jpd80 Posted October 2, 2007 Share Posted October 2, 2007 (edited) http://www.carpoint.com.au/car-review/2819085.aspxAccording to a report in the Aspen Daily News, a G8 driven by an Australian engineer took a tumble over a 45 degree embankment before hitting a boulder and flipping. The G8 -- basically the Holden Commodore in LHD form and with Pontiac styling cues (more here) -- will go on sale early in the new year. This particular car was being driven in convoy along Colorado's Highway 82 as part of an engineering evaluation when the driver fell asleep at the wheel. Rolf Glenk, a 41-year old engineer employed by GM, walked away from the accident with minor injuries, which were treated at the Aspen Valley Hospital. The Colorado State Police has issued a citation for careless driving following Glenk's admission that he fell asleep at the wheel. At Pontiac "We build excitement" Edited October 2, 2007 by jpd80 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silvrsvt Posted October 2, 2007 Share Posted October 2, 2007 Oops! boy the police report must have been fun to fill out...how do you put down a car not in production? :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LincolnFan Posted October 2, 2007 Share Posted October 2, 2007 That's one exiciting Holden alright, I wonder if the some suspension parts fell while they were testing it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pioneer Posted October 2, 2007 Share Posted October 2, 2007 At Pontiac "We build excitement" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silvrsvt Posted October 2, 2007 Share Posted October 2, 2007 That's one exiciting Holden alright, I wonder if the some suspension parts fell while they were testing it? The only thing that failed was the driver falling asleep at the wheel :boring: ...wonder what is going to happen to his job Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LincolnFan Posted October 2, 2007 Share Posted October 2, 2007 The only thing that failed was the driver falling asleep at the wheel :boring: ...wonder what is going to happen to his job Wonder why he slept on the wheel, maybe it has nothing to do with the car's driving dynamics. :rolleyes: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlackHorse Posted October 2, 2007 Share Posted October 2, 2007 Actually, given how banged up the car is, it looks like the integrity of the passenger cabin was pretty well maintained. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Traveler Posted October 2, 2007 Share Posted October 2, 2007 (edited) He fell asleep. However, he is an Australian engineer driving in Colorado on the wrong side of the road...for him anyway. Recipe for disaster. Adding to the difficulty level would have been if the vehicle controls were left side drive and they likely were since this was a 'Pontiac' model. Edited October 2, 2007 by Traveler Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jasonj80 Posted October 2, 2007 Share Posted October 2, 2007 Actually, given how banged up the car is, it looks like the integrity of the passenger cabin was pretty well maintained. From the looks though it looks like it didn't have roll sensing side curtain airbags or they weren't activated as it was a test car, you should see the curtain the photo. But overall it lookes like the car held up very well. There was probably only $400K worth of test equipement in it anyways. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pcsario Posted October 2, 2007 Share Posted October 2, 2007 That will buff right out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harley Lover Posted October 2, 2007 Share Posted October 2, 2007 Actually, given how banged up the car is, it looks like the integrity of the passenger cabin was pretty well maintained. What about the huge "V" shaped deformation between the A pillars, above the windshield? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlackHorse Posted October 2, 2007 Share Posted October 2, 2007 What about the huge "V" shaped deformation between the A pillars, above the windshield? I saw that too and it looks like the driver might have had a bad spot but the other 3 seats it looks like there is enough room to make it survivable. As with any car, no matter how well you engineer it, it still has limits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpd80 Posted October 2, 2007 Author Share Posted October 2, 2007 It didn't roll sideways, the car hit the boulder nose on and went straight over, end for end. Bloody impressive, now GM have a lot more data to process. LHD is not that hard to work out. You may find he and his collegues have been putting in big hours collecting data. They don't just drive down the road you know, they usually have a lap top open and operating on the passenger's seat as well. His honesty should be rewarded, a lot of people would have lied to escape embarrasment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jasonj80 Posted October 2, 2007 Share Posted October 2, 2007 His honesty should be rewarded, a lot of people would have lied to escape embarrassment. That's the difference he was Australian, not American -- "its not my fault" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roadrunner Posted October 3, 2007 Share Posted October 3, 2007 It didn't roll sideways, the car hit the boulder nose on and went straight over, end for end.Bloody impressive, now GM have a lot more data to process. Something akin to how Gonzalo Rodriguez died then. (CART ChampCar practice session at the Laguna Seca corkscrew, 1999). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmc523 Posted October 4, 2007 Share Posted October 4, 2007 What about the huge "V" shaped deformation between the A pillars, above the windshield? I noticed that too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ViperPilot Posted October 4, 2007 Share Posted October 4, 2007 (edited) At Pontiac "We build excitement" I thought it said, "We build excrement". Edited October 4, 2007 by ViperPilot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anthony Posted October 4, 2007 Share Posted October 4, 2007 I thought it said, "We build excrement". The G8 is one excrement I'd gladly take. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.