VF COMMODORE: Safely integrated

While the VF Commodore safety story has gained most headlines for the omission of the driver’s knee airbag fitted to its US offspring, the Chevrolet SS, Holden says there are less obvious additions within the car that make its occupants safer than in a VE Commodore.

“It’s hard to quantify the safety improvement without getting into numbers, but we do have the numbers and they are better than the current car,” insisted Holden's Engineering Group Manager for Vehicle Structure and Safety Integration, Steve Curtis.

“Because we stepped off VE, which was a very safe car, everything we have touched we have improved. So the numbers we are getting for side impact and frontal impact are very good. I would say we are up there with the best of them in terms of large car (crash) performance.”

ANCAP results reflect this confidence. While the VE was initially a four-star car with an ANCAP score of 27.45 (out of 37), it later evolved to five-star status. It scored 33.45, also out of 37. The new VF is officially a five-star car with a score that has further improved to 35.06.

There are a significant number of passive and active safety improvements made to VF, but the one Curtis singles out is side impact protection. A stiffer B-pillar, using better grade ultra-high-strength steel, and a new front-side airbag from the Chevrolet Volt that protects the pelvis as well as the thorax are keys to this improvement.

“The airbag enables the energy to be loaded up into the pelvis rather than the rib cage,” he explained.

“The pelvis is a far bigger bone to take that load, so the rib deflection numbers we are getting are significantly better than we did for VE.”

That’s especially good news for older passengers because as we age our bone density lowers, making us more prone to injury in an impact.

Other significant body structure modifications included a reduction in weight of the front chassis rails and a redesign to better channel impact energy. The bonnet was also redesigned for better pedestrian protection, which now must reach a certain level for a car to achieve a five-star ANCAP rating. The VF’s bonnet bulges is a direct result of this necessity.

VF Commodore safety also benefits from the swap to GM’s Global A electric architecture, which makes available a whole raft of new driver assistance features including lane departure warning, head-up display and forward collision alert. Active safety is also aided by chassis upgrades that include new electric-assist power steering and better brakes (see chassis story).

New passive safety features include three Isofix child seat mounts in the rear and four-way adjustable head restraints for the driver and front passenger.

Links to motoring.com.au’s VF Commodore news
>> Mission accomplished: Holden had simple aims for VF
>> Steering a new path: EPAS is the headline item but VF’s chassis represents significant change
>> Aero Dynamic: Pedestrian safety and aerodynamics have shaped VF
>> Inside Job: Fewer parts and better materials drive VF Commodore’s interior upgrade
>> Large car future proofed: VF’s new electrical platform plays a vital role
>> Power games: Carry over powertrains don’t detract from VF story
>> Getting connected: VF delivers impressive connectivity
>> Safely integrated: No US-spec kneebag but Holden says VF is safer

>> First Drive -- VF Commodore SS
>> First Drive -- VF Commodore Evoke
>> First Drive -- VF Commodore Calais V
>> First Drive -- VF Commodore SV6 Ute
>> Along for the ride: In a very small way motoring.com.au played its part in the VF

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