Autoblog

This is the Qoros GQ3

Jonathon Ramsey — Wed, 26 Dec 2012 09:15:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Sedan, Geneva Motor Show, China, Europe, Chery, UK, MISC

We've been calling it the C11, but the new compact sedan from Qoros - the Sino-Israeli joint venture car company - has officially been dubbed GQ3. To be revealed at next year's Geneva Motor Show before going on sale in China in the second half of of 2013, the GQ3 is a C-segment sedan whose selling points are meant to be a spacious interior, lots of technology and five-star crash ratings on the Euro NCAP tests. If you're wondering about the name, each element signifies brand nomenclature: Qoros sedans will all begin with "G," the letter "Q" stands for the company and will feature in every car's name, and the number is the segment, "3" representing compacts.

Even though it's a compact car, the GQ3 is two inches wider than a Chrysler 200, and those wheel arches can swallow 19-inch rims. Beyond spaciousness, the interior's main attraction is the eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system utilizing in-house software, technology and graphics. It can recognize swipe gestures used on smartphones and is said to integrate all kinds of navigation, traffic, POI and social media features.

We've saved a discussion of the car's looks for last because, yes, it look like a lot of cars and it looks like it took a lot of cues from a lot of cars - but overwhelming blandness will have that effect. Nevertheless, it's not one of the blatant copy-and-paste jobs we've seen many times before, and if GQ3 can deliver on its three prime directives it will be a home run for Chery Automotive, the Chinese arm of the venture, and Chinese consumers. European deliveries of the GQ3 are expected to begin at the end of next year. The press release below has more details.

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This is the Qoros GQ3 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 26 Dec 2012 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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European NCAP crowns Volvo V40 safest new car ever tested

Jeffrey N. Ross — Sun, 02 Sep 2012 12:02:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Safety, Crossover, Volvo

One of the safest cars ever built will not be sold in the United States. The Euro NCAP, similar to our National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, put the all-new 2013 Volvo V40 through a battery of crash tests and found that it is one of the safest cars it has tested.

The Euro NCAP's testing consists of cars being tested in four categories (adult occupant, child occupant, pedestrian and safety assist) for vehicle safety, and the V40 drove (or more likely was towed) away with some of the top scores the agency has ever handed out. The 98 percent adult occupant rating is the highest result recorded by the Euro NCAP, while the car's innovative pedestrian airbag helped it receive an equally impressive 88-percent rating for pedestrian safety. This safety device is actually an airbag underneath the hood, and when contact with a pedestrian is detected, the airbag inflates, raising the rear portion of the hood which helps to cushion the a person's head or body as it makes contact with the car.

The Volvo V40 was perfect in the safety assist category thanks to systems like Pedestrian Detection, City Safety, auto braking and numerous other active safety features. The only knock that the V40 took was to child occupant protection. Its 75-percent rating is one of the lowest of the recent batch of tested cars, which also includes the Audi A3, Kia Cee'd and Ford B-Max.

In addition to being one of the safest Volvos produced so far, the V40 is also one of the best-looking Volvo models ever. We already had a chance to sample the new V40 back in June, and we were impressed with the car and what it could do to bolster Volvo's U.S. lineup. Still, Volvo has stated that it has no intentions of selling its new compact hatchback here, despite the growth of the premium small car segment in this market.

Scroll down for Volvo's press release.

Continue reading European NCAP crowns Volvo V40 safest new car ever tested

European NCAP crowns Volvo V40 safest new car ever tested originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 02 Sep 2012 12:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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IIHS considering autonomous braking, other tech as part of crash evaluations

Zach Bowman — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 10:58:00 EST

Filed under: Safety, Technology

Automakers are constantly working to make their vehicles safer than ever before, and while much of that effort is spent in areas the public will never see, recent years have welcomed a rash of more highly visible advancements. Those include autonomous-emergency braking (AEB) systems like Volvo City Safety and Mercedes-Benz Pre-Safe Braking, as well as lane departure warnings and adaptive headlights. While most of these systems still function largely as optional equipment on luxury vehicles, there's a growing push to see some of them go mainstream. The European Commission and Euro NCAP have indicated AEB technology will be a part of European crash evaluations beginning in 2014.

According to The Telegraph, studies suggest the move could save as many as 8,000 lives per year by reducing accidents by up to 27 percent while saving more than $6.12 billion. Given the push for ever more interchangeable global products, it seems unavoidable for U.S. crash evaluation bodies to follow suit. Russ Rader, a spokesperson with the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, tells Autoblog his organization has already commenced research on that front.

