Volvo VESC

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Volvo
Volvo vesc 2012.jpg
VESC
Presentation year: 1972
Vehicle fair: Geneva Motor Show
Class : Upper class
Body shape : limousine
Length: 5520 mm
Width: 1821 mm
Height: 1420 mm
Wheelbase: 2702 mm
Empty weight: 1451 kg
Production model: none

The Volvo VESC ( Volvo Experimental Safety Car ) is a concept vehicle from the Swedish car manufacturer Volvo from 1972. The vehicle, which presented various innovations aimed at improving the safety of occupants and passers-by, was shown at the Geneva Motor Show. Externally, the vehicle anticipated the 240 and 260 series, which were built until 1993 and are still the best-selling Volvo models to this day.

History and Manufacturing

For the company, which was founded in Gothenburg in 1927 , vehicle safety has always been at the fore:

“Cars are driven by people. The guiding principle behind everything we make at Volvo, therefore, is and must remain, safety. "

“Cars are driven by people. The guiding principle behind everything we do at Volvo must therefore be and remain safety. "

- Assar Gabrielsson and Gustav Larson, 1927

Over the decades, this basic attitude has been expressed time and again in innovations that noticeably improved road safety and quickly found their way into almost all automobile manufacturers. From 1944, Volvo started using the laminated safety glass developed by a Vattenfall engineer in its PV444 model. Another new feature was the construction of a safety cage running through the vehicle.

In 1959, Volvo presented the three-point seat belt designed by Nils Bohin and, because of its importance, opened the patent to other manufacturers. In 1964, the company's own child seat was presented, which was for the first time facing the direction of travel, followed by its own booster seat in 1978 .

In the late 1960s, Volvo was working on a concept vehicle called the P1560, which would mark the manufacturer's entry into the luxury class . The prototype was created in several designs; the focus, in addition to testing a V8 engine, was primarily on testing various airbag designs. Due to the uncertainty about an announced reform of the American traffic safety regulations, the project was discontinued. Nevertheless, many insights and the design were a solid basis for the construction of the VESC.

Many of the safety concepts were implemented in Volvo's subsequent series productions and clearly exceeded the requirements of the national authorities. This is particularly evident in the Volvo 240, which was named the reference vehicle for all research by the American Federal Road Safety Authority (NHTSA) .

A total of ten of the “rolling safety laboratories”, as the vehicle was unofficially called, were built. Most of them were used in crash tests . One of the demonstration models is now in the Volvo Museum in Gothenburg.

Motorization

The study was also dedicated to modern engine technology. The car received a revised version of the four-cylinder engine of the B20 series. With gasoline injection and an EGR exhaust gas recirculation system with a catalytic converter, the unit already met the strict exhaust gas regulations planned for 1974 in the United States and formed the basis for the market launch of the regulated three-way catalytic converter with lambda probe in the 240 in 1976.

Security concepts

Many of the security concepts, which were revolutionary at the time, soon found their way into global mass production by automobile manufacturers. The sustainability of the innovations is shown above all by the fact that a large part of the innovations are part of today's standard for cars manufactured for North America and Europe.

Painting

The trend colors of the 1970s were bright, bright colors that were labeled and advertised as signal and safety colors . Accordingly, Volvo chose orange as the paintwork, with the bonnet covered in matt black to avoid any reflections that could irritate the driver. The color could also be selected for the later Volvo 240.

body

The side doors were reinforced by many horizontal tubular struts to withstand side collisions. In addition, the door not only closed in the area of ​​the lock, but was also locked with hooks on the sills, which increased the rigidity. This mechanism was also used for child safety in the rear.

The sides of the vehicle had plastic protective strips.

The roof was reinforced by a roll-over protection that ran across the headliner . In the event of a fall from a height of 2.40 m, the roof was not dented by more than 7.5 cm.

The front and rear bumpers were excessively long and attached to telescopic bars. This should prevent any damage to the occupants and to the body in the event of a collision at low speeds of up to 16 km / h.

Calculated crumple zones were provided in the front and rear to ensure optimum energy absorption.

A special feature was the vehicle's bulkhead. The component that separates the engine compartment and the vehicle cabin was designed in such a way that the deeply built-in engine block would be pressed under the passenger cell in the event of a frontal impact.

Most recently, the concept featured automatic height adjustment of the rear axle. This resulted in a favorable vehicle height and orientation for different loads.

Personal protection in the interior

The VESC was equipped with airbags in the front and rear. Another airbag in the area of ​​the parcel shelf provided protection in rear-end collisions.

There was additional padding in the knee area of ​​the front and rear seats.

In addition to the fixed headrests in the rear, those in the front row of seats were lowered and automatically extended in the event of an accident. The back fell flat backwards, in order to let a possible impact of the heads of people sitting behind go out as lightly as possible.

