The 2013 Cadillac CTS Safety Cage currently uses advanced high strength steels (AHSS) in strategic structural locations.
Archives for 2013-models
Here’s a walk through the 2013 Opel Corsa Body Structure and Airbags.
Here’s a screenshot from Moditech’s Crash Recovery System (CRS). A page on Moditech’s webscast has a bunch of examples of how Crash Recovery System can be used for Component Awareness in vehicles. Bar none, nothing beats Moditech’s CRS! This software is a becoming a necessity for fire departments and rescue companies to help keep up with the changing vehicles.
Nothing too unique about the features on the 2013 Jaguar XJ, battery is in the truck and per the Crash Recovery System screenshot below, the stored gas inflator for the side-curtain airbags is just behind the B-Pillar. Dual-stage front airbags, front seat-mounted side airbags, first and second row side-curtain airbags, and active head restraints with front-seat whiplash protection.
Here is one for the folks in Japan. Take a look at the 2013 Honda N-One Minicar Body Structure and airbags.
Here is a look at the 2013 GMC Terrain airbags and the locations of the stored gas inflators.
BMW is notorious for locating the 12 volt batteries in the trunk. The 2013 BMW Z4 is no different. The Z4 also has stationary roll bars behind the seats. In addition to the standard airbag locations, the Z4 also has door mounted airbags. Take a quick look through the pictures below.
The 2013 Kia Rio has six airbags and a rigid, reinforced body structure for crash protection. In addition, there is an advanced, impact-sensing door lock system that automatically unlocks the doors following a collision. So make sure you try before you pry!
It’s Monday so let’s pull up Crash recovery System by Moditech! Here’s a quick look at the 2013 Lexus CT Hybrid body structure, airbags, and battery locations.
Eight-airbag system including driver’s and front passenger’s advanced airbag system, front seat-mounted side airbags, driver’s and front passenger’s knee airbags and front and rear side curtain airbags. Pre-tensioners with force limiters for front seats.
Here’s a quick look at the 2013 Lexus LS body structure and airbags. Make sure you check the unique airbag inflator in the rear seat!
The LS features dual-stage SRS airbags (Front seats), SRS knee airbags (Front seats), SRS side airbags (Front and outboard rear seats), and SRS curtain shield airbags (Front and rear door windows). An anti-submarining SRS Seat Cushion Airbag is available on long body models. Take a look at the Crash Recovery System screenshot below that shows the anti-submarining airbag.
2013 Nissan GTR Body Structure has different types of metals. Aluminum and different grades of high strength steels. Also, take a quick look at the Crash Recovery System screenshot below for airbag locations.
Check out the 2013 Cadillac ATS body structure! Cadillac engineers used Martensitic alloys and ultra-high strength steel, among other materials, help make ATS one of the lightest vehicles in the class. The ATS earned a 5-star overall crash test rating in the New Car Assessment Program run by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The b-pillar is made from Press Hardened/ Hot Stamped steel and Martensite.
The rear seat has an optional airbag that deploys from the outer bolster. The image below shows the concept and location of the airbag. Just keep the location of this stored gas inflator in the back of your head and remember that airbags are now located throughout a vehicle, and not just in the common locations like the dash, pillars, front seats, and headliners.
Just like every Subaru, the 2013 Impreza has their Ring-Shaped Frame Reinforcement body structure with extensive use of high-tensile steel in body structure for strength and safety. All 2013 Impreza models feature a driver’s knee airbag on a roster of safety features that also includes standard front side pelvis/torso airbags and side curtain airbags that offer front and rear outboard seat coverage. The passenger-seat front airbag features a shell-type design with a center groove, thus exposing the passenger to less impact force upon deployment. The seatbelts have pretensioners and force limiters.
Here’s a quick look at the 2013 Mitsubishi Lancer body structure and airbag locations. The Lancer has 7 airbag system dual front airbags, front seat-mounted side airbags and side air curtains. Plus a standard airbag to protect the driver’s knees.
Make sure you take note of the location of the roof/side airbag stored gas inflator in the C-Pillar. The Crash Recovery System screenshot below clearly shows the hazard in a common cut location.
Body Structure
The 2013 Honda Fit utilizes Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body-structure technology to enhance occupant protection and crash compatibility in frontal collisions. The ACE system actively channels frontal crash energy to both upper and lower structural elements, including the floor frame rails, side sills and A-pillars. The ACE body structure routes crash forces around and away from the passenger compartment.
