VIDEO: 2010 Ford Mustang nets five-star safety rating
The 2010 Ford Mustang is quicker and more refined than the model it replaces, and it has also been upgraded in ways you can't see or feel – unless you're in an accident. The new 'Stang has received a five-star rating for front and side collisions by National Highway Traffic Safety Association, as well as five-stars for roll-over performance. The Blue Oval says that these top scores adds to the company's industry leading amount of five-star rated vehicles.
Ford achieved the top U.S. government top safety scores in part because of the new Mustang's stiffer chassis. The 2010 model's body structure is 31% stiffer than the 2009 model, and Ford engineers augmented the more rigid platform with improved high strength sheetmetal to protect occupants in a side impact.
Hit the jump to check out the Ford press release and watch two videos of the 2010 Ford Mustang being crash tested.
Gallery: 2010 Ford Mustang
PRESS RELEASE:
* The 2010 Ford Mustang coupe has earned the U.S. government's top 5-star safety ratings, which includes
5-stars for driver and passenger in front and side crash tests, as well as for rollover performance
* Ford has more U.S. government 5-star ratings than any other automotive brand
* Mustang remains the number one selling sports car by a wide margin, with nearly a 40 percent share of the
segment in April; May sales ahead of projections
CONTEXT / BACKGROUND:
The 2010 Ford Mustang coupe has earned the U.S. government's top 5-star crash-test rating, adding to widespread acclaim for the new car's unmistakable design and upgraded performance that builds on the formula that's made it America's favorite pony car for 45 years. Ford has more U.S. government 5-star-rated vehicles than any other brand and more Top Safety Pick ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety than any other automaker.
DETAILS:
The new Mustang uses high strength steel in its body structure and uses ultra high strength steel in the door intrusion beams for additional side impact protection.
The Mustang's considerable body stiffness contributes to the coupe and convertible's driving performance and has a parallel benefit in accident protection. While the coupe's body structure is approximately 31 percent stiffer than the previous Mustang platform, the convertible's is more than twice as stiff – creating a structure that helps protect the cabin from deformation and intrusion during an impact.
The front structure's crush zones are computer-designed to absorb energy in a controlled manner and help dissipate it before it can reach the passenger compartment. Ford engineers have run thousands of design iterations of the Mustang's front rails to arrive at an octagonal shape that helps spread crash forces evenly to help protect occupants.
State-of-the-art technology adds to the convenience and safety of the 2010 Mustang, from the availability of the latest version of Ford SYNC®, with new features 911 Assist™ and Vehicle Health Report, to standard AdvanceTrac® Electronic Stability Control, which complements the all-speed traction control and standard anti-lock braking system (ABS).
Additional standard safety equipment includes Beltminder® and the Personal Safety System™ – a system that includes dual-stage driver and front passenger air bags, safety belt pretensioners and Beltminder.
Sales Leader
Mustang remains the number one selling sports car by a wide margin, with the new 2010 model driving showroom traffic. In April, Mustang had nearly a 40 percent share of the retail sports car segment.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Bob-omb 10:34AM (5/21/2009)
Of course it got 5 stars. What cars DON'T get 5 star ratings from the NHTSA nowadays? This does not merit an article on autoblog.
Reply
skicat 10:43AM (5/21/2009)
What a moronic comment. There are PLENTY of cars that don't get 5-star ratings in all categories (front, side, rear, rollover) , some of which are even made by Ford.
nardvark 10:48AM (5/21/2009)
Plenty of cars don't get 5 stars in all three of those categories. For example, neither the Camry, Corolla, or Civic manage this. The fact that a performance vehicle is capable of pulling this off is noteworthy.
Bob-omb 10:51AM (5/21/2009)
Moronic? 98% of cars tested in 2007 received 4-star or 5-star ratings from the NHTSA. How are you supposed to look at that info and say which cars are safe or not? Autoblog has been doing nothing lately but advertising Fords, though, so this "press release" isn't surprising.
akboss302 10:54AM (5/21/2009)
Actually, I'd have to agree with Bob on this one. It seems like just about every car rolling off an assembly line these days gets 5-star everything, which is why the NHTSA is revising their 5-star system for 2011 - because it really is too vague and 'everybody wins'. The Honda Fit and Yaris score excellent, but if you are a regular Autoblogger, you will recall a recent post about the severe handicap small cars have against those of a mid-size variety. This is opening a whole new can of worms (small car vs. big car crash testing), but 5-star has become more of a marketing gimmick than an accurate test of a vehicle's crash worthiness. If you want a safe car just buy a Volvo - they have their own crash test facility that have much more rigorous testing than those done by Government administration.
