WHERE IS THAT LITTLE OLD ENGINE GOING TO GO?

Acura, Honda’s luxury car line, has been running frontal crash test ads on TV. These ads show an Acura frame being “fished” by a towline into a wall. The front end collapses while the rest of the frame remains rigid. The ad claims that the collapsing front end absorbs the crash energy, thereby reducing that force in the passenger compartment.

Here is a description of its “body structure” from Acura’s website:

Acura utilizes Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure to enhance occupant protection and crash compatibility in frontal crashes.

 The ACE™ design utilizes a network of connected structural elements to distribute crash energy more evenly throughout the front of the vehicle.

 This enhanced frontal crash energy management helps to reduce the forces transferred to the passenger compartment and can help to more evenly disperse the forces transferred to other vehicles in a crash.

 Every Acura designed with this system and tested by NHTSA, has received a 5 stars rating on their frontal impact test.

That is all well and good. I have just one problem with the collapsing front end. With the engine compartment collapsing, WHERE IS THAT LITTLE OLD ENGINE GOING TO GO IF NOT INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT?

Looks like a con-job to me. Sorry, but I prefer to take my chances with a rigid front end.