In German crash test, China's Brilliance BS6 sedan fails miserably

In German crash test, China's Brilliance BS6 sedan fails miserably

Posted Jun 22nd 2007 9:01AM by Alex Nunez
Brilliance BS6 ADAC crash test

 Click blue link for YouTube video

China's Brilliance BS6 is a recent entry into the European market, positioned as a premium-style import sedan at a budget price. Well, after seeing the videos of the car undergoing crash testing using Euro NCAP guidelines at the ADAC (Germany's AAA, essentially) test center, one thing's certain: buyers get what they pay for. The BS6, as currently constructed, appears to a complete piece of crap. The horrifying 40 mph offset frontal crash test video shows damage that can be described as catastrophic at best. The A-pillar collapses and folds up like a cheap suitcase, forcing the driver's door to pop largely out of its frame, while the lower portion of the car buckles like it's made of recycled pop cans. We wouldn't want to be the driver's legs...or any other part of him for that matter. To open the mangled door afterwards, the ADAC techs needed to use a huge crowbar to get it to budge. ADAC notes that the pedals intruded a foot and a half (32 cm) into the driver's space, while the IP moved in almost 8 inches (20 cm). Needless to say, the BS6 failed the test, garnering just 1 star

The side-impact video's no picnic, either, as the driver's upper body
takes the impact so hard, the injuries sustained would likely prove
fatal. For all the crowing about Chinese cars and how they're an
inevitability, if this is the kind of safety that they'll bring with
them, have fun finding buyers. Back in April,
Brilliance's head honcho said that this very model, the BS6, would be
imported to the US either later this year or in 2008. You know what?
Keep it.

After seeing the car's stellar crash performance in
Deutschland, we wouldn't be caught dead in one. The good news for
Europeans is that this disastrous test result might be enough to halt
sales. That's what happened after the Jiangling Motors' Landwind SUV failed the same test in even more spectacular fashion in late 2005 (listen to the ADAC guys crack up after they see the Landwind result in that second link).

Until
Chinese automakers get very serious about making and exporting cars
that meet commonly-accepted occupant protection standards, the idea of
them having any impact whatsoever in the safety-conscious United States
market is laughable.
.

Follow the jump for more coverage/opinion and the related videos. Thanks to Andy B. for the tip!

[Sources: ADAC (translated) via Autobild, AFX News via Forbes]

Gallery: Brilliance BS6 ADAC Crash test