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The Latest Crash Test Results from Euro NCAP
(European New Car Assessment Programme)
24 June, 2004
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Euro NCAP announced today the results for eight cars that have achieved the top five star accolade for occupant protection in Europe's leading independent crash tests.
The Toyota Prius is the first hybrid car to be tested by Euro NCAP, is one of eight cars to achieve the top five star occupant rating and gets the highest rating for child protection, proving that cars can be lean, green and safe.
Best in their respective classes, for occupant protection, were the Toyota Corolla Verso, and BMWs Z4.
Honda's Jazz becomes the first supermini to be awarded the three star Euro NCAP rating for pedestrian protection, proving that even the smallest cars can be pedestrian friendly.
And another first, Renault's Mégane CC is the first car ever to achieve the maximum score possible in the stringent frontal impact test.
The Euro NCAP rating requires occupants to fasten their belts. Again for the first time, an intelligent seat belt reminder for the rear seats has been introduced on a car, Volvo's S40. This is a significant development as increased seat belt wearing rates are essential if we are to maximise the enormous safety gains achieved by Euro NCAP over recent years and save the 7,000 fatalities attributed to non-belt use in Europe.
Other crashworthiness results for family cars, superminis, small family cars, small MPVs [U.S. "minivans"] and roadsters are launched at a press conference in Prague co-hosted by Euro NCAP, the Autoklub of the Czech Republic (ACCR), the General Auto Moto Club Czech Republic (ÚAMK) and the FIA Foundation.
Claes Tingvall, Euro NCAP Chairman said:
"These latest test results are the second to give cars a specific rating of between one and five stars for the protection given to children. However, it is important to note that the rating applies to the car in combination with the restraints used in our tests. It does not act as a general rating for the car or the model of child restraint.
"In this phase, all but two of the cars had some form of intelligent seat belt reminder and, for the first time, a seat belt reminder for rear seats was provided by Volvo, in their S40. This is a most welcome development as increased seat belt wearing rates across the 25 member states of the EU has the potential to save more than 7,000 lives.
"I am particularly pleased to see that eight cars achieved the coveted 5 star Euro NCAP rating for occupant protection and note that manufacturers are setting targets for new designs of car at four and five stars.
"However, whilst Honda continues to lead in the development of pedestrian friendly car fronts, I am disappointed to see that other manufacturers lag so far behind. Manufacturers have risen to the challenge for occupant and child protection; it is now time for them to redouble their efforts and move forward in this safety area."
David Jamieson, UK Transport Minister said:
"I am pleased that manufacturers are continuing to improve car occupant safety, with eight out of the twelve cars tested scoring 5 stars for occupant protection.
"There are also some signs of improvement on pedestrian protection with two cars scoring 3 stars but clearly more improvement is needed and we would expect to see that happening as the European standards begin to take effect from 2005."
Peter Roberts, Managing Director, Thatcham said:
"Thatcham, now as an active member of Euro NCAP, congratulate the successful vehicle manufacturers whose attention to safety has achieved top Euro NCAP ratings.
"Looking ahead, British Insurers -- through Thatcham -- have now sponsored the new BMW 1-Series for the autumn series of Euro NCAP tests."
David Ward, Director General of the FIA Foundation said:
"These latest Euro NCAP continue to show significant improvements in car safety standards. |
Summary of Results (each section in alphabetical order)
Only the VW Golf gets a total of 12 stars
FAMILY CARS
Peugeot 407 Occupant Protection : 5 stars Child Protection : 4 stars Pedestrian Protection : 2 stars
Saab 9-3 Convertible Occupant Protection : 5 stars Child Protection : 3 stars Pedestrian Protection : 1 star
Toyota Prius Occupant Protection : 5 stars Child Protection : 4 stars Pedestrian Protection : 2 stars
Volvo S40 Occupant Protection : 5 stars Child Protection : 4 stars Pedestrian Protection : 2 stars
SMALL FAMILY CARS
Opel/Vauxhall Astra Occupant Protection : 5 stars Child Protection : 4 stars Pedestrian Protection : 1 star
Renault Mégane CC Occupant Protection : 5 stars Child Protection : 3 stars Pedestrian Protection : 2 stars
VW Golf Occupant Protection : 5 stars Child Protection : 4 stars Pedestrian Protection : 3 stars
SUPERMINI
Honda Jazz Occupant Protection : 4 stars Child Protection : 3 stars Pedestrian Protection : 3 stars
SMALL MPVs [U.S. equivalent = minivans]
Fiat Doblo Occupant Protection : 3 stars Child Protection : 3 stars Pedestrian Protection : 1 star
Toyota Corolla Verso Occupant Protection : 5 stars Child Protection : 4 stars Pedestrian Protection : 2 stars
ROADSTERS
BMW Z4 Occupant Protection : 4 stars Child Protection : Not applicable Pedestrian Protection : 2 stars
Opel/Vauxhall Tigra Occupant Protection : 4 stars Child Protection : Not applicable Pedestrian Protection : 2 stars
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"Renaults Mégane CC has set a new benchmark for frontal crash test protection. Toyotas Prius shows that innovative green hybrid technologies can also offer very good levels of safety. Honda meanwhile continues to lead in the crucial area of pedestrian protection. Also significant is the growing use of seat belt reminders. This [is] very important as even the best performing car can [only] offer five star safety if all the occupants use their seat belts.