Airbags
The Fit has six standard airbags. The Fit has side curtain airbags and the passenger-side Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS) airbag that will not deploy if the system detects a smaller-sized or out-of-position occupant. Both the driver and front passenger front airbags (SRS) incorporate dual-stage and multiple-threshold activation technology. The front row seats also have seat belt pretensioners and active head restraints.
Battery Crash Safety
The Electric Vehicle Fit is designed to protect the high-voltage parts within the vehicle in case of a severe crash. For example, the floor frame and crossmembers form a grid-like compartment to surround and protect the drive battery. The electrical flow is automatically disconnected if a severe crash occurs.
Make sure you take a quick look through the 2013 Honda Fit Emergency Response Guide.
In the image below, the 2013 Audi A3 shows, in red, an extensive use of hot-formed steel – usually used in high stressed parts with strength in excess of 1000MPa.
The 2013 Ford S-MAX has a body structure made up of Ultra-High Strength Steel (UHSS) with safety features that include a collapsible steering column and retracting pedals that collapse away from the driver. The S-MAX has driver’s and front passenger’s airbags; front side impact airbags; front and second row side-curtain airbags (deployed from the headlining); and driver’s knee airbag. Ford S-MAX being awarded a maximum 5-star Adult Occupant Rating in Euro NCAP crash tests.
Quick Review. Below is a quick overview of the 2013 Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ Hybrid and Fusion Energi. The emergency response procedures for the Fusion Hybrid, MKZ Hybrid and Fusion Energi vehicles are similar to those for traditional gasoline-powered vehicles with the addition of special considerations for the high-voltage electric system components.
The Fusion Hybrid, MKZ Hybrid and Fusion Energi vehicles use a conventional gasoline
engine in addition to an electric motor to power the vehicle.
- Gasoline is stored in a traditional fuel tank.
- Electricity is stored in a high-voltage battery pack.
For additional information review the 2013 Fusion MKZ Hybrid Emergency Response Guide.
2013 Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ Hybrid
| Component | Location/ Description | Function | |
| 1 | High-Voltage Battery Approximately 300-Volts DC |
|
Provides high-voltage storage for vehicle’s electric motor. |
| 2 | 12-Volt Battery |
|
Provides 12-volts for vehicle accessories. |
| 3 | High-Voltage Service Disconnect |
|
Provides means to disconnect high-voltage battery for safely servicing vehicle. |
| 4 | High-Voltage Wiring |
|
Provides physical connection between high-voltage battery and vehicle’s high-voltage equipment. |
| 5 | Transmission Control Module |
|
Provides rotational force during Electrical Drive Modes. Generates 3-phase AC high-voltage electricity via two cables to and from the traction motor and generator. |
| 6 | Electronically Controlled Continuously Variable Transaxle (ECVT) |
|
Provides rotational force to the wheels for vehicle propulsion and transmits rotational force to the engine’s generator to recharge batteries. |
| 7 | Electric A/C Compressor |
|
Provides electric A/C operation; replaces the belt driven A/C compressor. |
2013 Ford Fusion Energi
| Component | Location/ Description | Function | |
| 1 | High-Voltage Service Disconnect |
|
Provides means to high-voltage battery for safely servicing vehicle. |
| 2 | High-Voltage Battery Approximately 300 Volts DC |
|
Provides high-voltage storage for vehicle’s electric motor. |
| 3 | 110-Volt Cordset |
|
Provides 110v charging option to the high-voltage battery when connected to the charging port . |
| 4 | 12-Volt Battery |
|
Provides 12-volts for vehicle accessories. |
| 5 | High-Voltage Wiring |
|
Provides physical connection between High-Voltage battery and vehicle’s High-Voltage equipment. |
| 6 | Charging Port |
|
Provides 110v charging option to the high-voltage battery when the vehicle is not in operation . |
| 7 | Transmission Control Module |
|
Provides rotational force during Electrical Drive Modes. Generates 3-phase AC High Voltage electricity via two cables to and from the traction motor and generator. |
| 8 | Electronically Controlled Continuously Variable Transaxle (ECVT) |
|
Provides rotational force to the wheels for vehicle propulsion and transmits rotational force to the engine’s generator to recharge batteries. |
| 9 | Electric A/C Compressor |
|
Provides electric A/C operation; replaces the belt driven A/C compressor. |
| 10 | Electric Heater |
|
Provides passenger compartment with heat without the need to turn the engine on. |
The 2013 Ford Fusion uses hydroformed steel tubes for its B-pillars and a hydroformed A-pillar roof rail. So why is this important to us? Using hydroforming instead of hot-stamped welded sheet to create the car’s roof-pillar structure reduced mass, saved cost, reduced the bill of material (which is the number of parts welded together to make the B-pillar), and helped improve the new Fusion’s crash performance. The hydroformed steel tubes replaced hot-stamped parts. B-pillars are a common place to find hot-stamped boron and the hydroformed steel tubes are replacing it in the 2013 Fusion.
