German automobile association ADAC has conducted a rather weird-sounding crash test, hitting a standing Bugatti Chiron with a Porsche 911 GT3 RS going at 60 km/h (37.3 mph). What’s the catch?
In reality, what the association did was run two simulations of the crash: first using dedicated computer software, and then using real-life Lego brick models of the two cars.
Why bother? According to ADAC, it tried to establish just how well computer-based simulation algorithms could predict real-life crash consequences and whether it made sense to abandon expensive crash-testing practices in favor of these new prediction models.
Operating with the same weights and speeds as in the real-life Lego test, the software came up with both cars and their passengers relatively unharmed. In the real test, the Porsche pretty much tore the Bugatti in half, likely killing the occupants of both cars.
The takeaway? No matter how advanced you believe your computer-based simulation algorithms to be, there is simply no avoiding actual crash tests. The difference between the outcomes may be night and day.