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NORCROSS, Ga. - The extensive standard safety features in all 2000 Saab 9-3 Viggen models include, but are not limited to, the Saab Active Head Restraint (SAHR), driver and passenger front airbags, dual-stage head and torso protecting side-impact airbags, and a collision force deflecting pendulum "B" pillar side-impact protection system. These features, together with the high strength steel reinforced safety cage around the passenger compartment and front and rear crumple zones, give the Saab 9-3 Viggen a very high level of crashworthiness.
All safety systems in the Saab 9-3 Viggen have been developed in line with SaabÕs Real-life Safety concept - cars must be as safe as possible in accident situations that occur in the real world. Since 1972 Saab has investigated more than 5,000 accidents involving Saabs in Sweden. In addition to providing invaluable information regarding the real-life crash safety properties of Saab cars, this data also helps Saab engineers perform more lifelike crash tests. The Saab 9-3 model has been subjected to more than 40 different crash tests, including car-to-car, car-to-truck and car-to-dummy-moose. Saab performs almost four times the number of tests mandated by government standards.
Body Structure Designed to Dissipate Energy in Controlled Manner
The body structure of the Saab 9-3 Viggen is designed to behave in a
controlled and consistent manner during a crash, regardless of the accident
type. In a frontal or rear-end crash, the collision forces are absorbed by
the crumple zones of the body and are then transferred to a reinforced
high-strength steel safety cage that surrounds the interior. The front
structure of the Saab 9-3 Viggen is specifically designed to reduce the
energy and force that occurs in a head-on crash. The front chassis members
are connected to the wheel arches and the engine subframe in such a manner
that the forces will be well distributed over a broad area instead of being
concentrated to any one point. Special reinforcements at the rear of the
front wheel arches help minimize the risk of front-wheel intrusion into the
interior in an offset crash.
A predictable deformation behavior enables the Saab engineers to optimize the design of the seat belts, airbags, dashboard and interior details, further reducing the risk of occupant injuries in a crash.
Pendulum Effect on Side Impact
In the event of a side impact, only very narrow deformation zones are
available to absorb the crash energy. The body structure is designed
mainly to distribute the impact forces over as large an area as possible.
The crash energy is absorbed by the side of the car, where the door pillar
is made of high-strength steel, and the reinforcements in the sill and door
pillar assist in distributing the impact forces to the safety cage
surrounding the interior.
The door pillar of the Saab 9-3 Viggen is designed to behave as a pendulum in the event of a side collision. Because crash energy from an impact will take the path of least resistance, SaabÕs engineers have designed into the "B" pillar a safer path that dissipates the crash energy downward. -The center section of the pillar is very stiff to prevent the pillar from deforming and intruding in the middle into the interior. The top of the "B" pillar is designed to perform as a "hinge" and retain its position when the lower half of the pillar is displaced inwards like a pendulum. As a result, it is the most robust parts of the human body (the pelvis area) that will be subjected to most of the crash energy. This reduces the risk of injury to the more fragile parts of the body - the rib cage, head and torso.
Head and Torso Protecting Side Airbags
Although the seats in the 9-3 Viggen are exclusive, the seat frames are
consistent with the other 9-3 models. Therefore, as further protection in
event of a side impact, front seat head and torso protecting side airbags
are included as standard equipment. Located in the outside bolster of each
front seatback, to be correctly positioned regardless of the occupantÕs
seat position, the side airbags are divided into upper and lower sections.
When activated, the airbag inflates in two stages. The bottom section is
fully inflated first to protect the torso, which is the part of the
occupant's body initially at risk from side-impact collision forces. The
top section of the airbag then fully inflates to offer protection for the
occupantÕs head which, at the moment of impact, is further away from the
side structure of the car and thus reacts to the crash forces with a
certain time delay.
The entire process takes only a split second. The crash sensor triggers the gas inflator in the airbag five milliseconds (0.005 seconds) after the crash process has started. The lower part of the airbag is filled after 15 milliseconds, and the top part after 30 milliseconds.
Two fullsize front airbags are standard on all variants of the Saab 9-3 Viggen.
Saab Active Head Restraint (SAHR)
Real-life accident statistics show that neck injuries are one of the most
common results of rear-end collisions, even at relatively low speeds. The
Saab Active Head Restraint (SAHR), introduced as a world-first innovation
on the Saab 9-5 and standard equipment as well on all Saab 9-3 models,
effectively reduces movements of the occupant's head following a rear-end
impact, thereby reducing the risk of whiplash injuries.
The system is entirely mechanical and is based on the lever principle. The padded head restraint is connected to a pressure plate inside the backrest. In most rear-end crashes, the occupant's body will be pressed into the backrest first, pushing the pressure plate rearward. As a result, the head restraint will move up and forward, and will "catch" the occupantÕs head before the dangerous whiplash motion has started.
Another major benefit of the mechanical SAHR system is that in most accidents it needs no repairs to restore it to operational condition after it has been activated, unlike pyrotechnic systems (including airbags). After the head restraint has reduced the movement of the neck, it reverts to its initial position and is immediately ready to operate again. As whiplash injuries usually occur in low-speed collisions in which the car may sustain only limited damage, the active head restraint does not increase the cost of the repairs needed after the crash.
Performance Attributes Contribute to Real-Life Safety
The Saab 9-3 Viggen also provides a number of performance features that can
help drivers avoid a crash situation. For example, the modifications made
to the 9-3 ViggenÕs chassis provide optimal handing and control, and
therefore, may help a driver maneuver effectively to avoid a potential
crash. Its brakes are larger than the standard 9-3Õs and are ventilated
and slotted to enhance heat dissipation. They provide outstanding stopping
capabilities and may help a driver avoid an accident. Additionally, the
power of the 9-3 Viggen may also be useful in overtaking situations and
when merging into traffic.
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