December 22, 2010
66 winners of 2011 Top Safety Pick award;
automakers quickly improve roofs to boost rollover protection
Roof strength test for rollover protection:
Crushing device
In the Institute's roof strength test, a metal plate is pushed against 1 side of a roof at a constant speed. To earn a good rating, the roof must withstand a force of 4 times the vehicle's weight before reaching 5 inches of crush.
New for 2011 Top Safety Pick vehicles on the crushing device
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Vehicle Research Center roof crush machine: 2011 Mercedes E class Coupe pre-test 10/6/10 |
Vehicle Research Center roof crush machine: 2011 Kia Optima sedan pre-test 11/18/10 |
Vehicle Research Center roof crush machine: 2011 Volkswagen Jetta sedan pre-test 11/19/10 |
Vehicle Research Center roof crush machine: 2011 Chevrolet Cruze pre-test 11/18/10 |
Vehicle Research Center roof crush machine: 2011 Scion tC pre-test 10/26/10 |
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Vehicle Research Center roof crush machine: 2011 Volkswagen Touareg pre-test 11/19/10 |
Vehicle Research Center roof crush machine: 2011 Ford Explorer pre-test 12/8/10 |
Vehicle Research Center roof crush machine: 2011 Hyundai Santa Fe pre-test 11/18/10 |
Vehicle Research Center roof crush machine: 2011 Mercedes GLK pre-test 10/6/10 |
2009 Volkswagen Tiguan rollover demonstration test
The Tiguan is rated good for roof strength. Its roof crushed less than 2 inches while withstanding a force of 15,000 pounds. That's 4 times the Tiguan's weight.
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3/2/09 |
3/2/09 |
3/2/09 |
3/2/09 |
31 mph side impact test representing a strike from a pickup or SUV: 2011 Kia Optima
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Pre-crash studio shot 11/11/10 |
Action shot taken during the side impact crash test 11/18/10 |
View of the vehicle after the crash with doors removed, showing the side airbags and damage to the occupant compartment 11/18/10 |
Smeared greasepaint shows where the driver dummy's head was protected from being hit by hard structures by the side curtain airbag. 11/18/10 |
Smeared greasepaint shows where the rear passenger dummy’s head was protected by the side airbag. 11/18/10 |
40 mph frontal offset test: 2011 Volkswagen Jetta sedan
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Pre-crash studio shot 10/1/10 |
Action shot taken during the Institute's frontal offset crash test 11/10/10 |
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 (Institute test car shown). 11/10/10 |
Smeared greasepaint indicates where the dummy's head hit the roof rail in the Institute's test. 11/10/10 |
Intrusion into the driver's space was minimal in both tests, and all leg and foot injury measures were low. 11/10/10 |
31 mph side impact test representing a strike from a pickup or SUV: 2011 Chevrolet Cruze
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Pre-crash studio shot 10/4/10 |
Action shot taken during the side impact crash test 10/13/10 |
View of the vehicle after the crash with doors removed, showing the side airbags and damage to the occupant compartment 10/14/10 |
Smeared greasepaint shows where the driver dummy's head was protected from being hit by hard structures by the side curtain airbag. 10/13/10 |
Smeared greasepaint shows where the rear passenger dummy’s head was protected by the side airbag. 10/13/10 |
40 mph frontal offset test: 2011 Scion tC
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Pre-crash studio shot 10/20/10 |
Action shot taken during the frontal offset crash test 10/26/10 |
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. 10/26/10 |
Smeared greasepaint indicates where the dummy's head contacted the side curtain airbag and grab handle during rebound. Head accelerations from these hits were low. 10/26/10 |
Intrusion into the driver's space was minimal, and all leg and foot injury measures were low. 10/26/10 |
31 mph side impact test representing a strike from a pickup or SUV: 2011 Scion tC
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Pre-crash studio shot 10/18/10 |
Action shot taken during the side impact crash test 10/28/10 |
View of the vehicle after the crash with door removed, showing the side airbags and damage to the occupant compartment 10/28/10 |
Smeared greasepaint shows where the driver dummy's head was protected from being hit by hard structures by the side curtain airbag. 10/28/10 |
Smeared greasepaint shows where the rear passenger dummy's head was protected by the side airbag. 10/28/10 |
31 mph side impact test representing a strike from a pickup or SUV: 2011 Volkswagen Touareg
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Pre-crash studio shot 11/5/10 |
Action shot taken during the side impact crash test 11/16/10 |
View of the vehicle after the crash with doors removed, showing the side airbags and damage to the occupant compartment 11/16/10 |
Smeared greasepaint shows where the driver dummy's head was protected from being hit by hard structures by the side airbags. 11/16/10 |
Smeared greasepaint shows where the rear passenger dummy’s head was protected by the side airbag. 11/16/10 |
40 mph frontal offset test: 2011 Mercedes GLK
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Pre-crash studio shot 8/30/10 |
Action shot taken during the frontal offset crash test 10/7/10 |
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 very well. 10/7/10 |
Smeared greasepaint indicates where the dummy's head hit the B-pillar during rebound. Head acceleration from this hit was low. 10/7/10 |
Although intrusion into the driver's space was minimal and the knee airbag deployed as intended, forces on the lower right leg were just high enough to indicate the possibility of injuries. 10/7/10 |
31 mph side impact test representing a strike from a pickup or SUV: 2011 Mercedes GLK
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Pre-crash studio shot 8/27/10 |
Action shot taken during the side impact crash test 10/5/10 |
View of the vehicle after the crash with doors removed, showing the side airbags and damage to the occupant compartment 10/5/10 |
Smeared greasepaint shows where the driver dummy's head was protected from being hit by hard structures by the side airbags. 10/5/10 |
Smeared greasepaint shows where the rear passenger dummy's head was protected by the side airbag. 10/5/10 |
