Nissan's ESVs (Experimental Safety Vehicles) were part of a bold global initiative in the 1970s and 1980s that aimed to push the boundaries of automotive safety through innovative design and cutting-edge technology. The program, driven by regulatory bodies like the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), encouraged automakers to dream up experimental vehicles loaded with advanced safety features. Nissan, like its peers, jumped at the challenge to explore crash-absorption technologies, and to rethink how car frames and interiors could better protect passengers.
Nissan’s ESV efforts weren’t just about tinkering with airbags and seatbelts, though those were a big part of it. They experimented with stronger materials for vehicle frames, crumple zones that could absorb impact more effectively, and energy-absorbing bumpers. Inside, they introduced advanced seatbelt systems, early airbag concepts, and improved steering columns to reduce injuries in high-speed collisions. While these ESVs never hit the road as production models, the innovations they developed would influence the design and production of future vehicles, and continue to make cars safer for drivers and passengers today.
While the iconic sports cars - Datsun 280ZX and Nissan 300ZX, introduced in 1979 and 1984 respectively, weren’t part of the ESV program, they certainly reaped the benefits of the safety breakthroughs of that era. The Z-cars were celebrated for their performance, turbo charge, and tech-forward dashboards, the safety advances from the ESV period quietly made their way into the engineering of these production cars.
So, even though the 280ZX and 300ZX were more about thrill and style than crash-testing, they carried the legacy of Nissan’s safety innovation. These sports cars managed to offer exhilarating drives while ensuring that their drivers and passengers were better protected, thanks to the groundwork laid during the ESV program. It’s a testament to how even performance-driven vehicles benefit from an industry-wide focus on keeping people safe.
Video includes: Datsun 208Z; 1979 Datsun 280-ZX; 10th Anniversary Datsun 280-ZX Black Gold; Datsun Turbo-ZX; Steve Wozniak Apple Inventor, Creator "US" Festival; Datsun 280-ZX; 1984 Nissan 300ZX
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Ref: S322 (includes clip at 4:33 labeled S321)
2 окт 2024
