adrial

My friend's telling me that front mount intercoolers are illegal on new cars due to crash standards??

Any truth to this?

As I think about it...I can't think of any new cars that have front mount intercoolers...but then again, most cars don't, period...except for the true sports cars like the 951.

--adrial

marksportcts

I don't know if they are legal or not, but if you see some installs in the compact car mags, some require the use of a non-US rad support, or trimming/grinding of the factory unit, as well as the bumper. Technically it isn't legal if it does not have DOT/SAE approval, but who's gonna check?

M758

I should not a difference in major impact as a number of WRC cars use front intercoolers.

It may however make very difficult to meet US 5 mph bumper standards. That is reason we have the shocks and black bumperetts on the 944 NA and rear of all the 944 line.

Doug944s2

I think that an intercooler might make an excellent crushable structure to help absorb some of the crash's energy. But the vulnerability of the location might mean that the intercooler would be damaged in a 5-mph crash. That could be $$$$$$!!

Peckster

Right, they have to meet maximum $ damage levels. That must be it, not a safety issue.

Steve Lavigne

I'm sure your friend is referencing the challenges Mitsubishi is having/had with importing their Lancer Evo VII/VIII.

omniphil

[quote]Originally posted by adrial:
<strong>My friend's telling me that front mount intercoolers are illegal on new cars due to crash standards??

Any truth to this?

As I think about it...I can't think of any new cars that have front mount intercoolers...but then again, most cars don't, period...except for the true sports cars like the 951.

--adrial</strong><hr></blockquote>

They are not illegal, the new 2003 neon srt-4 has a huge front mount intercooler. as well as the new mazda protege i believe. pick up the december issue of sport compact car, you'll see pics of how huge the neon intercooler is. they dyno'd the new neon and got 223hp and 250tq at the wheels!?!
My girlfriend wants one now!

MySwiss

The real problem in the USA,with front mount intercooler is the 5mph crash test that cars must go thru for being admitted into the country.The new Mitsubishi Lancer Evo (coming in Jan) is equipped with a fmic,but required a slight angular relocation (compared to the current evo 7) in order to survive such a crash.

NoSubstitute

Radiators are in the front on almost every car...

Don't see why an intercooler should be a problem. I've never heard that before and I too saw the massive one stuffed under the grill of the Neon SRT-4.