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Official: IIHS tests brace of new small cars, many earn Top Safety Pick status [w/video]

Filed under: Etc., Safety, Videos

2011 nissan juke crash test

Small cars score big in latest IIHS crash tests – Click above to watch video after the jump

Thirteen enter, six leave … with Top Safety Pick awards. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety spent some time driving (and smashing) a big group of small cars. Six of those cars received top honors from the IIHS by scoring a rating of “Good” across the board. The 2012 Ford Focus, 2012 Honda Civic sedan, 2011 Hyunda Elantra, 2011 Lexus CT200h, 2011 Nissan Juke and 2011 Toyota Prius are all the small-car place to be in the event of an accident.

This crop of small cars are also quite fuel efficient. All vehicles in the top six offer a version that gets at least 40 miles per gallon on the highway.

The rest of the vehicles tested faired well. Only the older Suzuki SX4 and Dodge Caliber received “Mediocre” ratings in some categories. Every car tested, however, received multiple “Good” ratings. Click past the jump to watch the IIHS talk about about the small car crash tests. Also, be sure to check out the breakdown of the ratings by vehicle (pdf file).

Continue reading IIHS tests brace of new small cars, many earn Top Safety Pick status [w/video]

IIHS tests brace of new small cars, many earn Top Safety Pick status [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 26 May 2011 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford F-150, Toyota Tundra earn IIHS Top Safety Pick Awards

Filed under: Truck, Safety, Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford, GMC, Nissan, Toyota

2011 Ford F-150 IIHS Full-Size Pickup Rollover Crash Test

IIHS Full-Size Pickup Rollover Crash Testing – Click above for high-res image gallery

Like their body-on-frame SUV cousins, full-size pickup trucks are more prone to roll over than a standard passenger car. That’s exactly why it’s so important to have a vehicle that earns good marks in roof-strength tests. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has just released the data on its recent volley of tests on full-size pickup trucks, and both the 2011 Ford F-150 and 2011 Toyota Tundra earned the coveted Top Safety Pick designation. The vehicles earned the highest possible rating of ‘good’ in the institutes crush test, where a large steel plate is pressed against one corner of the roof to calculate a strength-to-weight ratio.

Meanwhile, the 2011 Nissan Titan took home an acceptable rating in the rollover evaluation while the 2011 Chevrolet Silverado, 2011 GMC Sierra and 2011 Ram 1500 netted marginal scores.

IIHS says that the roof on the Toyota Tundra stood up to 4.5 times the truck’s weight while the F-150 handled 4.7 times the pressure. A vehicle must withstand 4 times its weight before five-inches of crush is detected before being awarded a Good rating. Hit the jump for the full press release.

Continue reading Ford F-150, Toyota Tundra earn IIHS Top Safety Pick Awards

Ford F-150, Toyota Tundra earn IIHS Top Safety Pick Awards originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 12 May 2011 18:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LaHood details new tour bus safety measures

Filed under: Truck, Government/Legal, Safety, Work

Tour bus boarding in NY

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has announced new tour bus safety measures that could make it a lot more difficult for companies to operate their fleets in an unsafe manner. Among the sweeping changes are a requirement for tour bus companies to pass a safety audit before receiving permission to operate. The audit will include a safety exam of both the drivers and vehicles, in addition to an interview with the owners of the company. Current laws permit companies to operate for up to 18 months without a safety evaluation.

The federal agency also finalized a proposal to tighten requirements for offering a commercial driver’s license. The new license can be obtained only after obtaining a learner’s permit, and all states issuing the test will need to use a federal testing system.

While the new operating and testing procedures will help ensure the safety of the estimated 700 million passengers who utilize tour buses every year, several bus safety standards have still not been announced. The Transportation Department is hoping to add requirements that new buses have seat belts and stronger roofs and windows to prevent passengers from being ejected in a roll-over accident.

The renewed interest in tour bus safety came after a string of accidents, including a March 12 crash in New York that lead to the death of 15 passengers. The bus, which was traveling at the maximum speed of 78 miles per hour, fell off an elevated highway and hit a utility pole.

LaHood details new tour bus safety measures originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 09 May 2011 18:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GM employs a safer seatbelt to retain five-star safety ratings

Filed under: Safety, GM

General Motors, like all automakers, is constantly researching new means of keeping its customers safe. One of the primary lines of defense inside an automobile is the seatbelt, and GM has fitted some select vehicles with an updated latch system that gives engineers greater control over tensioner tuning. It’s this increased level of control and tunability that has helped a handful of General Motors vehicles retain their five-star crash safety ratings, even as the tests get tougher.