In addition to the semi-passive three-point seat belts at the front, which were fitted automatically when the engine was started, the seats in the rear were also fitted with seat belts.

The preloaded steering column was a novelty. In the event of a collision, the steering wheel sinks 15 cm into the dashboard to give the driver more space to the front. This design is still widespread today and Svenska Kullagerfabriken (SKF) , the group founded in 1907, as its subsidiary Volvo, sells product solutions of this type.

Vehicle rear with reversing camera and white areas for better perception

Electrical devices

The idea of ​​a reversing camera was decades ahead of development. A Mitsubishi-supplied camera in the middle of the stern provided an image on a tube screen in the center console.

Both the front and rear windows and the headlights had wipers and their own washer fluid system.

When the doors were opened, a yellow warning light shone on the front.

When reversing, a warning signal set in, as is now the rule for trucks.

Fuel system

The fuel tank was mounted in the middle of the vehicle behind the second row of seats. This should make damage more difficult in the event of a collision. The fuel line to the engine was cut off by an electronic device in the event of a serious accident in order to reduce the risk of fire.

Predecessor of the anti-lock braking system

Depending on the load distribution, all four brakes were individually controlled electronically. Targeted, brief release of individual wheels resulted in a more stable and more controllable braking result due to reduced yaw movements of the vehicle. The device is one of those several manufacturers who are reminiscent of the ABS system patented by Bosch in 1978 , which is now in use worldwide.