Jim 11:23AM (5/21/2009)
I'm kind of in agreement. It's pretty hard to find something on sale now which doesn't do well in these tests. I'm excluding things which are old designs- I'm looking at you, Ranger...
I mean, the IIHS is scrambling to find things to complain about (like their 80 mpg offset "test") now that cars are pretty solid across the board.
Jake 12:48PM (5/21/2009)
"Autoblog has been doing nothing lately but advertising Fords, though, so this "press release" isn't surprising."
It is hardly autoblog's fault that all the press coming out of GM lately is bad news, except they got a CGI cartoon camaro robot thing in a movie; and most of the press coming out of Ford lately is good news.
Perhaps Ford should run its company into the dirt to make things better.
skicat 1:49PM (5/21/2009)
"98% of cars... get a 4-star or 5-star rating." That was NOT yr original comment. Which I still maintain was moronic. If u have a problem with new cars (and apparently especially Fords) being safer, I'll be happy to find u a GEO Metro.
Jim 2:39PM (5/21/2009)
""98% of cars... get a 4-star or 5-star rating." That was NOT yr original comment. Which I still maintain was moronic. If u have a problem with new cars (and apparently especially Fords) being safer, I'll be happy to find u a GEO Metro."
you have a keyboard and no 160-character limit. can you quit with the txt-speak?
merlot066 3:16PM (5/21/2009)
Well last year the mustang was the first sports car to ever get a 5-star crash safety rating in all categories, so I guess they're just saying they made the safest sports car even safer.
The Other Bob 10:36AM (5/21/2009)
If it had IRS, it would have earned 6 stars. POS.
Reply
CB 10:45AM (5/21/2009)
You probably the kind of person that thinks the Corvette is a POS for having leaf springs....
Yaroukh 10:52AM (5/21/2009)
sarcasm detected ;)
The Other Bob 11:08AM (5/21/2009)
Thank you Yaroukh, I thought it was a lame enough statement that the sarcasm would have been obvious.
Mr.Oak 11:32AM (5/21/2009)
Other Bob: Exactly what are your perceived advantages\disadvantages of IRS over live axle?
Most folks that rant about the live\solid think that it is about handling/cornering. Well that's not the whole truth. The whole truth: Mustang factory racers have proven, that Ford has been making live axle cars long enough, that they have become quite good at it. the Mustang FRs have been known to stomp quite a few BMWs, Porsches, Mazdas etc. all equipped with much more "sophisticated" suspensions. Sorta like the rather unsophisticated 16 valve pushrod motors in the CTS-V and 'Vettes embarrassing BMWs much more sophisticated 40 valve V-10.
Back to live axles, they in no way hinder a car from turning left and right. Where they fall down, is on less than perfect road surfaces. In independent suspensions, each wheel independently soaks up anomalies in the road surface. In live axles, the ruts and bumps are transmitted through the axle to the other side. It can make for a very unpleasant ride. On a predictable surface however, no real difference.
Jim 11:41AM (5/21/2009)
Mr. Oak,
it's not even that. I'd be willing to bet that most of the people who bitch about the live axle never even drive their own cars hard enough where the rear suspension even matters. i.e. nothing but fanboi posturing.
It's like a couple of middle-school kids arguing about whether Ferraris are better than Lamborghinis... pointless and ignorant.
The Other Bob 12:25PM (5/21/2009)
"Other Bob: Exactly what are your perceived advantages\disadvantages of IRS over live axle?"
I have a similar view of them as you do.
I recognize that the a live axle is great for its intended purpose and offers great performance and more durability for a great price.
My comment was meant to be completly sarcastic and propses a safety standard (6 stars) that doesn't exist.
Too many people write off this car for performance disdvantages that they will not likely notice.
C.W. 10:39AM (5/21/2009)
only haters can take positive news and somehow turn it into a mustang-bashing opportunity.
great car. great press. great job Ford.
Reply
Jared 10:50AM (5/21/2009)
Is it good that it gets a 5-star safety rating? Yes, absolutely.
Does that make the Mustang a great car? No. Does the 5-star safety rating make up for all of the rest of the Mustang's shortcomings (e.g., solid rear axle)? No.
Pointing out the Mustang's faults doesn't make people a "hater." It just makes them rational.
Jim 11:28AM (5/21/2009)
"Pointing out the Mustang's faults doesn't make people a "hater." It just makes them rational."
No.
a "rational" person would set aside personal objections, and conclude that the Mustang's solid axle serves its purpose well enough.