Tag Archives: evaluate

Motorsport

Watch The Audi Q8 Receive its Five-Star NHTSA Side-Impact Safety Rating

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) conducts crash tests to assess the safety of vehicles during collisions. These tests are performed on all vehicles sold in the US, including cars, trucks, and SUVs. Based on their performance in these tests, vehicles are assigned star ratings. A five-star rating, like the one achieved by the Audi Q8, indicates the highest level of safety.

A video posted on CarPro1993’s YouTube channel shows the NHTSA preparing to crash test the Q8, which is Audi’s premium two-row SUV based on the seven-passenger Q7. The NHTSA tapes black and yellow strips along the roof and doors to measure the impact intrusion on the passenger compartment. They use dummies of various sizes wearing brightly colored shirts and paint to evaluate the severity of the impact and the likelihood of injury.



 2023 Audi Q7 NHTSA Side Impact Test

Side-impact tests involve crashing a barrier directly into the side of a vehicle at its midpoint. This simulates a collision with another vehicle. In the case of the Audi Q8, the barrier strikes the driver’s side at a speed of 38.5 miles per hour, causing the left-hand side wheels to lift off the ground. As a result of the impact, the side curtain airbags deploy and the doors are pushed inward. Inside the vehicle, the dummies are initially pushed against the airbags before rebounding to the right.

After the crash, the Audi Q8 displays moderate damage. The B-pillar absorbs most of the impact, and the doors are visibly deformed. However, the SUV still appears drivable. The wheels remain intact and the windshield is undamaged. Although the side windows pop out of their frames, they do not shatter. Inside the vehicle, the door panels are distorted, but the airbags have successfully redirected much of the force away from the dummies.

According to the NHTSA’s website, the Audi Q8 has received a five-star safety rating for side-impact protection and an overall five-star safety rating. Additionally, it has been awarded a five-star rating for frontal impact and a four-star rating for rollover safety. Apart from these categories, the NHTSA has proposed stricter pedestrian safety tests, including standards for automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection.

Motorsport

Watch Ferrari Testing Porsche 911 GT3 RS And McLaren Artura

Automakers often evaluate the performance of their own vehicles by benchmarking them against competitors. Even a renowned brand like Ferrari keeps a close eye on the supercar market. A spy photographer named Varryx camped outside Ferrari’s headquarters in Maranello and captured footage of the company testing a Porsche 911 GT3 RS and a McLaren Artura. There were also numerous Ferrari models spotted during the testing.

The yellow Porsche 911 GT3 RS gets a lot of screen time in the video. It can be seen driving behind the gates, taking a run on public roads, and returning for further evaluation. The current GT3 RS is equipped with a naturally aspirated 4.0-liter flat-six engine that generates 518 horsepower and is paired with a seven-speed PDK gearbox. Official specifications indicate that the car can accelerate from 0 to 62 miles per hour in 3.2 seconds and has a top speed of 184 mph. The model features active aerodynamic elements at the front and a drag reduction system, and it holds a lap record at the Nürburgring, completing it in 6 minutes and 49.328 seconds.

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The blue McLaren Artura makes a briefer appearance in the video. It is seen going on a single outing.

The Artura is McLaren’s first series-production plug-in hybrid car, which sets it apart from the limited-run P1 supercar. It is powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine combined with an electric motor in the transmission bell housing. The only available gearbox is an eight-speed dual-clutch setup. The Artura has a total output of 671 horsepower and 593 lb-ft of torque, allowing it to accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in 3.0 seconds and reach a top speed of 205 mph. The car also features a 7.4-kilowatt-hour battery that provides an electric driving range of 19 miles.