Few like to discuss car crashes, or even think about what would happen to their precious vehicle (and health) in the event of an accident. Fortunately, we have organizations like the IIHS in the United States and NCAP in Europe to do the safety testing beforehand.
Here’s the thing though, the organizations typically don’t typically conduct their tests over 40 mph. Meanwhile, modern cars are much more capable of attaining higher speeds than ever before. Fortunately, it’s not very often that vehicles are obliterated in high-speed crashes in the real world. But in case you’ve ever wondered about how a regular car would perform in a high-speed crash, you now can do so, courtesy of 5th Gear.
The guys take one standard issue winch, with 15,000 pound-feet of torque (or the torque equivalent of 16 Bugatti Veyrons, to put it into perspective), one first-generation Ford Focus three-door hatchback, and one fortified wall for the Ford to slam into. But there’s one exception: the velocity at which the Focus slams into the barrier isn’t an interstate speed, but rather that of the autobahn — at 120 mph (193 kph).
That speed is a worst case scenario for any accident, and is the equivalent of two cars colliding in a head-on collision. The results are tremendous and the sound is eerily spooky, as the Ford is obliterated, leaving only the rear end somewhat recognizable. The Focus decelerates from 120-0 in 68 milliseconds, and occupants would experience forces of 400 Gs. The passengers, well, they wouldn’t be too well if mannequins weren’t test occupants.
Take the video as a quick reminder to always drive safe and always buckle up. But since this was a closed environment, and nobody was harmed in the making, enjoy the carnage at your own will.
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