How To Crash Test A $2 Million Koenigsegg Hypercar - www.APEX.one

Summary

Christoph von Koenigsegg, founder of Koenigsegg, shares the painstaking process of crash testing hypercars. He explains the rigorous US standards requiring tests without seatbelts and smart airbag systems that adapt to the passenger's size and position. Koenigsegg's innovative approach involves designing a carbon-fiber monocoque that can endure multiple crashes, reducing costs and resources. The company uses a supercomputer for crash simulations to ensure safety and accuracy, reflecting their commitment to building safe yet thrilling hypercars.

Takeaways

• 🚗 Christoph von Koenigsegg has dedicated half his life to leading the hypercar industry with Swedish design and visionary technical solutions.
• 💥 The process of crash testing is emotionally challenging for the team as they witness the destruction of their cars.
• 🔧 In the US, cars must be crash tested without seat belts and equipped with smart airbags that adjust deployment based on various parameters.
• 👨‍🔧 Koenigsegg designs its carbon-fiber monocoque to withstand multiple crash tests, reducing the need for multiple chassis and saving costs.
• 💡 The company uses a supercomputer to simulate crashes of carbon-fiber structures, which helps in reducing risks and improving the accuracy of physical tests.
• 📈 Specialists at Koenigsegg are dedicated to developing and refining the crash simulation programs for carbon-fiber cars.
• 🔍 Physical test results are correlated back to simulations to ensure accuracy and continuous improvement of the crash test process.
• 🏭 Koenigsegg builds the cars in Angelholm and sends them to their facilities in Barcelona for testing, incurring logistical costs and time.
• 👥 The team is present during the tests in Barcelona but cannot intervene in the preparation or execution of the crash tests.
• 🛠 The process of crash testing is both a critical safety verification and a stressful experience due to the destruction of the cars.

Q & A

What is Christoph von Koenigsegg's goal in the hypercar industry?

Christoph von Koenigsegg's goal is to be a leader in the hypercar industry by utilizing Swedish design combined with visionary technical solutions.

What is the emotional impact on Koenigsegg when preparing a car for crash tests?

Preparing a car for crash tests is emotionally challenging for Koenigsegg, as it is painful to watch the car being slowly destroyed.

What are the requirements for crash testing cars in the US?

In the US, cars must undergo crash tests without belts and be equipped with smart airbags that can sense the size of the person, their position, whether they are wearing a belt, and the angle of impact to adjust the deployment accordingly.

How does Koenigsegg save money during the crash testing process?

Koenigsegg saves money by designing their carbon-fiber monocoque to withstand various crash tests without being destroyed, allowing the same monocoque chassis to be used for all tests.

What is the annual production of Koenigsegg compared to regular manufacturers?

Regular manufacturers can produce 16 cars without issue, but for Koenigsegg, 16 cars is almost their entire annual production.

Why is it more cost-effective for Koenigsegg to rebuild and repair the same car for multiple crash tests?

It is more cost-effective because the integral and most expensive part of the car, the monocoque chassis, does not need to be replaced after each test, only the bodywork and crash members.

What special equipment did Koenigsegg purchase to simulate crash tests?

Koenigsegg purchased a supercomputer to simulate crashes of carbon-fiber structures, which is unusual in the industry.

How does the supercomputer help in reducing the risk during actual crash tests?

The supercomputer allows for crash simulation of carbon-fiber cars, enabling Koenigsegg to know the results before actual physical tests, which helps correlate back to the simulation and increase the accuracy of subsequent tests.

What is the logistical process for Koenigsegg when sending a car for crash tests?

Koenigsegg builds the car at their facility, then sends it to their test facilities in Barcelona, where the tests are conducted by the test facility with Koenigsegg's assistance.

What limitations does Koenigsegg face during the crash tests at the test facility?

Koenigsegg can be present during the tests but cannot be inside the car during the crash or prepare the car for the crash test. They provide information on sensor placement and assist with the preparation process.

How does the crash testing process affect Koenigsegg's perception of their cars?

The process is both exciting and painful for Koenigsegg, as they are committed to making their cars safe, but it is also difficult to see their creations being destroyed in the crash tests.

What is the significance of the crash testing process for Koenigsegg's supercars?

The crash testing process is crucial for verifying the safety of Koenigsegg's supercars and ensuring that the smart airbag systems function correctly under various crash scenarios.