Take a close look at the two images below of the body structure of the previous design and the new hydroformed design. Notice that the previous design used boron steel and the new hydroformed design does not. I’m going to try to work some magic and see if I can get my hands on a 2013 Fusion but since it is new it might take a little time before showing up in scrap yards.
The 2013 Ford Focus is packed full of boron and other ultra-high strength steels. But, let’s take a look at the B-pillar and the material it is made from. The B-pillar is made from tailored rolled steel blanks that allow parts to have different thicknesses through one part. The important nugget to take away from this is if a cutter ever stalls during a cut, simply moving the tool up or down an inch or two can allow the cut to be successful.
Colors indicate eight different thicknesses in the B-pillar post of the forthcoming Ford Focus. The right-hand color strip starts with the thinnest sections at the bottom (four shades of blue), rising to two shades of green and then one each of yellow and orange (thickest at 2.7 mm). The eight thicknesses on the Focus B-pillar range from a maximum of 2.7 mm (0.1 in) to as thin as 1.35 mm (0.05 in). The engineering of the shape puts the greatest thicknesses where they are needed for maximum strength in side impacts, and in the case of the B-pillar it’s just above the midpoint (orange area in illustration).
Check out the body structure of the 2012 Ford Focus which is carried over into the 2013 model.
Just because thee A-pillars are thinner on the 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek doesn’t mean there is not any high-strength steel lurking inside. The XV Crosstrek is expected to score a maximum five stars from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and earn a “Top Safety Pick” from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
The 2013 XV Crosstrek features Subaru’s Advanced Frontal Airbag System. This is important because the intelligent air bag system employs dual-stage-deployment driver and front passenger airbags. A seat position sensor on the driver’s seat track detects if the driver is sitting too close to the airbag, in which case the system would delay deployment of the airbag’s second stage. The passenger side front seat incorporates an occupant detection module that detects seat occupancy and passenger weight to control airbag deployment.
Electrically triggered pre-tensioners and force limiters are located in the front 3-point seatbelts. The seatbelt mechanism also absorbs energy through internal deformation.
The 2013 Subaru BRZ body structure is bolstered by generous use of high-tensile steel, no really! Just like every Subaru, The BRZ body structure uses Subaru’s ring-shaped reinforcement frame is designed to shield and protect in a collision. Made of high-tensile strength steel, it directs impact energy around the passenger compartment, rather than through it.
The BRZ comes standard with a total of six airbags: front, front seat side torso/pelvis, and side-curtain.
Here is a quick look at the body structure and airbag locations in the all new 2013 Cadillac XTS. General Motors used a stiff structure with the body infused with strategically placed, ultra-high-strength steel for strength and crash protection, and serves as the foundation for the advanced chassis system. Stay tuned for more info as it becomes available!
There is really nothing too crazy with the body structure of the 2013 Toyota Corolla. There is some Ultra-High Strength Steel in the A-Pillar (A-Post) and in the doors. Based on the picture below if you are making a relief cut or just cutting the A-Pillar for a roof removal if your older cutters stall out. Just move your tool high up the A-Pillar to get post the reinforcement. Always remember to pull away the interior trim pieces to check for stored gas inflators.
The 2013 Chevrolet Spark is equipped with 10 standard air bags, including both driver and passenger front knee air bags to reduce the risk of lower extremity injuries in frontal crashes. Dual-stage frontal air bags, seat-mounted side air bags and side curtain air bags that extend over the front and rear seating rows are also standard.
The 2013 Hyundai Equus has 9 airbags. Two advanced dual front airbags; a driver’s knee airbag; four front and rear seat-mounted side-impact airbags; and two roof-mounted side-curtain airbags for front- and rear-seat passengers.
