Mercedes‑Benz has shown the world’s first live high-speed side-impact crash test with two production vehicles. Both vehicles were travelling at 56 km/h – an exceptionally demanding practical test for the safety of the new CLA. In everyday traffic, the CLA’s modern driver assistance systems would help drivers to avoid such a collision or reduce its severity. To test the two vehicles, each weighing more than two tonnes, Mercedes‑Benz conducted the crash test – as is customary for such tests – without prior braking.
A CLA Shooting Brake with electrified combustion engine drove directly into the driver’s side of an all-electric CLA.
That is a high-speed and extremely severe side-impact collision. According to Mercedes-Benz’s own accident research, a speed of 56 km/h for both vehicles is at the upper end of junction accidents that occur in real-world traffic scenarios. Furthermore, the speed is higher than the speeds normally encountered in city-centre traffic. As there is considerably less space available on the side of the vehicle for energy absorption than at the front, this type of crash test scenario is considered one of the most critical types of accident for occupants and the vehicle structure. The chosen scenario is also particularly challenging, as the all-electric CLA is struck in the side by the other vehicle. These are precisely the areas that require the highest level of protection: the passenger compartment and, in the case of fully electric vehicles, the high-voltage battery housed in the underbody.
The result: Both CLA models provided their occupants with exceptionally good protection
The passenger compartments of both vehicles remained intact. The readings from all eight crash-test dummies, representing four adults and four children, remained below the relevant biomechanical limits. These limits are used within the industry to assess occupant protection. And the dummy readings indicate that all safety systems worked as intended for one reason: to keep the occupants as safe as possible. The data, comprising up to 150 measurement points per dummy, confirmed the effectiveness of the vehicles’ safety systems. The results indicate that there is a low risk of serious or life-threatening injuries to the occupants. Also, the high-voltage battery itself remained intact and undamaged, despite the direct and severe side impact.
“Mercedes-Benz’s ambition is to build the safest vehicles in the world. That is why we develop safety systems that address real-world traffic scenarios. The world’s first public intersection crash test conducted in this configuration is a powerful demonstration of that ambition.”
Jörg Burzer, Member of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG, Chief Technology Officer, Development & Purchasing
Why this test goes beyond the standards
No law and no safety rating requires a side-impact crash test involving two real vehicles. Standard tests are carried out against stationary barriers or so-called impact vehicles under specified conditions. However, Mercedes-Benz opted for two moving production vehicles and a scenario based on real-world accident data. The test speed of 56 km/h represents the upper end of the real-world range for serious junction collisions. And: Around a quarter of accidents resulting in personal injury are side-impact collisions. The test therefore demonstrates how its holistic safety concept performs in an unusually severe real-life accident scenario.
“If you want to build the safest vehicles, you need to incorporate insights from real-world accidents into your vehicle development requirements. We call this Real-Life Safety. This test involving two CLA models demonstrates how we successfully translate that approach into reality.”Paul Dick, Director of Vehicle Safety, Mercedes-Benz AG
Safety, developed from real-life scenarios
Mercedes‑Benz has been investigating and reconstructing real-life accidents since 1969. A total of around 6,000 accidents were analysed – jointly by research teams in Germany, China and India. The findings are incorporated into body structures, restraint systems and the company’s own requirements.
Long before a new Mercedes‑Benz vehicle is subjected to a physical crash test, it has already completed extensive virtual testing. During the development process, every new model undergoes around 15,000 crash simulations. Artificial intelligence supports our engineers in making these predictions even more precise. Overall, Mercedes‑Benz carries out around 150 physical crash tests for a new model, going well beyond legal requirements in pursuit of the high safety standards.
