German Car Zone

1st time Institute tests convertibles: Saab & Volvo models are top performers; 3 are marginal in side impact test
ARLINGTON, VA — The Saab 9-3 and Volvo C70 earn the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's TOP SAFETY PICK award for superior crash protection in the first tests the Institute has conducted of 10 midsize convertible models. The Saab and Volvo earn the top rating of good for protection in front, side, and rear crashes, and both models include standard electronic stability control (ESC), which research shows can help drivers avoid crashes. The lowest rated convertible model overall is the Pontiac G6. It's acceptable for frontal crash protection but only marginal for protection in side and rear impacts. While the Audi A4 and BMW 3 series earn good ratings in frontal offset tests, both are rated marginal for side impact protection and poor for protection in rear crashes.

The TOP SAFETY PICK designation is intended to make it easier for consumers to find top-rated vehicles without sorting through reams of crash test results. To earn this award, a vehicle must have good ratings in all 3 Institute crash tests. It also must have ESC. The Institute adds a requirement for convertibles which must be equipped with rollbars designed to preserve occupants' headroom if a convertible rolls over. Both the 9-3 and C70 are equipped with standard pop-up rollbars behind the rear head restraints that deploy if sensors detect a serious crash.
"The performances of the 9-3 and C70 are impressive," says Institute president Adrian Lund. "These cars combine what convertible buyers should look for if they're shopping with safety in mind. The Saab and Volvo not only provide good protection in high-speed front and side crashes but also have good seat and head restraint designs for protecting against whiplash in rear crashes."
"We wanted to test convertibles because sales are increasing," Lund says. "We also wanted to evaluate a group of vehicles that automakers wouldn't expect us to test to see if crashworthiness improvements in mainstream cars also are being built into convertibles. For the most part we found that this is happening."
Five models earn the highest rating of good for front and side crash protection. Seven of the 10 convertibles have standard side airbags designed to protect the heads of occupants in the front seats, and 8 have ESC as standard or optional equipment.
Absence of roof is inherent disadvantage: High-speed crashes are violent events, and the roof of a hardtop helps to keep people's heads and arms from flailing outside the vehicle. Roofs also provide protection if a vehicle rolls over. Data from real-world crashes indicate that the overall risk of death isn't higher in a convertible, but this doesn't mean there aren't any safety disadvantages.
The absence of a roof makes it a challenge to design a convertible for safety. The roof helps to maintain the rigidity of the structure around the occupant compartment and keep the compartment intact in a serious crash. The main structures of convertibles have to be strengthened to compensate for the support that's lost in removing the roof. The Institute's crash test results show that many modern convertibles compensate well. For example, the 9-3 convertible achieves the same good front, side, and rear crash test ratings as the 4-door sedan version.
Big price tag doesn't ensure a safer car: While the 2 TOP SAFETY PICK winners are relatively expensive, price doesn't necessarily predict good crash test ratings. Two of the least expensive models among the 10 the Institute tested are the Chrysler Sebring and Mitsubishi Eclipse, both of which recently were redesigned and earn good ratings in front and side crash tests.
"You could spend twice as much for an Audi A4 convertible, which is an older design based on the previous A4 sedan, but it's rated marginal in our side test," Lund says. Based on the Volkswagen Eos's performance, the Institute expects a redesigned A4 to perform better when it's released. VW and Audi are owned by the same parent company.
To reduce the risk if a convertible rolls over, it's important to have rollbars, which may be either fixed in place or deploy automatically if sensors detect the possibility of a rollover. Pop-up rollbars are standard on the 9-3, C70, Eos, 3 series, and A4 but unavailable on any of the domestic or Asian brands the Institute tested.
"It makes sense that a rollbar would help preserve some headroom, just as we hope a fixed roof would," Lund says. "But rollbars aren't the same as having a fixed roof. We don't yet know if convertibles with the bars have lower rollover death rates than convertibles without them.
Another innovation on some new convertibles is that the vinyl or cloth top is replaced by a multipiece hardtop that folds into the trunk. It's standard on the C70, Eos, 3 series, and G6. It's optional on the Chrysler Sebring. Folding hardtops aren't as rigid as fixed roofs so they wouldn't be expected to make a convertible more crashworthy than if the top were soft. Foldtops are for comfort, not safety.
"Of course, without a top all bets are off if you're not using a safety belt. Good test results don't mean convertibles are as protective as comparable hardtop cars," Lund points out.
Problems found in frontal tests: The structure of the Pontiac G6's occupant compartment held up well during the frontal test, but there was a problem with the driver seat. It came loose on one of its tracks and moved forward 4 inches on the left side. The dummy's head slid around the left side of the airbag and hit the instrument panel.