Outlines

00:00

🏎️ Hypercar Industry Leadership and Crash Testing Challenges

Christoph von Koenigsegg, founder of Koenigsegg, discusses his lifelong pursuit to lead the hypercar industry with Swedish design and innovative technical solutions. He describes the painful yet necessary process of crash testing cars, which is crucial for safety and regulatory compliance. Koenigsegg emphasizes the unique approach his company takes to crash testing, which involves designing a carbon-fiber monocoque that can withstand multiple tests without being destroyed. This method saves time, money, and resources compared to traditional practices where manufacturers typically destroy a car after each test. The company also uses a supercomputer for crash simulation to predict and correlate with real-world test results, ensuring the cars are safe and meeting stringent standards.

05:01

🛠️ Remote Crash Test Involvement and Logistical Considerations

In the second paragraph, Koenigsegg details the company's involvement in remote crash testing, where they are present during the tests but do not physically prepare the car for impact. The company provides guidance on sensor placement and other technical aspects. The narrative also touches on the logistical challenges of sending cars to testing facilities, such as the one in Nardò, Italy, where the tests are conducted. Koenigsegg highlights the limitations of their presence during the tests and the reliance on remote assistance to ensure the crash tests are conducted accurately and safely.

Keywords

💡Hypercar industry

The hypercar industry is a segment of the automotive market that focuses on producing high-performance, limited-edition vehicles with exceptional power and advanced technology. In the video, Christoph von Koenigsegg discusses his quest to be a leader in this industry, emphasizing the importance of Swedish design and visionary technical solutions in achieving this goal.

💡Crash test

A crash test is a series of controlled experiments conducted to simulate the effects of a vehicle collision on its occupants. In the script, Koenigsegg describes the extensive crash testing they perform to ensure the safety of their hypercars, including tests without seat belts and the use of smart airbags that can sense the size and position of passengers.

💡Smart airbags

Smart airbags are advanced safety features in vehicles that can detect and respond to various factors, such as the size of the passenger, their seating position, and the angle of impact. The script mentions that Koenigsegg installs these airbags in their cars, which can adjust their deployment strength and volume based on the specific conditions of a crash.

💡Carbon-fiber monocoque

A carbon-fiber monocoque is a type of chassis made from carbon fiber, which is a lightweight and strong material. It is designed to provide structural rigidity and safety in vehicles. Koenigsegg uses this technology in their cars, allowing the monocoque to withstand multiple crash tests without being destroyed, which is a cost-saving strategy for the company.

💡Crash simulation

Crash simulation refers to the use of computer software to model and analyze the behavior of vehicles during a crash. Koenigsegg has invested in a supercomputer to perform these simulations, which helps them predict the outcomes of physical crash tests and reduce the risks associated with them.

💡Annual production

Annual production refers to the number of units a manufacturer produces in a year. The script highlights that for Koenigsegg, producing 16 cars is almost their entire annual output, which makes the crash testing process very expensive and resource-intensive for them compared to larger manufacturers.

💡Logistics

Logistics involves the detailed organization and implementation of a complex operation or the movement of goods. In the context of the video, Koenigsegg sends their cars to testing facilities in Barcelona, which incurs logistical costs and adds to the complexity of the testing process.

💡Sensors

Sensors are devices that detect and respond to some type of input from the environment. In the script, Koenigsegg discusses the placement of sensors during crash tests to collect data on the impact and performance of the vehicle's safety systems.

💡Rebuild and repair

Rebuild and repair refer to the process of restoring something to its original condition or improving it after it has been damaged. Koenigsegg's strategy of rebuilding and repairing the same car for multiple crash tests is highlighted as a way to save time, money, and resources.

💡Safety

Safety is a core theme in the video, as Koenigsegg emphasizes the importance of making their hypercars safe through rigorous testing and the use of advanced technologies like smart airbags and carbon-fiber monocoques. The company's commitment to safety is evident in the extensive crash testing and simulation processes they undertake.

Highlights

Christoph von Koenigsegg has dedicated half of his life to becoming a leader in the hypercar industry with a unique blend of Swedish design and visionary technical solutions.

The process of preparing a crash test car for more than three months is emotionally challenging as it involves gradually destroying the vehicle.

In the US, Koenigsegg must conduct crash tests without seat belts and with smart airbags that adjust deployment based on the occupant's size, position, and whether they are wearing a seat belt.

Smart airbags are programmed to deploy with varying strength and volume depending on the angle and speed of impact, as well as the presence of a bicycle or other external factors.

Koenigsegg's tight production schedule and high demand for their supercars make it crucial to minimize the number of cars used for crash testing.

