Bulking Up Protection for Chrysler and Dodge Minivans
The 2001-model Chrysler and Dodge minivans have added 47 lbs. of increased steel front-end protection, a DaimlerChrysler spokesman said today. The new reinforcements optimize the minivans’ performance in offset crashes. To compensate for the added weight, DaimlerChrysler engineers were able to trim pounds from less sensitive areas, such as the engine and rear bumper. The new reinforcements required a delicate balance, since structural characteristics that optimize protection in an offset crash differ from those that maximize protection in a head-on crash. The balance was determined by sophisticated computer analysis of vehicle structure and by extensive crash testing. “We crashed a lot of minivans developing this vehicle,” said Robert Feldmaier, director of body engineering and vehicle packaging for the minivan platform.
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