Many Brazilian car bodies also don't contain crumple zones, areas that absorb energy during wrecks.

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And many drivers simply value perks such as alloy wheels and sound systems over unseen crumple zones.

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Mercedes says the 1959 220S was the first passenger car in the world to feature a dedicated crash structure around the cabin, replete with crumple zones.

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Dietrich says the Transition has the safety cage, airbags, crumple zones and pretension seat belts required in street-legal cars, which then make the plane especially safe to fly.

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So the U.S. auto industry let foreign competitors like Volvo and Mercedes-Benz take the lead in adding features such as three-point seat belts, crumple zones, and side air bags.

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Replacing steel with aluminium allows additional interior space to be offered, along with larger crumple zones at the front and rear for even better crash protection, all without paying a heavy penalty in fuel consumption.

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Expect styling to come to the fore, as vehicle design is less influenced by safety considerations like visibility, window placement, strength and stiffness of materials, bumpers, crumple zones, collapsible steering columns, air bags, seat belts, and padding.

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