The company's annual production is around 16 cars, which is why they cannot afford to crash a year's worth of production in a single test.

Koenigsegg designs its carbon-fiber monocoque to withstand multiple crash tests without being destroyed, reducing costs and preserving the most expensive part of the car.

The same monocoque chassis is used for all crash tests, which is unusual in the automotive industry and allows for cost savings.

Koenigsegg has a supercomputer in their basement dedicated to crash simulating carbon-fiber structures, which is an unusual but valuable approach.

Specialists at Koenigsegg are dedicated to developing and running crash simulations, which helps reduce risk and increase confidence in physical test outcomes.

Physical test results are consistently correlated back to simulations to ensure accuracy and improve the chances of success in subsequent tests.

The process of building and testing cars is both exciting and painful for Koenigsegg, as it involves repeatedly subjecting their vehicles to potentially destructive tests.

Cars are built at Koenigsegg's facility and then sent to their testing facilities in Barcelona, involving significant logistical costs and time.

During crash tests, Koenigsegg personnel are present to assist but do not actively participate in the preparation or execution of the tests.

Koenigsegg provides guidance on sensor placement and other technical details to ensure accurate and useful data collection during crash tests.

The entire process, from design to crash testing, is aimed at making Koenigsegg vehicles extremely safe while also being as efficient and cost-effective as possible.

Despite the challenges and emotional toll, Koenigsegg remains committed to pushing the boundaries of automotive safety and performance.

Transcripts

my name is Christoph von Koenigsegg for

half of my life I've been on the quest

to be a leader in the hypercar industry

utilizing Swedish design combined with

visionary technical solutions

[Music]

[Music]

after three months or more than three

months preparing the crash car that we

are sending to the test facility it's

really hard to see how the car is slowly

being destroyed hammer it over torquing

it and then finally crushing it against

the wall it's painful it's painful to

watch for the US for example we have to

crash test our cars even without belts

and install what they call smart airbags

that are able to sense if it's a small

or a big person sitting in the car where

they're sitting on the seat if they have

a belt or not which angle were were

impacting the car from and and then we

should tune the deployment the strength

and the volume of the airbags according

to those set parameters and in order to

get the data to be able to do that and

to program these systems we have to

crash our cars from every conceivable

angle at different speeds from the side

from the rear from the front offset

corner even considering a bicycle

driving into the car or someone bashing

away with a hammer on the car and not

deploy the airbags when they shouldn't

be deployed and deploy them when we

should

it's just yeah it's this trifles quite

stressful because time schedule is tight

because everybody wants their supercar

as soon as possible so regular

manufacturer can Christ 16 cars it's no

problem but for us 16 cars is almost our

annual production so we cannot crash 1

year production in one world so it's

very expensive from fellow long one of

the mythology's we use to save basically

money for this process is that we

designed our carbon-fiber monocoque to

withstand all these different types of

crash tests without being destroyed we

destroy the bodywork on the outside

subframes crash members and so on but

not the actual integral and most

expensive part of the car so the same

monocoque chassis in the same car if you

will is being used basically for all of

these tests and this is very unusual if

you take a large car manufacture it's

much cheaper for them to take a core out

of the development their production line

crash it throw it away take another one

but in our case that it's completely

different it's it's cheaper to rebuild

and repair and keep on smashing the same

car that's of course in a way more

difficult because you it needs to take

multiple hits but we design for that so

it works and it saves us both time and

money and resources

for this program we bought a

supercomputer that we have in our

basement where we can crash simulate

carbon-fibre structures which is very

unusual so we have some specialists

dedicated to that work here at Koenig

say that actually have been part of

developing the programs to be able to

crash simulate carbon-fibre cars this

means we can reduce some what the risk

is when we're actually crashing the cars

that we know the results and every

physical test video we correlate back to

the simulation to make sure it

correlates so you have even bigger

chance to hit it spot-on for the next

test it's really really an exciting

process in a way because we want to make

our cars really safe and we get that

verified over and over again through

this process but at the same time a bit

painful seeing our baby's going being

being crushed and crumbled in this way

[Applause]

we build the car here in angle home and

then we send the car in our facilities

in the ER Barcelona and then it's a

logistic cost also a long process we

send the car there we are able to be in

front of the tests while they are doing

the car the the tests but we are not

able to break or be inside the car while

braking or prepare the crash for the car

for the crash test we give them the car

and they prepare it and they crash it

always only there to assist them and

give them information how to where to

put the sensors and stuff like that but

nothing else

[Music]