Advanced Technologies Give Jeep(R) Compass Excellent Durability, Ride and Handling, and Body Stiffness, While Reducing Noise, V
16 Juin 2006 - 7:01AM
PR Newswire (US)
* Jeep(R) Compass underbody designed to meet demanding durability
requirements * High-strength steel reduces weight, improves impact
performance * Sealers and sound-absorbent materials create a quiet
interior AUBURN HILLS, Mich., June 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --
When developing Jeep(R) Compass, engineers used high-strength,
lightweight and sound-absorbent materials to create a safe, quiet
body structure that is designed to both meet impact performance
criteria and be durable enough to be a Jeep. Jeep Compass' unitized
body includes a structural safety cage to provide excellent
occupant protection. While the Jeep Compass underbody architecture
is shared with Dodge Caliber for platform compatibility, the Jeep
Compass has been modified to make it uniquely Jeep. "Jeep Compass'
underbody is designed to meet more demanding durability
requirements based on Jeep vehicle requirements," said Matt
Liddane, Chief Engineer -- Jeep Compass. "A new body/chassis
durability test cycle, which combines the passenger car and the
Jeep cycle in severity, was created to test the Jeep Compass and
Patriot." Engineers validated the durability of the Jeep Compass'
body structure through state-of-the art computer simulation, an
extensive battery of laboratory fatigue tests, road-test simulation
and real-time Proving Ground tests. This extensive testing ensures
that the Jeep Compass' body structure is durable enough to
withstand the wear and tear that comes with a minimum of 100,000
miles of driving and at least 10 years of salt-belt corrosion.
High-strength Steel Reduces Weight, Improves Impact Performance
Jeep Compass' body components combine to form a structural safety
cage that provides occupant protection in the event of an impact.
By mass, 40 percent of Jeep Compass' body structure is constructed
of high-strength and hot-stamped steel, making it one of the few
current production vehicles to feature such a high level of
combined advanced steel technologies. "The higher
weight-to-strength ratio of high-strength steel allowed us to
develop a body-in-white safety cage that meets more aggressive
front-, side- and rear-impact requirements, but without the added
weight of regular steel," Liddane added. "Hot-stamped steel used on
the A- and B-pillar and roof-rail reinforcements reduce Compass'
overall weight by 44 lbs." The Jeep Compass uses a tailor-rolled,
hot-stamped steel B-pillar. Its two-piece B-pillar construction
features a lower section made from mild- strength steel to maximize
energy absorption, which is combined with a tailor- rolled,
ultra-high-strength upper portion for enhanced occupant protection.
For rear-occupant side-impact protection, Jeep Compass also
features a hot-stamped steel cross-car beam that is bolted to the
body structure underneath the rear seat. During a side-impact
event, the beam works together with the integrated foam in the rear
doors to transfer impact energy from one side of the vehicle to the
other. The beam is designed to take up to 60 percent of the load
during a side-impact event. Steel beams within the front and rear
doors provide additional side-impact occupant protection. Jeep
Compass also features a hydroformed front closure and upper cross
member. These modules previously had been limited to trucks and
larger sport- utility vehicles (SUVs), but technological advances
now allow for smaller diameter tubes and thinner walls, making them
practical for a compact SUV like the Jeep Compass. The strength and
versatility of this design reduces weight, while providing a
flexible base for mounting many parts and components. The
dual-phase steel -- used in Jeep Compass' front and rear rails,
tunnel reinforcements and floor cross members -- represents some of
the steel industry's latest technology. In the event of a
high-speed front impact, the structure and steel combine to protect
the occupants by absorbing the impact energy in a controlled
manner. Dual-phase steel tunnel reinforcements and floor cross
members also allow the rails to handle greater impact loads than
conventional steel. The steel's structural benefits also make the
Jeep Compass stiffer for better ride quality and a quieter
interior. Sealants and Sound-deadening Materials Create a Quiet
Interior Jeep Compass' use of sealers and structural adhesives is
world-class, giving customers a smooth ride with minimal road, wind
and powertrain noise. Seam sealing, which was previously only added
to the inside of a vehicle's body, is applied to both Jeep Compass'
interior and exterior, adding stiffness to the body and reducing
noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) characteristics. Compass'
doors are triple sealed above the beltline and double sealed below
to form a strong sound and moisture barrier. A continuous,
one-piece channel weather strip mounted in the upper door frame
provides effective sealing against wind noise and water leaks.
Compass also includes an NVH package designed to isolate passenger
compartments from powertrain noise. This includes balance shafts on
the 2.4- liter World Engine, a low-rumble intake manifold, acoustic
engine box silencers, fender silencers, isolated air-conditioning
lines, a three-layer metal-plastic-metal oil pan, select-fit engine
bearings and tappets, wheelhouse outer silencers, sound-deadening
material in the instrument panel and carpet with sound barrier.
Aerodynamic and Appealing Extensive development went into shaping
the Jeep Compass' upper body and rear liftgate to ensure the
vehicle is both aerodynamic and visually appealing. To reduce drag,
Compass' rear liftgate spoiler was developed to separate the air
stream from the rear of the vehicle. The roof, rear side D-pillar
and taillamps also were shaped to help separate the air cleanly.
Engineers designed several of Compass' exterior body features to
reduce wind noise. Large exterior rearview mirrors are designed to
provide good visibility while minimizing aerodynamic drag and
turbulent wind noise. Compass' windshield water channel and radio
antenna were refined in the Chrysler Group's state-of-the-art
AeroAcoustic wind tunnel to minimize wind noise. A lip on the
trailing edge of the hood directs airflow over the wipers, reducing
wind noise inside the vehicle. The following additional features
help reduce drag: * An air dam under the front fascia streamlines
the airflow around the Jeep Compass, rather than under, increasing
air flow to the cooling system * Front and rear tire spoilers
designed into the fascia and side sill moldings direct air around
the tires to reduce drag * Two large underbody panels help close
out a cavity between the floor pan and the fuel tank to eliminate
drag-inducing turbulence * The muffler is angled up slightly at the
rear and its height is tuned to direct airflow out from underneath
the back of the vehicle * Body-side character lines are optimized
to reduce drag DATASOURCE: Chrysler Group CONTACT: Kristin Starnes,
+1-248-512-0889, , or David Barnas, +1-248-512-2670, , both of
Chrysler Group Web site: http://www.media.daimlerchrysler.com/
http://www.daimlerchrysler.com/
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