Fw: Latest test results from Euro NCAP
From: Ahmad Rahmati (ahmad@rahmati.com)
Date: Wed 27 Nov 2002 - 13:59:39 EST
g.roosen@pop.kpn.be wrote:
STRICTLY EMBARGOED UNTIL
10.00 am (CET)
Tuesday, November 26th, 2002
New Renault Megane first small family car to achieve 5 stars
Latest test results from Euro NCAP launched in Rome
For the first time a small family car, the Renault's Megane II, has achieved
five stars in Europe's leading independent crash tests, confirmed Euro NCAP
today (26). Three other cars, the Saab 9-3, the Renault Vel Satis and the
Mercedes E-class also achieved five stars.
Crashworthiness results for executive cars, family cars, small family cars,
super-minis, off-roaders and MPV's were launched at a press conference in
Rome co-hosted by Euro NCAP, the FIA Foundation and the Automobile Club d'
Italia.
All three "five star" manufacturers have met the requirements of Euro NCAP's
new seat belt reminder protocol. Euro NCAP's star rating is based on
occupants wearing their seatbelts, thus seat belt reminder systems are
vitally important. All of the safety gains achieved by Euro NCAP over recent
years would be completely wasted if car occupants did not buckle up before
every journey.
In the latest tests pedestrian protection has improved overall but for the
first time one car, the Suzuki Grand Vitara achieved no score.
There is an increasing use of the so called ISOFIX child restraints which in
many cases provided good protection in our tests.
Max Mosley, Euro NCAP Chairman and President of the FIA said,
"In our latest tests we continue with the assessment of off-roaders and a
range of new cars across all of the size categories.
"I am delighted to say that for the first time a small family car has gained
the top Euro NCAP rating of five stars. This car is Renault's new Megane.
"Whatever type of car you prefer to drive, whatever price you can afford, it
's clear that there is now a wider choice of models than ever before
offering
stronger levels of protection."
Summary of latest results:
Executive cars
Renault Vel Satis 5 stars, 1 star
Mercedes E-Class 5 stars, 1 star
Family cars
Saab 9-3 5 stars 1 star
Nissan Primera 4 stars, 1 star
Subaru Legacy Outback 4 stars, 1 star
Chrysler PT Cruiser 3 stars, 1 star
Small family cars
Renault Mégane II 5 stars, 2 stars
Toyota Corolla 4 stars, 2 stars
Super-minis
Citroën C3 4 stars, 2 stars
Seat Ibiza 4 stars, 2 stars
Ford Fiesta 4 stars, 2 stars
Large off-roaders
Mercedes M-Class 4 stars, 1 star
Hyundai Santa-Fe 4 stars, 1 star
Suzuki Grand Vitara 3 stars, No Stars
Small off-roaders
Nissan X-Trail 4 stars, 2 stars
Land Rover Freelander 3 stars, 1 star
Large MPV
Peugeot 807 4 stars, 1 star
Small MPV
Mercedes Vaneo 4 stars, 2 stars
David Jamieson, UK Transport Minister said,
"I am pleased that manufacturers are continuing to improve the overall
safety of car occupants and that there was an increase in the number of cars
achieving the maximum 5 stars.
However in a period when some cars have been improving pedestrian
protection, it is very disappointing that in this phase one car failed to
score at all for pedestrian protection."
Josep Tous, Director of Consumer and Industrial Safety at the Generalitat de
Catalunya said,
"The Government of Catalonia is participating for the first time in this
phase in the Euro NCAP programme. It has been demonstrated that Euro NCAP
has succeeded to encourage the industry to provide enhanced safety to the
occupants of passenger cars all across Europe. We would like to see most
safety features fitted as standard vehicle equipment in all European
markets. We believe that our contribution to Euro NCAP is going to make it
easier for consumers to have access to accurate information about vehicle
safety and will convince the car manufacturers to reduce the number of
countries where safety is sold as an option. We are looking forward to
seeing seat belt reminders fitted to most vehicle models and will welcome
further improvements in pedestrian and cyclist protection, child protection
and active safety."
Wilfried Klanner, Testing and Technical Manager for the ADAC said,
"Phase 11 results reveal that due to Euro NCAP the occupant safety in cars
are increasingly rising. 4 out of 18 tested vehicles were awarded with the
maximum of 5 stars, and for the first time a middle-class car was among
them. 10 models are already equipped with seatbelt reminders, a decisive
contribution to reduce the number of severe injury accidents with unbelted
occupants."
Guido Adriaenssens, ICRT Chief Executive said,
"ICRT is excited to see a breakthrough, with the first small family car, as
well as several family sized cars, being awarded the five star rating. This
makes good design more accessible and affordable and is clearly a design aim
for many manufacturers.
In fact, a four star rating is now the absolute minimum one expects in crash
safety tests. So it is very disappointing to see three cars in the Phase 11
Group fail to meet this requirement, mainly due to shortcomings in the
frontal impact protection.
The scores for pedestrian safety are also still a cause for concern with the
Suzuki Grand Vitara delivering the worst results ever seen in the Euro NCAP
tests."
Editors note:
1. Organisations contributing to Euro NCAP include the Departments of
Transport of Sweden, The Netherlands, France, Germany, the United Kingdom
and Catalonia as well as the European Commission, the FIA Foundation, the
Allgemeiner Deutscher Automobil-Club (ADAC) and the International Consumer
Research and Testing (ICRT) on behalf of the European consumer
organisations.
2. The results are announced in Italy.
3. Future Phases will continue with testing of more off-roaders and two
seater sports cars as well as catching up on important new cars in the
existing groups.
4. Australia has adopted the same testing protocols as Euro NCAP and they
are publishing results from Euro NCAP that are applicable in their market.
The Euro NCAP testing protocols are unique in that they include tests for
front, side impact and pole impact and also gives information on pedestrian
and child protection.
5. The front impact test is conducted at 64km/h (40mph) into an offset
deformable barrier, the side impact test 50km/h (30mph), the pole test at
29km/h (18mph) and the pedestrian tests at 40km/h (25mph).
6. The full results will be on the web site www.euroncap.com from 26
November.
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