Web links

Commons : Volvo VESC  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ https://www.kfz-betrieb.vogel.de/index.cfm?pid=5578&pk=4468#2
  2. ↑ https://www.kfz-betrieb.vogel.de/index.cfm?pid=5578&pk=4468#2
  3. ↑ https://www.kfz-betrieb.vogel.de/index.cfm?pid=5578&pk=4468#2
  4. ↑ https://www.kfz-betrieb.vogel.de/index.cfm?pid=5578&pk=4468#2
  5. ↑ https://www.kfz-betrieb.vogel.de/index.cfm?pid=5578&pk=4468#2
  6. ↑ Concepts - Volvo VESC (1972) - Overview - Volvo Cars Global Media Newsroom. Retrieved December 28, 2019 .
  7. ↑ https://www.media.volvocars.com/global/en-gb/media/pressreleases/11479
  8. ↑ https://www.cbsnews.com/news/volvo-goes-to-china-will-its-tradition-of-safety-go-with-it/
  9. ↑ How Volvo Became Synonymous With Safety: A Story of Innovation, Focus and Sharing. Retrieved December 28, 2019 .
  10. ↑ WELT: More than security made from Swedish steel: Tradition: 60 years of Volvo in Germany . June 11, 2018 ( online [accessed December 28, 2019]).
  11. ↑ History com Editors: Three-point seatbelt inventor Nils Bohlin born. Retrieved December 28, 2019 .
  12. ↑ Volvo's Three-Point Safety Belt Celebrates 50 Years of Saving Lives. Retrieved December 28, 2019 .
  13. ↑ Karin Brolin, Isabelle Stockman, Marianne Andersson, Katarina Bohman, Laure-Lise Gras: Safety of children in cars: A review of biomechanical aspects and human body models . In: IATSS Research . tape 38 , no. 2 , March 1, 2015, ISSN  0386-1112 , p. 92-102 , doi : 10.1016 / j.iatssr.2014.09.001 ( online [accessed December 28, 2019]).
  14. ↑ How Volvo Became Synonymous With Safety: A Story of Innovation, Focus and Sharing. Retrieved December 28, 2019 .
  15. ↑ Volvos prototype and conceptual. In: Volvos klassiska bilar. July 9, 2014, accessed December 28, 2019 (sv-SE).
  16. ↑ volvo_cars: ИСТОРИЯ VOLVO 240 И VOLVO 260. In: Персональный блог про автомобили Volvo. March 22, 2014, accessed December 28, 2019 .
  17. ↑ Concepts - Volvo VESC (1972) - Overview - Volvo Cars Global Media Newsroom. Retrieved December 28, 2019 .
  18. ↑ Concepts - Volvo VESC (1972) - Overview - Volvo Cars Global Media Newsroom. Retrieved December 28, 2019 .
  19. ↑ Volvo VESC. In: radicalmag. April 8, 2016, accessed December 28, 2019 .
  20. ↑ Volvo VESC. In: radicalmag. April 8, 2016, accessed December 28, 2019 .
  21. ↑ The company's tradition lives on in the Volvo Museum. Retrieved December 28, 2019 (Austrian German).
  22. ↑ Volvo VESC. In: radicalmag. April 8, 2016, accessed December 28, 2019 .
  23. ↑ Concepts - Volvo VESC (1972) - Overview - Volvo Cars Global Media Newsroom. Retrieved December 28, 2019 .
  24. ↑ The times are reflected in the paint. April 3, 2011, accessed December 28, 2019 .
  25. ↑ Popular car colors. ( JPEG ) In: Braunschweiger-Zeitung.de. Retrieved December 28, 2019 .
  26. ↑ Bruno von Rotz: The colorful car world of the 70s . In: Tages-Anzeiger . February 16, 2013, ISSN  1422-9994 ( online [accessed December 28, 2019]).
  27. ↑ Klaus Sievers: Drivers love gray and black. January 5, 2006, accessed December 28, 2019 .
  28. ↑ Volvo VESC. In: radicalmag. April 8, 2016, accessed December 28, 2019 .
  29. ↑ Pictures: 40 years of the Volvo 240/260: The Swedish icon. Retrieved December 28, 2019 .
  30. ↑ 1972 Volvo VESC Concept Wallpapers [HD] - DriveSpark. Retrieved December 28, 2019 .
  31. ↑ 1972 Volvo VESC Concept Wallpapers [HD] - DriveSpark. Retrieved December 28, 2019 .
  32. ↑ 1972 Volvo VESC Concept Wallpapers [HD] - DriveSpark. Retrieved December 28, 2019 .
  33. ↑ WELT: More than security made from Swedish steel: Tradition: 60 years of Volvo in Germany . June 11, 2018 ( online [accessed December 28, 2019]).
  34. ↑ Pictures: 40 years of the Volvo 240/260: The Swedish icon. Retrieved December 29, 2019 .
  35. ↑ 1972 Volvo VESC Concept Wallpapers [HD] - DriveSpark. Retrieved December 28, 2019 .
  36. ↑ Volvo VESC. In: radicalmag. April 8, 2016, accessed December 28, 2019 .
  37. ↑ Concepts - Volvo VESC (1972) - Overview - Volvo Cars Global Media Newsroom. Retrieved December 28, 2019 .
  38. ↑ Volvo VESC. In: radicalmag. April 8, 2016, accessed December 28, 2019 .
  39. ↑ 1972 Volvo VESC Concept Wallpapers [HD] - DriveSpark. Retrieved December 28, 2019 .
  40. ↑ Concepts - Volvo VESC (1972) - Overview - Volvo Cars Global Media Newsroom. Retrieved December 28, 2019 .
  41. ↑ Concepts - Volvo VESC (1972) - Overview - Volvo Cars Global Media Newsroom. Retrieved December 28, 2019 .
  42. ↑ VESC: The Volvo Before Its Time. Retrieved December 29, 2019 .
  43. ↑ 1972 Volvo VESC Concept Wallpapers [HD] - DriveSpark. Retrieved December 28, 2019 .
  44. ↑ 1972 Volvo VESC Concept Wallpapers [HD] - DriveSpark. Retrieved December 28, 2019 .
  45. ↑ 1972 Volvo VESC Concept Wallpapers [HD] - DriveSpark. Retrieved December 28, 2019 .
  46. ↑ 1972 Volvo VESC Concept Wallpapers [HD] - DriveSpark. Retrieved December 29, 2019 .
  47. ↑ Volvo VESC. In: radicalmag. April 8, 2016, accessed December 29, 2019 .
  48. ↑ VESC: The Volvo Before Its Time. Retrieved December 29, 2019 .
  49. ↑ 1972 Volvo VESC Concept Wallpapers [HD] - DriveSpark. Retrieved December 29, 2019 .
  50. ↑ Steering column bearings for use in vehicle steering. Retrieved December 29, 2019 .
  51. ↑ VESC: The Volvo Before Its Time. Retrieved December 29, 2019 .
  52. ↑ 1972 Volvo VESC Concept Wallpapers [HD] - DriveSpark. Retrieved December 29, 2019 .
  53. ↑ 1972 Volvo VESC Concept Wallpapers [HD] - DriveSpark. Retrieved December 29, 2019 .
  54. ↑ Volvo VESC. In: radicalmag. April 8, 2016, accessed December 29, 2019 .
  55. ↑ Concepts - Volvo VESC (1972) - Overview - Volvo Cars Global Media Newsroom. Retrieved December 29, 2019 .
  56. ↑ Volvo VESC. In: radicalmag. April 8, 2016, accessed December 29, 2019 .
  57. ↑ Pictures: 40 years of the Volvo 240/260: The Swedish icon. Retrieved December 29, 2019 .
  58. ↑ Concepts - Volvo VESC (1972) - Overview - Volvo Cars Global Media Newsroom. Retrieved December 29, 2019 .