Patent ID: 7448251

Claim:
A method for preparing a motor vehicle for a crash test routine comprising a first test and a second test, wherein the first test subjects the motor vehicle to a first set of conditions and the second test subjects the motor vehicle to a second set of conditions that is different from the first set of conditions, the first test producing first test results; wherein first stage modifications to at least one structural component of the motor vehicle are available to help pass the first test, and wherein the first stage modifications include modifying a shape of an instrument panel associated with the motor vehicle; wherein passing the first test produces a first qualified motor vehicle; wherein the second test crashes the first qualified motor vehicle to produce second test results; wherein second stage modifications of at least one structural component of the first qualified motor vehicle are available to help pass the second test; and wherein the second stage of modifications are different from the first stage of modifications so that the first test results remain valid after making the second stage modification.