New 2012 Ford Focus Crashed More Than 12,000 Times in Order to Find Ways to Protect Occupants in Crashes

Published: 2011-01-05 01:52:12

By : nal.sfwn

To prove out innovative new technologies that are designed to protect occupants in crashes, the new 2012 Ford Focus was crash-tested by Ford safety engineers in the U.S. and Germany for more than 12,000 times in real and virtual worlds.

To prepare its performance which will debut around the world in early next year, the new Focus was tested in an exhaustive regimen of occupant and full-vehicle computer simulations tests. The number of physical vehicle crash tests has been significantly reduced as showed in those simulations which have become so realistic.

To test hundreds of designs, the engineers were assisted by thousands of computer aided engineering (CAE) crashes and simulations. To ensure that every internal and external requirement is met, a battery of virtual simulations verifies and validates the computer simulations. After that, the physical crash tests were ready to be implemented.

Ford's next-generation driver-front airbag with enhanced chest protection technology was offered by The Focus as a suite of new safety innovations. To help lessen the impact of the airbag on the driver's chest and ribs in frontal crashes, a reconfigured curve-shaped tether system that pulls in the lower section is used by the new airbag to create a "pocket".

Front passenger airbags with adaptive venting technology that diverts some of the gas from the air bag inflators through vents outside of the airbags will be featured for the first time in the Ford Focus.

Designed to enhance head and neck protection, the new passenger airbag gives a better matching deployment force with occupant size. To force open the vent and provide less airbag pressure in this innovative system, a small pyrotechnic device is used when it's sufficient to help protect the occupant.

In addition to the new airbags, enhanced crash protection with a B-pillar reinforcement, a key structural part made from ultra-high-strength steel produced using an innovative "tailor rolling" process are provided in the new Focus's vehicle structure. The thickness of the steel sheet along its length is allowed to be varied by this process, so the component has increased strength in the areas that are subjected to the greatest loads.

AdvanceTrac® with Electronic Stability Control, Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) and Traction Control; LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) System; Three-point, height-adjustable seat belts for each passenger; height-adjustable, Belt-Minder™ system and pretensioners in the front outboard seating positions, are comprehensive suite of advanced active safety technologies that are included in the Ford Focus.