Four out of five front seats in current cars need improvement to cope with rear end crashes, according to the Euro NCAP, the crash safety organisation.
And the current ratings achieved by some cars in the ENCAP regime would be changed in any retest when whiplash performance is included in an updated system next year.
In the first round of whiplash testing carried out by the organisation, 25 passenger cars were investigated, but only five received 'good' results.
They were the Volvo XC60, Alfa Romeo Mito, Volkswagen Golf VI, Audi A4 and Opel Insignia.
Eight seats of the same 25 were rated as ‘poor’ or ‘red’ meaning that the seat occupant has a significantly higher risk of developing a long term injury in the case of a low speed rear end collision. These cars were the Daihatsu Cuore, Citroen Berlingo, Hyundai i10, Citroen C5, Ford Kuga, Daihatsu Terios, Peugeot 308CC and the Suzuki Splash.
As from 2009, the new Rear Impact (Whiplash) test will automatically be included as part of Euro NCAP’s first area of assessment Adult Occupant Protection.
First results for vehicles tested under Euro NCAP’s new rating system will be released in February 2009. From this date, consumers should look out for the new overall Euro NCAP star rating for their vehicle.
