The Volvo S80 sedan has earned a 2014 Top Safety Pick+ accolade by the U.S. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Previously, the Volvo S60, XC60 and XC90 received a 2013 Top Safety Pick+ ranking, when IIHS extended its scope by integrating the small overlap test in 2012.
The S80 Top Safety Pick+ results include good performance in the small overlap front test, which replicates what happens when the front corner of a vehicle strikes another vehicle or object, such as a tree or a utility pole – a very severe crash situation. In the test, 25 per cent of the front end on the driver’s side strikes a 5-foot-high rigid barrier at 40 mph (64 km/h).
Patented safety cage
“Our safety cage features a robust design with a blend of different steel qualities. The new IIHS test programme confirms the exceptional crashworthiness of this patented solution. Similar mixes of steel qualities are used in all current Volvo models, and the technology will be further enhanced in the upcoming models developed on our Scalable Product Architecture,” says Thomas Broberg, Senior Safety Advisor at Volvo Car Group.
“The IIHS Top Safety Pick+ emphasises the sustainability of our safety leadership. We are moving closer to our aim that by 2020 no one should be injured or killed in a new Volvo. Our long-term vision is that cars should not crash,” adds Thomas Broberg.
2014 ranking includes crash prevention
From 2014, IIHS will introduce a new test programme that rates the performance of front crash prevention systems. This evaluation is incorporated into the institute’s 2014 Top Safety Pick+ rating.
This means that the Volvo S60, XC60 and S80, which are available with City Safety and Collision Warning with Full Auto Brake and Pedestrian Detection, will be among the car models with a 2014 Top Safety Pick+ rating according to this extended scope.
“We welcome that the major rating institutes are now beginning to integrate collision avoiding technologies into their test programmes. This gives consumers a better insight into the advantages of auto brake systems. It will also drive the implementation of these technologies through the vehicle fleet,” says Thomas Broberg.