"The IIHS is looking at a number of crash avoidance technologies to determine how effective they are in real world driving," Rader said.

IIHS has compiled significant insurance data for crashes involving vehicles both with and without ABE systems.

"Based on the evidence of the effectiveness of auto-brake systems, we expect them to be added to our evaluations in the future."

When is that, exactly? Rader isn't certain, though when it happens, the difference between having AEB and not will likely differentiate between which models go home with a Top Safety Pick designation and which do not.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration was not immediately available for comment as to whether or not the government agency is considering a similar move for its crash worthiness evaluations.

IIHS has also seen evidence indicating adaptive headlight systems greatly reduce the risk of crashes as well, which means the lighting may also play a part in crash evaluations moving forward.

Despite the substantial human and trickle-down monetary benefits, additional lighting and AEB systems remain expensive and not widely available. The Telegraph found AEB to be available on just 22 percent of vehicles on sale in Europe right now.

IIHS considering autonomous braking, other tech as part of crash evaluations originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Aug 2012 10:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Euro NCAP will soon require auto-braking for five-star safety rating [w/video]

Jonathon Ramsey — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 13:29:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Safety, Technology, Videos

From the 2014 model year, any manufacturer hoping to score five stars on the Euro NCAP safety ratings will need to make sure the vehicle in question is equipped with AEB, or Autonomous Emergency Braking. Among other features provided by systems like Pre-Safe from Mercedes-Benz and Collision Mitigation Braking System from Honda, it warns a driver if their closing speed on the vehicle ahead is outside of a preset safe braking parameter, and if they neglects to make any inputs, the vehicle will brake for him and prep the safety systems.

A study by the Euro NCAP organization found that "Real world performance data suggests AEB systems can reduce accidents by up to 27%," but it is only available on 21 percent of the cars sold in Europe. The organization hopes to speed fitment of the system to the remaining 79 percent of autos sold in Europe by putting them out of reach of the five-star rating.

The European Union wants to cut down on the current rate of auto fatalities by 50 percent, getting them down to 15,000 per year, by 2020. Euro NCAP secretary general Michiel van Ratingen said AEB could save 8,000 lives per year, and that following te introduction of AEB testing, enhanced pedestrian safety systems would join the testing protocol from 2016. We're guessing the U.S. government's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will be watching this development closely.

Check out a video explaining auto-braking technology from Euro NCAP by scrolling down.

Continue reading Euro NCAP will soon require auto-braking for five-star safety rating [w/video]

Euro NCAP will soon require auto-braking for five-star safety rating [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 15 Jun 2012 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New Ford Ranger becomes first pickup to earn Five-Star Euro NCAP rating

Jeff Sabatini — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 19:01:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Europe, Safety, Ford

Add another reason to lament the fact that the all-new Ford Ranger will not be sold in the United States: It's safe.

Ford says that en route to earning the maximum five-star Euro NCAP rating, the 2012 Ranger earned the best score ever awarded to a pickup truck and the best Euro NCAP rating of any vehicle ever tested for pedestrian protection. Ford will be equipping European Rangers with standard side curtain airbags, side thorax airbags and knee airbags, in addition to its front airbags.

The safety scores for the new model are a big win for Ford. Its 2011 Ranger pickup sold here in the U.S. took a big hit when subjected to revised safety tests implemented this year by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Both 2011 Ranger models tested received only two-star overall ratings from NHTSA. Domestic Ford Ranger production is scheduled to end in December, with no scheduled replacement.

Watch the entire crash test video after the jump.

Continue reading New Ford Ranger becomes first pickup to earn Five-Star Euro NCAP rating

New Ford Ranger becomes first pickup to earn Five-Star Euro NCAP rating originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 26 Oct 2011 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nissan Leaf earns five-star rating in Euro NCAP crash tests [w/video]

Autoblog Staff — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 13:29:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Safety, Videos, Hatchback, Nissan, Electric

Nissan Leaf Euro NCAP crash test - Click above to watch video after the jump

The five-door mid-size electric Nissan Leaf has become the first plug-in vehicle to receive five stars from the European New Car Assessment Program. Euro NCAP tests vehicles in frontal impact, side impact, side pole impact and the potential for whiplash.