Called the Dynamic Locking Latch Plate (DLLP), the system provides greater control over a passenger’s torso in a crash. The DLLP buckles also allow GM safety engineers a greater degree of fine-tuning to make sure the airbags and belts are working together to keep the interior a safe place.

Ever since the New Car Assessment Program was updated, automakers have had to work harder to achieve five-star crash ratings. General Motors vehicles equipped with its DLLP seatbelts are scoring well in NCAP testing. Not every model gets the updated tech, but GM is utilizing the technology throughout its fleet as needed.

GM employs a safer seatbelt to retain five-star safety ratings originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 05 May 2011 18:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mercedes-Benz hooks DTM up with a new C63 AMG safety car

Filed under: Motorsports, Sedan, Safety, Mercedes-Benz, Racing

2011 DTM Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG safety car

2011 DTM Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG safety car – Click above for high-res image gallery

The DTM series and Mercedes-Benz have a long and beautiful history together. Particularly when it comes to the AMG-tuned C-Class. That’s the car that the German automaker currently runs in the touring car series, and stands as the most successful in the series’ history. Also, one of the most coveted models Mercedes AMG ever made was the CLK DTM. And now the latest C63 AMG will be setting the pace as the series’ new safety car.

The safety car is essentially the same as the model you can order from your local showroom, complete with the AMG Performance Package, but has been outfitted with such features as flashing LEDs front, rear and top, Safety Car decals on every exterior surface and an interior fitted with a communications radio, TV monitor for watching the live race feed, a pair of bucket seats with four-point harnesses and a steering wheel covered in Nappa leather and Alcantara.

While this latest iteration will debut at Hockenheim this weekend, this isn’t the first time that the C63 has been called into this particular line of duty. In fact Mercedes-AMG has provided pace cars to DTM every year since its relaunch in 2000, the C63 filling the role since 2008. But rather than replacing the R8 safety car, the Mercedes alternates with Audi from race to race. Which are the only two teams currently on the grid, leaving us to wonder what they’ll do when BMW joins in next year.

Gallery: 2011 DTM Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG safety car

[Source: Mercedes-Benz]

Continue reading Mercedes-Benz hooks DTM up with a new C63 AMG safety car

Mercedes-Benz hooks DTM up with a new C63 AMG safety car originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 29 Apr 2011 14:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chevy Volt, Nissan Leaf earn Top Safety Picks in first IIHS electric vehicle crash tests

Filed under: Hybrid, Sedan, Safety, Hatchback, Chevrolet, GM, Nissan, Electric

chevy volt crash test

Chevy Volt and Nissan Leaf Crash Tests – Click above for high-res image gallery

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has completed its first test of mainstream plug-in vehicles, and both the 2011 Chevrolet Volt and the 2011 Nissan Leaf have were named “Good” for their front, side, rear, and rollover crash protection. Testing procedures for these plug-in vehicles were exactly the same as for any other automobile the IIHS tests, as they should be.

The two plug-in pioneers join 80 other 2011 vehicles in earning the Top Safety Pick title, thanks to their fine performance in instrumented crash testing and their standard electronic stability control. For what it’s worth, other fuel sippers like the 2010 Toyota Prius and 2010 Honda Insight have also been named Top Safety Picks in the past. That said, the IIHS has taken issue with some plug-in electric vehicles in the past, specifically the not-quite-a-car NEVs like the Gem e2 or the Wheego Whip.

Of course, we all know how much fun it is to watch brand-new cars being smashed to bits in the name of safety, so we’ve gone ahead and embedded a video of the two plug-ins undergoing the crash testing process. Hit the jump to see for yourself and to check out the official press release.

Gallery: 2011 Chevrolet Volt crash tests

2011 Chevrolet Volt crash tests

Gallery: 2011 Nissan Leaf crash tests

2011 Nissan Leaf crash tests

[Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety]

Continue reading Chevy Volt, Nissan Leaf earn Top Safety Picks in first IIHS electric vehicle crash tests

Chevy Volt, Nissan Leaf earn Top Safety Picks in first IIHS electric vehicle crash tests originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 26 Apr 2011 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2011 Hyundai Equus named IIHS ‘Top Safety Pick’

Filed under: Sedan, Safety, Hyundai, Luxury

hyundai equus top safety pick

2011 Hyundai Equus IIHS Top Safety Pick – Click above for high-res image gallery

Our long-term Hyundai Equus has already impressed our staff with its copious level of luxury refinement and general largess. Now Hyundai can put another notch in the belt of its luxury sedan after being designated an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Top Safety Pick.

