Some of you guys may have already seen this, but if not, see how the new TLX handles front crashes.
Sorry, not sure why the video shows up twice in the post.

 

Thanks. I think the small overlap crash was posted before but not the full front crash. I like the underneath camera that shows the rear differential (obviously the SWAWD edition) moving. One thing I don't get is that I thought they run the test with the engine off but since the prop shaft is clearly moving, and under load, it looks like the engine is on?

 

Another reason I purchased this car (V6 Advance w/ SH-AWD) was because of the excellent safety ratings. I hope I never have to find out how well it works, but having that extra piece of mind is nice.

 

When you paste a YouTube link it includes a 'copy' of the link highlighted so that you can write over it with a title. If you don't edit this section is posts as a second video window.

That is odd, you'd think they would remove all fluids from the car, especially gasoline. Maybe the car was in gear during the test (to disable the auto-parking brake?). I think (but I don't know) the clutches for the rear wheels are in the rear diff, and the prop shaft is always turning if the transmission is turning. The rear clutch packs decide if any torque goes to the rear wheels. Otherwise if the SH-AWD calls for torque in the rear it would have to spin up the prop shaft and close down the rear clutches which might delay the action a little.

 

...the windshield didn't even crack/smash?!

 

The do remove all fluids when they crash these vehicles.

The reason the prop shaft is still moving upon impact is because when the front of the car begins to buckle and absorb the crash energy, the rear of the car is still moving forward (The energy moves like a wave). Even if the engine is off, turning the wheels still moves the components in the differential.

You have to remember that all of these forces are acting on this car in less time than it takes to blink!

Ever since dateline exposed how bad of a job the government's frontal crash impact test was back in the mid 90s, it's never really been a good measure of anything (except how well the SRS performs) since almost all cars perform really well. The offset test is more realistic because, much like real life, the crash forces are distributed unevenly.

 

Actually the prop shaft is rotating even before the impact.

So, my guess this is a special setup of the entire system just for the crash test. Otherwise the tranny, transfer cases, diffs, axles don't work that way.

 

Did they have to use a BCP!?

 

BCP shows how the color changes as the metal is bent and is crushed!

 

yes, because the wheels are moving as the car is pulled along by the cable and into the wall.