Audi Thinks Back on 75 years of Safety Testing

AudiAudiGermany, 1909 > present83 models
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performed its first auto safety test 75 years ago when a group of DKWDKWGermany, 1927 > 196522 models
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engineers rolled an F7 off a hill in Golm, Germany, in 1938 to see how it would hold up. To show that they were proud of the car, they did it in front of the public and media. The car rolled multiple times, but when it stopped, the engine was still running, and the passenger compartment was intact.

From that mild beginning, Audi began safety testing more of its cars. The 1958 NSU PrinzNSU Prinz IGermany, 1958 > 19601 photo
was among the first Audi’s to have a front crumple zone, and the Audi 100Audi 100 Gen.1Germany, 1968 > 19765 versions
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and NSU Ro80NSU Ro80Germany, 1969 > present5 photos
were the first from the brand to use safety dummies in crash tests. It took until 1970 for Audi to build a dedicated crash testing center in Ingolstadt, which is still used today.

One of Audi’s major safety innovations in 1986 was the “Procon-ten” safety system. In this system, the engine was connected steel cables and pulleys. In a front impact, if the engine moved toward the passenger compartment, the steel cables pulled the steering wheel into the car away from the driver and tensioned the front seatbelts. It lasted until Audi introduced airbags to its cars.

Audi established the Audi Accident Research Unit in 1998 to research vehicle safety for prototype vehicles. The group works with doctors at the University of Regensburg to analyze accident data from new models. A separate group creates accident simulations for prototype vehicles, up to two years before the cars are even physically built.

The company’s latest safety honor is the A3Audi A3 Gen.3 [Typ 8V]Germany, 2012 > present275 versions
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receiving Euro NCAP advanced awards four times in 2012 for its active safety systems like active lane assist, brake assist and front accident pre sense.

Things have come a long way from rolling a car off a hill to make sure it is safe.