FACTfile - Alfa GT – Page 4

The toughest tests for total protection - the Alfa GT has passed all the tests conducted to the toughest European, US and Japanese standards: frontal impact ECE R 94 against a deformable barrier offset in relation to the vehicle axis (at 56 km/h); side impact ECE R 95 against a deformable barrier at 50 km/h; rear impact to ECE 32/34 standards (shunting at 35-38 km/h) and the Japanese TRIAS 33 test (shunting at 50 km/h). The new car has also undergone the simulated tests required for the Euro NCAP programme: frontal impact at 64 km/h against a deformable barrier offset at 40%; side impact at 50 km/h against a deformable barrier, and side impact at 29 km/h against a pole.

The Alfa GT also performed very respectably in the Insurer's crash test that measures the likelihood that the car will suffer damage as a result of low speed accidents. In many European markets (particularly in Germany and Great Britain), the insurance premium varies according to the class attributed to the car by insurance category associations. This judgement is based on average repair cost and statistical frequency of claims. The Alfa GT therefore represents the state of the art in the field of passive safety systems. This has been achieved by equipping the new sports coupé with all the most sophisticated devices currently available. These include: side impact bars in the doors, collapsible steering column, six airbags (described in the previous paragraph), seat-belts with pretensioners and load limiters and, on the central rear seat, a third head-restraint and seat-belt with reel.

In the Alfa GT the front and rear seat structure is designed to prevent 'submarining': in other words, rigid transverse elements beneath the cushion prevent occupants from slipping under the seat-belt in the case of accident. The load-bearing properties of the padding foam are also differential to give the correct support to different body parts, offer maximum comfort and assure good lateral and longitudinal containment even over twisty routes. The Alfa GT is also fitted as standard with head-restraints at the front that can be tilted and adjusted for height and at the rear, including a third rear head-restraint combined with a belt. The new sports coupé is also equipped with an inertia reel seat-belt, pretensioner and load limiter. In case of impact, an electronically-controlled pyrotechnic pretensioner rewinds the belt within a few milliseconds so that it fits snugly to the body. The front reels contain load limiters that yield in a controlled manner to modulate the force exercised on the shoulders of the belt wearer.

All these devices, including the airbags, are governed by a sophisticated "nervous system" that is controlled by an electronic control unit located in the front tunnel. This control unit receives signals from the various sensors distributed throughout the car (and others inside) and decides how many devices should be activated and which ones. This is why the system is said to be 'smart'. It does not activate when the occupant is in no danger of striking the car walls regardless of whether an impact has taken place or not. It detects stresses that are not caused by an impact. It will even work if the electrical system stops working.

All this is made possible by particularly sophisticated operating strategies and detection terminals. Such as two-way accelerometers that provide a set of information that complements signals from satellite sensors on the central panels (responsible for activating the sidebags and window-bags). The Alfa GT steering column structure is also telescopic to safeguard the driver against the steering wheel intruding into the passenger compartment (in case of frontal impact, particularly at high speed). The steering column is divided into two segments, the lower part consists of a collapsible sleeve that holds the steering wheel position steady at the moment of impact. The upper segment slides (for axial adjustment) and swings (for vertical adjustment). The outstanding torsional rigidity of the body that is an essential requirement for safety and travelling comfort. The result achieved by the Alfa GT is more than 100,000 daNm/rad, one of the best in its segment. Many aspects contributed to this outcome and also allowed us to turn the passenger compartment of the new model into a veritable survival cell. Examples include rails that crumple in a controlled fashion to absorb impact energy, and doors with side impact bars and reinforcements on the central pillar and belt for greater protection against side impact. Plus front struts linked to the side panel by connecting elements that also help absorb frontal energy.

Reinforced front hinges also offer high levels of resistance against crushing. Other strengthened parts include the connection between suspension and dashboard and the windscreen pillars that help make the passenger compartment more rigid side to side and ensure it is joined to the side panels at waist height. Last but not least, the Alfa GT is also fitted with a Fire Prevention System. This is the most up-to-date and sophisticated solution for protecting a car against possible fire risks. The main system components include an inertia switch that immediately locks the electric pump following crashes of a certain entity. This brings about a pressure drop in the fuel ducts to prevent fuel emerging. On petrol versions, a cut-off value is also fitted after the tank. This prevents fuel loss in the case of impact, roll-over or damage to the fuel lines. The fuel tank is made out of plastic material resistant to mechanical stress and fire. It is located in a protected position in front of the rear axle.

All electrical equipment power leads are fitted with maxifuses: devices that cut off the power supply when the temperature becomes too high. Connection leads to the starter motor and alternator are covered with an abrasion-proof coating and located in protected areas. Special care has also been taken over the arrangement of components and units (engine bay, electrical system, fuel system and brakes) that could become damaged by a fault or accident. The interior trim is fire resistant (with a flame propagation rate less than 100 mm/min) and meets tough US flame retardant standards.

Xenon headlights - preventive safety requires outstanding visibility, even at night and in tunnels. The Alfa GT is equipped with xenon headlights that offer an improved light emission quality and excellent performance in all weathers. In a gas discharge bulb, the usual internal filament is replaced by two electrodes spaced a few millimetres apart. These generate a voltaic discharge in an environment saturated with low-pressure xenon gas. The benefits over normal halogen headlights are easy to enumerate: light intensity doubles (from 1500 to 3000 lumens); efficiency increases from 25 to 85 lumen per Watt and hours of duration also increase (from 1500 to 3000). Xenon headlights also consume less energy and distribute the light beam more effectively. Because they emit a shade that is closer to white light, they also ensure improved visibility even though the level of illumination remains the same.

Due to the improved performance offered by the system (brighter, more far-reaching light), xenon headlights are combined with an automatic ride height corrector to prevent the headlights dazzling oncoming vehicles and keep the lit area constant for improved driving comfort. The device cuts in automatically to compensate for static car changes due to changing loads and also dynamic changes caused by acceleration and braking. This result is guaranteed by sensors on the front and rear suspension that continually read body movements to detect acceleration or braking movements. This allows yawing to be predicted so that ride control can cut in.

next page

previous Page