4-star ANCAPs: attention to structural integrity needed
Media Release: Embargoed 12.01am 16 April 2015
4-star ANCAP results reveal more attention to structural integrity needed
Both
the 2014 Mini Cooper 3 and the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer
fall short of a 5-star ANCAP rating after crash tests reveal
the driver could be seriously injured due to a lack of
structural protection.
The three-door Mini Cooper Hatch was given a 4-star rating due to poor protection of the driver’s chest and abdomen in a side impact test.
Similarly the three cylinder petrol variant of the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer left the driver’s legs only marginally protected in a frontal offset crash test.
Both car models have curtain airbags, Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD), Emergency Brake Assist (EBA) and seatbelt reminders fitted to all seats as standard across the range, however AA General Manager Motoring Services Stella Stocks says focus needs to be maintained on the structural integrity of the vehicles.
“While it’s encouraging to see manufacturers prioritising safety assist technologies, they need to remember that vehicle safety begins with a sound structure and ensure they are not compromising on driver and passenger safety through the body of the car,” says Ms Stocks.
ANCAP also issued a number of 5-star ratings for the newly released 2015 Mitsubishi Triton, 2.2 diesel variants of the 2014 Land Rover Discovery Sport, which also came to New Zealand this year, and the 2014 BMW i3. All include a suite of safety assist technologies.
ANCAP has published crash test results for a wide range of passenger and light commercial vehicle makes, models and variants sold in Australia and New Zealand since 1992. It is supported by all Australian and New Zealand motoring clubs, the Australian Government, the New Zealand Government, all Australian state governments, the Victorian Transport Accident Commission, NRMA Insurance and the FIA foundation.
For a full list of ANCAP’s vehicle safety ratings, other vehicle safety information and the specifications of the rated vehicles visit www.aa.co.nz or rightcar.govt.nz.
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