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Carpoint test drives Volvo's $10 million Safety Concept Car and talks to the car's engineers about its advanced safety features.
The Volvo brand has long been associated with safety, so it seemed appropriate that the Swedish automaker should build a concept vehicle to take its reputation into the future.
Called the Safety Concept Car, or SCC, this stylish little hatchback was introduced at the 2000 North American International Auto Show as a test bed for advanced safety technologies. This safety research is being conducted by both Volvo and its parent company, Ford Motor Company.
First impressions make it clear that 'safe' doesn't have to mean boring. Designed at the Volvo Concept Center in California, the SCC looks like a modern version of the classic P1800 that Volvo sold in the 1960s. The orange hatchback features bulging fender flares and sleek styling both inside and out. But not only is it easy on the eyes, it was built with the eyes in mind.
Carpoint was recently invited to examine and drive this $10 million concept car, as well as speak to some of the engineers behind its technology.
Best Visibility
Volvo created the SCC to give the driver the best visibility possible. When I first sat in the car, sensors determined the exact position of my eyes, at which time the seat, floor with pedals, steering column and center console all moved in unison to put me in the proper driving position for optimum visibility.
Both the A- and B-pillars have also been designed to improve sight lines. The A-pillar (located between the front door and the windshield) was constructed using steel and Plexiglas, providing the driver with 180 degrees of unobstructed view. The B-pillar (between the front and rear door) has been curved inwards so that the driver can check the blind spot over his shoulder with no obstruction in view.
Night visibility is also enhanced, with headlights that are directional and adaptive. The light beam turns with the wheels to light the area of the road where the car is heading. In addition, the shape of the beam will change depending on the vehicle's speed —on the freeway the beam is brighter and narrower, extending down the road, while in slower city driving, the beam expands to cover a broader area which helps see more of the road and surroundings.
In addition to the headlights, the SCC is equipped with an advanced night vision system. Utilizing an infrared light enhancer, the night vision system projects a black and white image onto a glass display in front of the driver that highlights anything that gives off heat, such as an animal or a person walking along the road. This allows the driver to see what remain out of the range of the headlights. The glass display retracts during daylight driving.
Warning, Warning
Not only does the SCC give the driver better visibility to help avoid an accident, it can also warn the driver of dangerous situations outside of the line of site. A tiny sensor is mounted to each of the sideview mirrors. While driving the SCC, a chase car pulled into our blind spot, a potential problem indicated by three yellow lights flashing on the mirror. When the turn signal was on, we were further alerted by red flashing lights and an audible alarm, informing us that it was unsafe to change lanes.
Similarly, when we were closing in too quickly on the car ahead, red lights flashed at the base of the windshield in conjunction with the sounding of an alarm to inform us of the impending collision. A similar system informs the driver if the car is drifting out of its lane.
David Wagner, Staff Technical Specialist for Ford's Safety Research & Development department pointed out that none of these systems will take control of the vehicle. These devices simply provide information or warnings and it is up to the driver to take the appropriate action.
Seat belts
Many drivers take seat belt technology for granted, however Volvo is using the SCC as a test bed for two advanced seat belt designs. One is the X4 CrissCross harness, which adds an additional shoulder strap to the standard three-point seat belt. After the standard belt is put on, the second strap is attached across the opposite shoulder, creating an X across the occupant's chest. This helps keep the occupant more stable in the event of a rollover accident and does a better job of distributing the force of a crash.
The other type of experimental belt is the Center Buckle V4. This is similar to the system used in racecars or child seats. Each side of the belt consists of a shoulder strap and half of the lap belt. When connected, the shoulder straps form a V-shape across the chest, providing support similar to the X4 harness. We found that these seat belt designs were easy to put on and were no more obtrusive than the seat belt you'd find in your own vehicle.
In addition to the advanced seat belt, the cushions in the rear seats can be adjusted for height to act as a booster seat for children who have outgrown rear-facing child seats. The seat adjustment can be made to fit any size child.
Protecting Pedestrians
The sleek rounded front of the Volvo SCC was designed for more than good looks—it was specifically built without any sharp edges to protect pedestrians in the event of an accident. In addition, an external airbag has been installed that deploys between the hood and the windshield to prevent the victim from hitting his head on the windshield. A sensor at the front of the vehicle activates the airbag.
