A structural flaw in SUVs leads to them being classed as dangerous

The SUV segment, loved by some and hated by many, could be on the verge of a steep decline after its success. A group of scientists has identified a common flaw in these vehicles that could prove fatal in the event of an accident, or even be triggered by this very design error. SUVs have always suffered from poor aerodynamics due to a high centre of gravity and dimensions and shapes that do nothing for their handling, but this could be the last straw.

The Max Planck Society, a group of research institutes in Germany, has spent years analysing and actively contributing to the development of these vehicles. However, it is only in the last few months that they have managed to uncover a glaring error in the very structure of SUVs that could cause the chassis itself to split in two at the slightest impact.

Euro NCAP, astonished at not having noticed this flaw earlier, has set about examining the tests carried out to date with greater caution. However, some manufacturers have already begun halting SUV production entirely in order to scrutinise the error and rethink its design so that they can get them back on the road as soon as possible.

It is, to say the least, strange that this error should extend across every SUV without exception but, according to Tobias Bonhoeffer, Vice President for Scientific and Technical Research, “this type of vehicle has always shared a common development point in the chassis, generated by the tubular structure that SUVs required in order to achieve their characteristic form”, yet “the constant use of this same scheme has led many engineers to overlook certain points of resistance that were not behaving as they should.”

On this premise, the main safety institutions have classed SUVs as dangerous, and the DGT has declared that any drivers who use this type of car will be penalised until further notice. Thus, those who vilified SUVs are entirely justified, since their scepticism was well founded.

Be that as it may, we are on the brink of a momentous change in the automotive sector, and we do not yet know how it will be resolved. Nevertheless, and despite the harshness of the facts, Highmotor would like to take this opportunity to wish you a happy new year and a happy…. Innocents’ Day