-struck side): Marginal compatibility with car seat belts - Marginal compatibility with car seat belts
Head movement 18-mth-old - 3 yr: Contained within child restraint system - Not contained within child restraint system
Head acceleration 18-mth-old - 3 yr: Good - Good
*Frontal Impact*
The driver's door was almost undamaged giving support to the door aperture, keeping the body shell structurally stable and intrusion levels relatively low. However, seat belt loading on the chest could usefully be reduced particularly for the passenger. For both legs, there were some
hazards in the knee impact area. These could cause high loads on the upper legs and damage to the knees themselves. These hazards were in connection with the possibility of striking the column lock, adjuster lever and angle adjuster bracket.
*Side Impact*
The A3 features seat mounted side-impact airbags. The door had a box section beam at the car waist level and a lower extruded aluminium beam located just above the sill. This latter beam interlocks with the sill to provide additional impact strength, and helped to ensure the door came in vertically. After the impact there remained approximately 70mm between the side of the seat and the intruding door. All dummy's ribs were protected by a combination of the seat mounted airbag and the structural seat wings. Padding inside the door protected the pelvis.
*Child Restraints*
The rear seat belts had an automatic locking provision for use with child restraints but no instruction label was provided on the belts. With the recommended child restraints, the car's seat belt buckle marginally interfered with guide slot on the child restraint and prevented the belt from being properly tightened. There was a pictogram on the centre door pillar to advise against using a rearward facing child restraint in the front seat. There was also a text label fitted to the windscreen, which could easily be removed. This label did not warn of the risk of serious injury or death, if a rearward facing child restraint was used with a passenger airbag.
*Pedestrian Protection*
Audi does not appear to have taken any steps to design the bumper or bonnet leading edge for protecting the legs of pedestrians. All of the test sites gave poor performance. Protection was better for the head where only four of the twelve test sites gave poor protection. The A3 needs more work to make it pedestrian friendly.
FACTORS / RESULTS
Frontal Impact Head
Driver airbag head contact: Central stable contact
Steering wheel displacement: 59 mm upwards - 32 mm rearwards
Chest
Contact with steering wheel: No
Screen pillar displacement: 54 mm rearwards
Passenger compartment stability: stable
*Upper leg, knee and pelvis*
Stiff structures: Column adjuster bracket, lever and lock
Concentrated knee loading: Column adjuster bracket, lock
*Lower legs*
Vertical brake pedal movement: 26 mm downwards
Footwell rupture: No
Feet and ankles
Horizontal brake pedal movement: 146 mm rearwards
Footwell rupture: No
*Child Restraint System (CRS)*
Front passenger air bag fitted: Yes
Air bag disabling / warning label: Pictogram without text, removable label on screen
Installation
18-mth-old (behind passenger) Marginal compatibility with car seat belts
3 yr (behind driver): Marginal compatibility with car seat belts
Forward head movement 18-mth-old - 3 yr: Controlled - Controlled
Neck protection
18-mth-old: Adequate
Chest protection 18-mth-old - 3 yr: Adequate - Good
*Side Impact Child Restraint System (CRS)*
Installation 18-mth-old (struck side) - 3 yr (non-struck side): Marginal compatibility with car seat belts - Marginal compatibility with car seat belts
Head movement 18-mth-old - 3 yr: Contained within child restraint system - Not contained within child restraint system
Head acceleration 18-mth-old - 3 yr: Good - Good