"We've rarely seen a dummy's head hit the instrument panel in our frontal test," Lund says. Overall the G6 is rated acceptable for frontal protection.
"Seats shouldn't come loose in crashes, so we can't rate the G6 good," Lund adds. Measures recorded on the dummy's head, neck, and chest indicate low risk of serious injury in these areas of the body, but the poorly controlled movement of the dummy during the impact may have contributed to high forces on its right leg.
The Institute conducted 2 frontal tests of the Mustang. In the first test, the driver door partially opened late in the crash. Even though this didn't significantly affect the driver dummy's movement during the impact, doors shouldn't open because in some crashes this could lead to partial or complete ejection of occupants.
Ford engineers found that the window glass in the down position pushed on the door latch during the crash. Structure was added in the door to prevent the glass from contacting the latch mechanism, and then the engineers asked the Institute to test the Mustang again. In the second test with the change, the door remained closed.
The Mustang is rated acceptable instead of good overall because the structure isn't good, and the dummy's head bottomed out the airbag. The resulting head acceleration was high. The head was struck by the windshield pillar.
Side impact protection is marginal in 3 cars: The Institute's side test represents what happens when the striking vehicle is a pickup or SUV. The BMW 3 series and Audi A4 equipped with standard side airbags and the G6 with side airbags as optional equipment earn the second lowest rating for side impact protection.
"The 3 series and Pontiac G6 are especially disappointing because they're new models," Lund says. "Other auto manufacturers have figured out how to provide good side impact protection for occupants of convertibles."
The G6 is equipped with optional side airbags designed to protect the torsos but not the heads of front-seat occupants. In the side test, the driver dummy's head struck the windowsill. This caused a high head acceleration. In a real-world crash of similar severity, a serious skull fracture and brain injuries would be possible. A taller person's head also might be struck by the hood of an oncoming SUV or pickup.
The 3 series is equipped with standard side airbags designed to protect front-seat occupants' heads as well as their torsos. However, injury measures recorded on the driver dummy indicate the possibility of rib fractures and internal organ injuries in real-world crashes of similar severity.
"None of the 10 convertibles provides side airbag protection for people riding in back seats. We didn't record high injury forces on any of the dummies in the back seats, but in a crash at a different speed or configuration the heads of back-seat passengers would be at risk without side airbags," Lund notes.
Rear crash protection is mostly poor: Significant differences also were apparent among the convertibles in the protection they afford in rear crashes. Only the Volvo and Saab are equipped with seat/head restraint designs that provide good protection against whiplash injury. The other 8 models are rated marginal or poor for rear crash protection.
"It isn't hard or expensive to design a seat to prevent neck injury in a rear-end crash," Lund says. "Some of these manufacturers like Audi, Ford, and Volkswagen already have seat designs elsewhere in their lines of vehicles that are rated good for whiplash prevention, but these automakers haven't put the good seat/head restraints in their convertibles."
How vehicles are evaluated: The Institute's frontal crashworthiness evaluations are based on results of 40 mph frontal offset crash tests. Each vehicle's overall evaluation is based on measurements of intrusion into the occupant compartment, injury measures recorded on a Hybrid III dummy in the driver seat, and analysis of slow-motion film to assess how well the restraint system controlled dummy movement during the test.
Side evaluations are based on performance in a crash test in which the side of a vehicle is struck by a barrier moving at 31 mph. The barrier represents the front end of a pickup or SUV. Ratings reflect injury measures recorded on 2 instrumented SID-IIs dummies, assessment of head protection countermeasures, and the vehicle's structural performance during the impact. Injury measures obtained from the 2 dummies, one in the driver seat and the other in the back seat behind the driver, are used to determine the likelihood that a driver and/or passenger in a similar real-world crash would sustain serious injury to various parts of the body. The movements and contacts of the dummies' heads during the test also are evaluated. Structural performance is based on measurements indicating the amount of B-pillar intrusion into the occupant compartment.
Rear crash protection is rated according to a 2-step procedure. Starting points for the ratings are measurements of head restraint geometry — the height of a restraint and its horizontal distance behind the back of the head of an average-size man. Seat/head restraints with good or acceptable geometry are tested dynamically using a dummy that measures forces on the neck. This test simulates a collision in which a stationary vehicle is struck in the rear at 20 mph. Seats without good or acceptable geometry are rated poor overall because they cannot be positioned to protect many people.
IIHS News Release#

