http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/06/whiplash-a-serious-problem-with-many-vehicles-says-iihs/ Autoblog Comments for Whiplash a serious problem with many vehicles, says IIHS http://www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2008 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/06/whiplash-a-serious-problem-with-many-vehicles-says-iihs/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/06/whiplash-a-serious-problem-with-many-vehicles-says-iihs/Apr 6th 2007 9:18AMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/06/whiplash-a-serious-problem-with-many-vehicles-says-iihs/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/06/whiplash-a-serious-problem-with-many-vehicles-says-iihs/Apr 6th 2007 9:21AMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/06/whiplash-a-serious-problem-with-many-vehicles-says-iihs/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/06/whiplash-a-serious-problem-with-many-vehicles-says-iihs/
I agree, Mercedes and Lexus have a similar system (active safety or something, I forget the marketing lingo). My guess is that just didn't test them in this round.]]>Apr 6th 2007 10:23AMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/06/whiplash-a-serious-problem-with-many-vehicles-says-iihs/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/06/whiplash-a-serious-problem-with-many-vehicles-says-iihs/Apr 6th 2007 10:38AMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/06/whiplash-a-serious-problem-with-many-vehicles-says-iihs/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/06/whiplash-a-serious-problem-with-many-vehicles-says-iihs/- the IIHS protocol doesn't permit adjustment as recommended in Owner Manuals or as a driver/f.pass. would do...they use a generic "mid" height and don't allow tilting forward. This means the "good" results can be the result of special tuning for the IIHS test. (Look at a Volvo HR and you'll see the tuning curves.) This tuning may be legitimately effective for those who are clueless about adjusting HR, thus the IIHS procedure.
- so far the real world experience has not borne out the results of the "good" rated vehicles.]]>Apr 6th 2007 11:00AMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/06/whiplash-a-serious-problem-with-many-vehicles-says-iihs/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/06/whiplash-a-serious-problem-with-many-vehicles-says-iihs/
All Lexus tested where either the 2007 models or carried over 2006-2007 models. With the exception of Lexus IS 250/350 (which was rated acceptable), all Lexus tested were rated Marginal.

MB C class - Acceptable
MB E class - Good]]>Apr 6th 2007 11:07AMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/06/whiplash-a-serious-problem-with-many-vehicles-says-iihs/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/06/whiplash-a-serious-problem-with-many-vehicles-says-iihs/Apr 6th 2007 11:09AMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/06/whiplash-a-serious-problem-with-many-vehicles-says-iihs/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/06/whiplash-a-serious-problem-with-many-vehicles-says-iihs/This could be because the IIHS test ignores the mass effect in rear impacts, ignores the crumple zone design of the vehicle, ignores the actual adjustment of the HR (as mentioned) etc. ]]>Apr 6th 2007 11:27AMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/06/whiplash-a-serious-problem-with-many-vehicles-says-iihs/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/06/whiplash-a-serious-problem-with-many-vehicles-says-iihs/Apr 6th 2007 11:28AMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/06/whiplash-a-serious-problem-with-many-vehicles-says-iihs/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/06/whiplash-a-serious-problem-with-many-vehicles-says-iihs/
I would be completely suprised that the insurance industry does not keep track of what vehicles have the high/low claims.

As for IIHS, I don't think they can really do any test that provides 100% fool proof results. I think this is meant as industry guideline than consumer information.]]>Apr 6th 2007 11:35AMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/06/whiplash-a-serious-problem-with-many-vehicles-says-iihs/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/06/whiplash-a-serious-problem-with-many-vehicles-says-iihs/
The Volvo system is actually the result of pioneering work in the biomechanics of whiplash and whiplash protection engineering. Volvo's leading whiplash scientist, Dr. Lotta Jakobsson, received an NHTSA award in 2005 for this work.

http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/pdf/nrd-01/Esv/esv16/98S7O08.PDF

Note that the above 1998 paper references accident research and earlier published studies done by Volvo that lead to WHIPS.

I agree though that some manufacturers are probably designing to the test.

Whiplash protection has been measured in real-world accidents in studies done by Volvo, the IIHS, the Swedish Road Authority, and Folksam, a Swedish insurer:

http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/pdf/nrd-01/esv/esv19/05-0363-O.pdf]]>Apr 6th 2007 2:38PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/06/whiplash-a-serious-problem-with-many-vehicles-says-iihs/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/06/whiplash-a-serious-problem-with-many-vehicles-says-iihs/
Related to this, look at the recent testing Consumer Reports did with infant car seats. Two of the models actually did pretty well even though they were tested at a speed twice as high as what CR intended. Those models would be on my shopping list if I had a baby and needed to get a car seat!]]>Apr 6th 2007 9:16PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/06/whiplash-a-serious-problem-with-many-vehicles-says-iihs/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/06/whiplash-a-serious-problem-with-many-vehicles-says-iihs/Apr 11th 2007 12:31PM