NEWS RELEASE: APRIL 10, 2008
NEW CRASH TESTS OF MIDSIZE CARS: PROTECTION IN SIDE IMPACTS IMPROVES, BUT MOST CARS TESTED STILL AFFORD MARGINAL OR POOR PROTECTION IN REAR CRASHES
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CLICK ON LINKS BELOW TO DOWNLOAD HIGH-RESOLUTION IMAGES;
NOTE: PRE-CRASH HIGH-RES SHOTS ARE NOT SILHOUETTED OUT
AS SHOWN IN THE THUMBNAILS
FRONTAL OFFSET TEST: 2008 DODGE AVENGER— GOOD
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Pre-crash studio shot |
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Action shot taken during the frontal offset crash test |
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The dummy's position in relation to the steering wheel and instrument panel after the crash test indicates that the driver's survival space was maintained well. |
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Smeared greasepaint indicates where the dummy's head hit the roof rail, B-pillar, and head restraint during rebound. Head accelerations from these hits were low. |
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Intrusion into the driver's space was minimal, and all leg and foot injury measures were low. |
SIDE IMPACT TEST: 2008 DODGE AVENGER WITH STANDARD SIDE AIRBAGS — GOOD
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Pre-crash studio shot |
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Action shot taken during the side impact crash test |
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View of the vehicle after the crash with doors removed, showing the side airbags and damage to the occupant compartment |
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Smeared greasepaint shows where the driver dummy's head was protected from being hit by hard structures by the side airbags. |
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Smeared greasepaint shows where the rear passenger dummy’s head was protected by the side airbag. |
SIDE IMPACT TEST: 2007 INFINITI G35 WITH STANDARD SIDE AIRBAGS — GOOD
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Pre-crash studio shot |
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Action shot taken during the side impact crash test |
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View of the vehicle after the crash with doors removed, showing the side airbags and damage to the occupant compartment |
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Smeared greasepaint shows where the driver dummy's head was protected from being hit by hard structures by the side curtain airbag. |
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Smeared greasepaint shows where the rear passenger dummy’s head was protected by the side airbag. |
SIDE IMPACT TEST: 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA WITH STANDARD SIDE AIRBAGS — GOOD
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Pre-crash studio shot |
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Action shot taken during the side impact crash test |
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View of the vehicle after the crash with doors removed, showing the side airbags and damage to the occupant compartment |
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Smeared greasepaint shows where the driver dummy's head was protected from being hit by hard structures by the side curtain airbag. |
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Smeared greasepaint shows where the rear passenger dummy’s head was protected by the side airbag. |
SIDE IMPACT TEST: 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU WITH STANDARD SIDE AIRBAGS — GOOD
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Pre-crash studio shot |
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Action shot taken during the side impact crash test |
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View of the vehicle after the crash with doors removed, showing the side airbags and damage to the occupant compartment |
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Smeared greasepaint shows where the driver dummy's head was protected from being hit by hard structures by the side airbags. |
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Smeared greasepaint shows where the rear passenger dummy’s head was protected by the side airbag (the blue strip is a tether that helps support the airbag). |
SIDE IMPACT TEST: 2008 SATURN AURA WITH STANDARD SIDE AIRBAGS — GOOD
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Pre-crash studio shot |
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Action shot taken during the side impact crash test |
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View of the vehicle after the crash with doors removed, showing the side airbags and damage to the occupant compartment |
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Smeared greasepaint shows where the driver dummy's head was protected from being hit by hard structures by the side airbags. |
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Smeared greasepaint shows where the rear passenger dummy’s head was protected by the side airbag. |
SIDE IMPACT TEST: 2008 MITSUBISHI GALANT WITH STANDARD SIDE AIRBAGS — GOOD
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Pre-crash studio shot |
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Action shot taken during the side impact crash test |
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View of the vehicle after the crash with doors removed, showing the side airbags and damage to the occupant compartment |
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Smeared greasepaint shows where the driver dummy's head was protected from being hit by hard structures by the side curtain airbag.
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Smeared greasepaint shows where the rear passenger dummy’s head was protected by the side airbag. |
SIDE IMPACT TEST: 2008 KIA OPTIMA WITH STANDARD SIDE AIRBAGS — ACCEPTABLE
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Pre-crash studio shot |
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Action shot taken during the side impact crash test |
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View of the vehicle after the crash with doors removed, showing the side airbags and damage to the occupant compartment |
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Smeared greasepaint shows where the driver dummy's head was protected from being hit by hard structures by the side curtain airbag. |
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Smeared greasepaint shows where the rear passenger dummy’s head was protected by the side airbag. |
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