IIHS tests convertibles: Saab, Volvo on top; G6, 3-Series disappoint

The Saab 9-3 and Volvo C70 earn the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's "Top Safety Pick" award for superior crash protection in the first ever tests the Institute has conducted of convertible models.

The Saab and Volvo earn the top rating of good for protection in front, side, and rear crashes.

"The performances of the 9-3 and C70 are impressive," says Institute president Adrian Lund. "These cars combine what convertible buyers should look for if they're shopping with safety in mind. The Saab and Volvo not only provide good protection in high-speed front and side crashes but also have good seat and head restraint designs for protecting against whiplash in rear crashes."

G6, 3-Series "especially disappointing"

The lowest rated convertible model overall is the Pontiac G6. It's "acceptable" for frontal crash protection but only "marginal" for protection in side and rear impacts. What's more, the G6's driver seat came loose on one of its tracks and moved forward 4 inches on the left side. The dummy's head slid around the left side of the airbag and hit the instrument panel.

While the Audi A4 and BMW 3-Series earn good ratings in frontal offset tests, both are rated marginal for side impact protection and poor for protection in rear crashes.

Side impact protection is marginal in 3 cars: The Institute's side test represents what happens when the striking vehicle is a pickup or SUV. The BMW 3-Series and Audi A4 equipped with standard side airbags and the G6 with side airbags as optional equipment earn the second lowest rating for side impact protection.

"The 3-Series and Pontiac G6 are especially disappointing because they're new models," Lund says. "Other auto manufacturers have figured out how to provide good side impact protection for occupants of convertibles."

It's not all about price

Two of the least expensive models among the 10 the Institute tested are the Chrysler Sebring and Mitsubishi Eclipse, both of which recently were redesigned and earn good ratings in front and side crash tests.

"You could spend twice as much for an Audi A4 convertible, which is an older design based on the previous A4 sedan, but it's rated marginal in our side test," Lund says. Based on the Volkswagen Eos's performance, the Institute expects a redesigned A4 to perform better when it's released. VW and Audi are owned by the same parent company.

Rollbars suggested

The IIHS recommends buying a convertible with rollbars, which deploy automatically if sensors detect the possibility of a rollover. Pop-up rollbars are standard on the 9-3, C70, Eos, 3-Series, and A4 but unavailable on any of the domestic or Asian brands the Institute tested.

Little focus on whiplash

Rear crash protection is mostly poor: Significant differences also were apparent among the convertibles in the protection they afford in rear crashes. Only the Volvo and Saab are equipped with seat/head restraint designs that provide good protection against whiplash injury. The other 8 models are rated marginal or poor for rear crash protection.

[Source: LLN]

this is dedicated to those who say that volvo is not much safer than the german luxury car makers!

sorry, guys, but when it comes to safety volvo is the best. let's not forget the rear crash protection!

I agree. This is proof that Volvo do know their safety.

Sorry but Volvo cars are no safer than the germsn sedans,coupes or SUVs,What about MB convertibles?

I saw this yesterday and I did some looking around the site and in general BMW does very poor is rear collision tests.

Head restraints: Bmw

Whatever.

At least you're less likely to hit something in a German car, because they drive better and brake better in all ways.

But when you finally hit something, or someone hits you, I have no doubt that you're slightly safer in a comparable Volvo

1.
The Volvo Whiplash Protection System
(WHIPS)

Reducing long-term neck and spinal injuries by more than 50 percent

Irvine, CA (June 30, 2003) - First introduced in 1999, Volvo's WHIPS is still being thrust into the spotlight. A new survey from Volvo's traffic accident research team shows that WHIPS reduces short-term injuries by 33 percent and long-term injuries by 54 percent. However, Volvo is not alone in drawing this conclusion. Several independent surveys reveal major reductions in whiplash injuries thanks to WHIPS.