Wilfried Klanner, Testing and Technical Manager for the ADAC said:
"More and more the car manufacturers fulfil the highest requirements of Euro NCAP for occupant protection: Two third of the tested models reach the maximum amount of stars according to the state of the art, for both adult and child protection. By this once more Euro NCAP proves to be an important pace maker for safety. Complementary the development in pedestrian protection is less satisfactory: Here we still are waiting for the first four star model."
Roman Jecminek, ACCR President said:
"Autoklub Czech Republic is honored that the city of Prague has been chosen as the venue for presenting the latest Euro NCAP crash tests results. Our organization has supported road traffic safety in the Czech Republic for many years. The presentation of crash test results will surely make people and the media more aware of this issue. We are happy that automobile manufacturers mention the use of seat belts more and more often. It is obvious that seat belts have a very positive impact on the consequences of traffic accidents, and their consistent use would save many human lives. However, the use of seat belts in the Czech Republic and Eastern Europe is still low and it is necessary to make permanent efforts in order to improve this situation.
"I was also pleased with the test results in respect to the protection of children in car seats. We all must make sure that the use of child seats becomes normal custom, and transportation of children will be unthinkable without them. Based on the published results, I think that manufacturers take this issue very seriously and we hope that they will continue to make efforts in protecting children's lives."
Oldrich Vanicek, ÚAMK President said:
"For the Euro NCAP organisation, this is for the first time that crash tests results have been announced at a press conference held in the Czech Republics capital city of Prague. We are proud to know that we have been selected as the first representatives among the countries of Eastern and Central Europe.
"Activities of the Euro NCAP promote significantly the sphere of road safety. This fact is highly appreciated by the ÚAMK, who exert remarkable efforts in the road safety policies. Every year, the ÚAMK are the organizer of numerous campaigns that are devoted to the education of drivers.
"We wish to express our grateful recognition that as part of the tests carried out, the vehicles are evaluated also in respect to a warning system, which reminds the driver to use the seat belt in whenever the car is driven on the road."
Guido Adriaenssens, ICRT Chief Executive said:
"In Phase 14 only one car lags behind with a 3 star score [in occupant protection]. All the other cars do well, scoring 4 or 5 stars. Child protection has also been picked up well by the industry. However, although there is now a choice of 5 star cars, some parts of the market lack this level of protection. ICRT hopes that, in the near future, the car industry will be able to deliver 5 star protection in the very important market sector of supermini cars as well."
NOTES
1. Organisations participating 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), Thatcham on behalf of the British Motor Insurers and the International Consumer Research and Testing (ICRT) on behalf of the European consumer organisations.
2. The results were announced in Prague.
3. A hybrid car combines two motive power sources, such as a small petrol engine and an electric motor; they do not require external charging, as do electric vehicles. The system used in the Prius is known as Hybrid Synergy Drive. It has two motors, and depending on the driving conditions, uses only the electric motor or the driving power from both electric motor and the engine to achieve high efficiency levels. When necessary, the system drives the wheels while simultaneously producing electricity using a generator.
4. Future Phases will continue with testing of new cars in all segments.
5. 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 [the potential for injury if a pedestrian is hit].
6. Euro NCAP introduced an additional star rating for child protection in November 2003. This rating is for a combination of a car with specific child seats that have been recommended by the car manufacturer. The combination can now earn up to five stars for child protection. The rating depends on the fitting instructions for the child seats, the cars ability to accommodate them safely and their performance in front and side impact tests. However, there are important limitations to this rating, which are:
7. 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).
8. The full results will be on the web site www.euroncap.com from 24 June.
Source: Euro NCAP
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