The Leaf's lithium-ion battery pack, which is positioned below the rear-seat compartment, suffered no damage during any of the tests. The five-seat Leaf received an 89 percent rating for adult occupant safety, 84 percent for its on-board safety-assist systems, 65 percent in pedestrian safety and 83 percent for child occupant safety.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety conducted its first mainstream plug-in vehicle crash tests in April of 2011, and both the 2011 Chevrolet Volt and the 2011 Nissan Leaf were named "Good" for their front, side, rear, and rollover crash protection and both received the IIHS' Top Safety Pick title.

Hit the jump to watch video of the Nissan Leaf getting smashed, crashed and bashed by NCAP. Click here (pdf) for a detailed look at the Leaf's NCAP test results.

Continue reading Nissan Leaf earns five-star rating in Euro NCAP crash tests [w/video]

Nissan Leaf earns five-star rating in Euro NCAP crash tests [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Jun 2011 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Kia Soul aces Euro NCAP crash tests

Jonathon Ramsey — Sat, 30 May 2009 17:04:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Safety, Videos, Hatchback, Kia

Click above to watch the Kia Soul's Euro NCAP crash tests

There is no rating yet for the Kia Soul in the U.S., but in Europe the car did the business: the Soul scored five stars on the NCAP frontal offset, side impact and pole crash tests, doing no worse than "marginal" in just two areas. In the frontal offset test the windshield doesn't crack and there is only minor cosmetic damage aft of the front door's front shut line. It's a big result for a little car, and if it has the reliability to match it should do very, very well. Thanks for the tip, GenGT!

Gallery: Kia Soul Euro NCAP Test

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading VIDEO: Kia Soul aces Euro NCAP crash tests

VIDEO: Kia Soul aces Euro NCAP crash tests originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 30 May 2009 17:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tiny Toyota iQ registers 5 Star NCAP performance

Dan Roth — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 17:59:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Safety, Toyota

Click above for high-res gallery of the Toyota iQ's NCAP test

We still wouldn't want to crack the tiny Toyota iQ into anything, but the little rollerskate has earned itself 5 stars in Euro NCAP safety testing. It's not a perfect correlation to hitting real objects, but the performance will undoubtedly help make a sales case. Results for the iQ are nearly as good as its larger sibling, the Avensis. The iQ will bust up your neck with whiplash, and the pole test also showed marginal chest protection, deflecting the ribs quite a bit.

The iQ's small size also leads to a C- for rear seat protection, and there's upgrades and revisions for the ISOFIX anchors and Britax seats to keep bambinos and bambinas secure. Despite any caveats, however, the iQ's rating trumps the four stars for Ford's new Ka, which will undoubtedly be strategically mentioned. We'd still drive anything in this segment with a modicum of care and heightened awareness. It's much safer, no matter what you drive, to avoid incidents all together.

Gallery: Toyota iQ Euro NCAP tests

[Source: EuroNCAP via GreenMotor]

Tiny Toyota iQ registers 5 Star NCAP performance originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 19 Feb 2009 17:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lutz agrees with McElroy, calls for moratorium on U.S. crash test standards

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 09:58:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Government/Legal, Safety

Click above to view video of the 2008 Smart fortwo crash test

Anybody who watches Autoline on Detroit or reads our Autoline on Autoblog posts will know that John McElroy is a certifiably nice guy. Bob Lutz is known more as a brash talker who isn't afraid to make his views known, regardless of what others may think. Both of them, though, are very closely attuned to the auto industry. The head product-honcho at GM and our very own Mr. Nice Guy share the opinion that the Feds should suspend their ever-increasing crash-testing standards for a few years. If a car is safe enough for our European relatives, it should be safe enough for us, right? In reality, this is not the case, as the U.S. standards differ enough from those across the pond that a car sometimes needs to be designed specifically to pass one or the other. For this reason, the Chevy Beat won't be sold on U.S. soil.

To complete the deal, McElroy also suggests doing the same for environmental standards. As with crash tests, though both the U.S. and the European regulations are strict, they don't quite match. Therefore, many cars -- especially those equipped with diesel engines -- can't be sold in the States despite being available in Europe. Lutz doesn't specifically touch on this point, but we'd hazard a guess that he'd go along with it as well.

[Source: Wards Auto]

Lutz agrees with McElroy, calls for moratorium on U.S. crash test standards originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 03 Sep 2008 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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