In Sweden, the Swedish Road Administration and Swedish Insurance Institute, Folksam, published findings of their survey and conclude that the number of whiplash incidents leading to serious injury would drop by 50 percent if all cars had the same system as that found in Volvo.

Recent studies in the United States also support these findings. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) compared seats in car models featuring the new head restraint with the seats fitted to previous model years. Volvo (with WHIPS) topped the average injury-reduction ratings with 49 percent. Volvo has been awarded the highest rating for headrest safety by the IIHS on every one of its models since 1995.

Seven out of ten car accidents resulting in personal injuries involve whiplash injuries. The IIHS has discovered that "the key to reducing injury risk in rear-end crashes is to keep the head and torso moving together." They further add that to effectively protect occupants' necks, a head restraint must be high enough to catch the head and close enough to catch it early in a crash.

As Volvo continues to lead the market in safety innovations, WHIPS has no doubt added to that success. WHIPS is offered standard on all Volvo vehicles.

The 2003 Volvo automobile line includes the award-winning XC90, the sporty S60 sedan - including the award-winning performance sedan - S60 R, the flagship S80 luxury sedan, versatile V70 wagon and rugged XC70 (Cross Country), the C70 convertible, and the compact S40 and V40 models.

A Note about WHIPS:

The WHIPS seat provides improved spinal support by virtue of its modified backrest characteristics and close proximity of the head restraint's position to the occupant's head. WHIPS utilizes a specially designed hinge mount that attaches the back rest to the seat bottom, which has a pre-determined rate of rearward movement in the event of certain types of rear impacts. The seatback also has a series of springs that allows the cushion to move slightly rearward upon impact, thereby helping to cradle the body within the seat. This, combined with high-mounted head restraints, help to limit the "whipping" motion of the head that often occurs during a rear-end impact.


Source: Volvo


2.
Volvo Seat Is Benchmark For Whiplash Protection.

All Volvo's car models tested by the International Insurance Whiplash Prevention Group (IIWPG) were found in the best class. Volvo Car Corporation was the only manufacturer to have their entire range achieve the best class rating.

"We are very pleased that the Volvo cars have performed in line with our expectations", says Ingrid Skogsmo, Safety Director at Volvo Car Corporation."Tests only show a sliver of what happens in real life. However, this is one of several results that confirm Volvo has the right approach to help reduce neck injuries in rear impacts."

15 Nov 2004, IDnr. 574 Volvo seat is benchmark for Whiplash Protection All Volvo's car models tested by the International Insurance Whiplash Prevention Group (IIWPG) were found in the best class. Volvo Car Corporation was the only manufacturer to have their entire range achieve the best class rating. "We are very pleased that the Volvo cars have performed in line with our expectations", says Ingrid Skogsmo, Safety Director at Volvo Car Corporation."Tests only show a sliver of what happens in real life. However, this is one of several results that confirm Volvo has the right approach to help reduce neck injuries in rear impacts." Volvo Car Corporation introduced Whiplash Protection System (WHIPS) in 1998. In the WHIPS system the entire backrest is designed to help protect the occupant's neck in a rear impact. Today WHIPS is standard in all Volvo car models.

"After having the system in our cars in real life traffic for six years now, the feedback from Volvo Cars Accident Research Team shows that WHIPS has halved the risk of long-term neck injuries in rear-end impacts compared to prior Volvo seats. Also independent field studies have shown a significant injury reduction ", says Dr Lotta Jacobsson, Technical Expert, Biomechanics, Volvo Cars Safety Centre.

All in all 208 front seats were tested in the US and Europe by IIWPG to measure how the head restraints are designed and how they perform in a crash simulation where the seat is placed on a sled that reproduces a rear impact vith a speed of 16 km/h (10 miles/h).

source: Volvo WHIPS

Need more? You guys have to admit that Volvo is the king of safety. At least when it comes to rear crashes. Period.

Volvo's are safe cars, no doubt, but they've spent a great amount of time marketing their "safe image", hence people associate safety with Volvo.

Anyone remember the scandal a few years ago when Volvo had a commercial in which monster trucks roll over cars including Volvo's and the Volvo's fared better than the rest? Turns out that Volvo had sawn the B-pillars on the other cars so they would break easier.

Safe image or not, Volvo is the best when it comes to protection from rear crashes and noone can deny that. For once again Volvo is the only car maker that has such a system as WHIPS.