Personal Communicator
Volvo has also used the SCC to showcase its Volvo Personal Communicator (VPC). The handheld device merges the technologies of a PDA with that of a keyless remote. When a VPC-carrying driver touches the door handle, the car sends a message to the device, which in turn transmits the proper code to unlock the door. This allows the car to be unlocked for a shorter period of time than with a standard remote, which can be advantageous in a less than desirable part of town.
The VPC can also be personalized. Activated using a built-in fingerprint sensor, the communicator can be used to store information for a number of different drivers.
At the same time that the VPC unlocks the door, the driver's personal information can be transmitted to the vehicle so that when the driver gets in, all of his or her personal settings have been registered, adjusting the seat, audio system, climate control or navigation system. This personal information can also include medical records so that in the event of an accident, the driver's medical history can be available to the emergency medical technicians.
The driver can also check and change the car's status via the VPC. It can be determined if the doors or windows are unlocked or open, and lights can be activated both inside and outside the vehicle for safe approach at night. The SCC is also equipped with a heartbeat sensor that can inform the driver via the VPC if someone has been left in the car, or if someone is hiding out of sight.
The VPC utilizes Bluetooth technology to communicate with the SCC, however its range can be increased using a cell phone. Volvo's Vehicle Safety Engineer Mikael Eddardson told Carpoint that in the future, this device could easily be merged with the cell phone and PDA so that a driver would only need to carry one device.
What's Next
The SCC may be a drivable concept car, but it is not going into production anytime soon. That's not to say, however, that none of the technologies and designs will find their way into production vehicles. Wagner said that while some advances showcased would remain conceptual only, a number of features could be found in production Volvos "within the next three years."
Features such as the new seat belt design, night vision, and A-Pillar design may not be so far away—the integrated child booster seat is already in production for Volvo's new XC90 SUV that goes on sale later this year. However, more advanced features like the eye position sensor, blind spot sensor and fingerprint reader on the VPC may still be quite a ways from production. A future Volvo may well take on the sleek design of the SCC, independent of its advanced safety features.
There is one thing that is for certain—Volvo is continuing its safety research both in-house and with its parent company Ford Motor Company to make sure that its buyers get the latest in automotive safety.
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Posted: 2002-07-28 18:51:00
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It's still a volvo...
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Posted: 2002-07-29 02:46:00
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yeah .. you also need a brand for your car .. hehe
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Posted: 2002-07-29 06:36:00
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Still a volvo???? have you been in the Twin Turbo S80.... Holy assrape they are quick, and have tons of engine mods... plus pretty nice too.
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Posted: 2002-07-29 08:23:00
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nope not for me ..
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Posted: 2002-07-29 12:34:00
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I've been in pretty much all the volvos. My uncle sell the stuff.. With twin turbo S80, do you mean the regular ehh.. 279hp (i think) top of the line FWD S80 ? If so, it TRULY sux. How the hell can you drive a FWD car ? it's ok for 100 Hp KIA or something like that. I tried that S80 and the torque really does mean things to the stearing during acceleration.
Have a good one !
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Posted: 2002-07-29 13:29:00
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On 2002-07-29 13:29, captainsm wrote:
I've been in pretty much all the volvos. My uncle sell the stuff.. With twin turbo S80, do you mean the regular ehh.. 279hp (i think) top of the line FWD S80 ? If so, it TRULY sux. How the hell can you drive a FWD car ? it's ok for 100 Hp KIA or something like that. I tried that S80 and the torque really does mean things to the stearing during acceleration.
Have a good one !
does ur FWD stand for Four Wheel Drive or Front Wheel Drive? it is better to use FF,FR,4WD,MR notations.....
anyway, it is quite strange to see S80 using FF layout, since most luxury and performance cars are using FR.. @.@.....
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Posted: 2002-07-29 13:50:00
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4WD is for better control over the car .. i feel it is the best
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Posted: 2002-07-29 13:58:00
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Hey Spanker !
What's FF short for ? Am i beeing really thick ?
I like
RWD
4WD
FWD
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Posted: 2002-07-29 14:04:00
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On 2002-07-29 14:04, captainsm wrote:
Hey Spanker !
What's FF short for ? Am i beeing really thick ?
I like
RWD
4WD
FWD
FR- Front engine Rear wheel drive (eg. Rx7)
FF- Front engine Front wheel drive(eg. civic)
MR- Midship engine Rear wheel drive(eg. MR2)
4WD--- needless to say
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Posted: 2002-07-29 15:01:00
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