The Equus won the award by scoring a “Good” in front, side, rollover and rear crash protection. The Equus also manged to surpass the stringent IIHS requirement for roof strength, as the big sedan was found to have a roof that can support a force equal to 4.87 times its weight. To receive a “Good” score, a roof must be able to support at least four times its weight. The Equus also features electronic stability control; another must-have to receive a Top Safety Pick designation.

Click on the gallery below to see high-resolution pics of a $60,000 luxury sedan getting destroyed in the name of science and safety.

Gallery: Hyundai Equus IIHS Top Safety Pick

Hyundai Equus IIHS Top Safety Pick

[Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety]

2011 Hyundai Equus named IIHS ‘Top Safety Pick’ originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 14 Apr 2011 18:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: China suspends Jeep Wrangler importation over safety concerns

Filed under: Convertible, SUV, China, Recalls, Chrysler, Jeep, Off-Road

2011 Jeep Wrangler

2011 Jeep Wrangler – Click above for high-res image gallery

China’s General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) has suspended the importation of the Jeep Wrangler due to a series of car fires. Car News China reports that the Agency’s investigation showed the fires resulted from issues with the automatic transmission and systems tied to the transmission.

The AQSIQ reportedly asked Chrysler to find the cause of the issue and solve it, adding, “Manufacturer and importers should take precautionary measures for the vehicles involved to ensure consumers’ safety.” The imported Wranglers likely come from our shores, but a quick check of NHTSA’s recall database shows there are no active recalls for Wrangler fires in the U.S. See any irony here?

In an unrelated (though somehow still related…) issue, Chrysler has also recalled 464 Wranglers in China for improperly torqued bolts that lead to loud noises and even potential steering problems. The vehicles in question were built between July 7, 2010 and September 10, 2010. The Chrysler China Sales Company will check affected vehicles for free and fix bolts where necessary. That very same recall is happening here in the U.S. as well.

Gallery: 2011 Jeep Wrangler

2011 Jeep Wrangler 2011 Jeep Wrangler and Wrangler Unlimited 2011 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited 2011 Jeep Wrangler interior

[Source: China Car News]

Report: China suspends Jeep Wrangler importation over safety concerns originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 11 Apr 2011 18:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Infiniti goes rallying in Spain with G37 safety car

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Europe, Infiniti, Racing

Infiniti G37 Coupe S safety car

Infiniti G37 Coupe S safety car – Click above for high-res image gallery

Infiniti is no stranger to motorsports. The Japanese luxury marque supplied engines to the Indy Racing League in the late 90s, and recently launched a sponsorship deal with the World Champion Red Bull Racing team in Formula One (which runs sister-company Renault’s engines). But rallying is new territory for the Nissan premium division.

Now before you let your imagination run wild, bear in mind that the G37 coupe you see here is not actually competing in any rally events. It is, however, being used as a safety car for the Spanish Rally Championship.

For the task, the G37 Coupe S dubbed “Work Car Zero” has been outfitted with roll-bar, dampers, brakes, bucket seats and harnesses, fire-suppression system, communications equipment and special lighting. Otherwise, it’s pretty much bone stock (save for the garish paint scheme).

Follow the jump for all the details in the press release and scope out the images in the high-res gallery below for a closer look.

Gallery: Infiniti G37 Coupe S safety car

[Source: Infiniti]

Continue reading Infiniti goes rallying in Spain with G37 safety car

Infiniti goes rallying in Spain with G37 safety car originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 08 Apr 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Australian safety council urges you to slow down… naturally

Filed under: Government/Legal, Marketing/Advertising, Safety, Videos

“Enjoy The Ride” PSA – Click above to watch the video after the jump

Remember the Embrace Life PSA that urged auto occupants to use their safety belts? It’s a beautiful safety ad with a very powerful message. The Road Safety Council of Western Australia must have been watching, because they’ve taken their safety message to the next level of serenity.

Beyond the jump is a three-minute ad titled “Enjoy The Ride.” The first two minutes of the video explain how important it is to slow down in every day life. If you don’t, the PSA explains, you’re on the fast track to early aging, heart disease and even erectile dysfunction. You wouldn’t know this is an auto safety spot until the last minute of the PSA, when the real message reveals itself. Slow down and enjoy the ride. Hit the jump to view the video – just be prepared to breath a little deeper… you may want to join yoga after this. Hat tip to Chris!

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Australian safety council urges you to slow down… naturally

Video: Australian safety council urges you to slow down… naturally originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 31 Mar 2011 16:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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