Car 2013

Volvo S60 is the safest car in the luxury segment

According to the IIHS, the Volvo S60 is the safest car in the luxury segment. This is a confirmation of the excellent score that the car previously obtained by the Euro NCAP test and a pat on the continued efforts in the area of road safety.

The Audi A4, BMW 3, Mercedes C and Lexus 250 are less secure than generally assumed. This is shown by tests from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Which, according to this U.S. security organization much more realistic than the Euro NCAP tests, in Europe as the standard apply.

Until the end of the nineties could a carmaker - at will - each new model praise as the "safest" car. Convincing evidence came mostly only of Mercedes and Volvo, both of which have done pioneering work in the field of safety in and outside the car. With the establishment of Euro NCAP in 1997 came to an end happy that unhealthy situation.

Euro CAP enjoys confidence of European government,
manufacturers and consumers

Structure of Euro NCAP was to assess the safety performance of the best selling cars in Europe to investigate and scores to be awarded in the form of stars, by analogy with the Michelin Guide. In addition, several situations examined, ranging from a frontal and side impact pole test about the protection of children in the car and Pedestrian Street, whiplash, seat belt reminders and speed limiters. For each of the tests were very detailed procedures and standards developed. How to find the frontal collision at a speed of 64 km / h against an immovable block with a sheet of aluminum. The collision is under Euro NCAP representative of the most common accidents with serious or fatal injury. The crash test simulates a head-on collision of two cars with similar weight to 55 km / h. The difference in speed is the result of the energy that is absorbed by the deformable plate. Each test is by high speed cameras filmed the images are compared with the measured values and provide additional information on the impact of the collision on the so-called dummy in the car.

Based on the results of the various tests, Euro NCAP has the new car review ranging from one to five stars. A new model achieves a maximum score, and then sends the car manufacturer usually once a press release from the good news. Rated a new model bad, then its likely that the manufacturer of the launch or even adjust. The measurement results from Euro NCAP will be much echo in the media, reducing the risk of reputation damage is high. And that risk to or dare not walk the brands.

Since 1997, dozens of models discussed. Euro NCAP has proven to be a professional and independent organization that enjoys the confidence of both the European Commission and the car industry and the national motoring and consumer organizations. Euro NCAP is an important player in the field of road safety, the safety organization puts the sector to new developments and rewards those efforts with a good score. Euro NCAP has undoubtedly saved many lives, both in the car on the street. Thus, the increased attention to the protection of children and pedestrians manufacturers undertook drastic changes to the concept and design of their new models.

Since 2010 has Euro NCAP Advanced awards also allow for advanced safety technologies. So this year were the autonomous emergency braking system from Audi (Pre Sense Front Plus), Mercedes (Collision Prevention Assist) and VW (City Emergency Brake) and the system for a better view (Adaptive Forward Lighting) Opel a special mention.

Doubt representative character of crash test

the recently published test of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has caused a stir in Europe. According to the U.S. safety institute concentrates the Euro NCAP crash test on frontal collisions and collisions along the side. In reality, this type of collision is not common, said IIHS President Adrian Lund. "Almost all new cars score well in frontal collisions, yet we note more than 10,000 deaths each year in collisions."

The so-called small overlap frontal crash "of the IIHS, the car is 64 km / h against a heavy block catapulted, with only 25 percent of the front of the car the obstacle. The test simulates a collision in which the vehicle at the corner being hit by a tree or another car. The results of these tests show that the Audi A4, BMW 3, Mercedes C and Lexus IS 250 moderate to insufficient score. This immediately led to reactions from Audi. This should show that the German manufacturers criticism of U.S. security organization seriously and will take action. What action that actually entails, as we have provision ally’s guess.

The fact is that the results of the IIHS test to ensure nervousness in the car world and that a heated discussion is to come about which the most realistic tests. European manufacturers are not amused: in what situations they must now focus on the design of new models? Euro NCAP pulls the short end, and then the European brands their safety philosophy of mind and maybe even adjusts. This does not apply to Volvo, the Swedish security pioneer in Chinese hands. According to the IIHS, the Volvo S60 is the safest car in the luxury segment. Data is a confirmation of the excellent score that the car previously obtained by the Euro NCAP test and a pat on the continued efforts in the area of road safety. For once brings the good news headlines.