Brussels 25th August 2010

Today, Euro NCAP, the organisation dedicated to revealing the safety of new cars, releases the crash test results for four vehicles: the Honda CR-Z, the Suzuki Swift, the Citroen C4 and the Hyundai ix35. In this latest set of results, Euro NCAP is glad to announce that all of the cars received a maximum five star rating.

The results show that manufacturers are rising to the challenges of Euro NCAP’s new rating scheme and are continuing to make safety a priority. The Honda CR-Z demonstrates that good all round safety needs not be compromised by a fuel efficient petrol-electric hybrid powertrain: its pedestrian protection result continues the high scores achieved by recently tested Hondas.  Several manufacturers are expected to release fully electric vehicles in the near future. Euro NCAP is poised to test them to ensure that high safety standards are maintained, with the first results expected early in 2011.

From October onwards, Euro NCAP will be able to offer even more comprehensive guidance to consumers about the safety offered by new cars. Euro NCAP Advanced will assess those technologies which are beyond the scope of the current crash tests. At least one of the cars presented today has a driver assistance technology which could be assessed by Euro NCAP Advanced. The organisation will release the findings of its first assessments at the Paris Motor Show on 1st October.

Euro NCAP’s Secretary General, Michiel van Ratingen, said, “I am looking forward to the launch of Euro NCAP Advanced. The new assessments will broaden the scope of our safety assessments and will greatly enhance the information we are able to provide to consumers.  It is reassuring that, as well as developing these new advanced technologies, manufacturers are not neglecting fundamental crash protection and today’s results show that car-makers are still striving for the very best levels of protection.”

Three of the cars tested for this release have electronic stability control completely as standard. The Citroën C4 is offered with ESC as an option on the lowest specification in some countries but qualifies for five stars as sales of ESC as standard equipment are expected to far outstrip those of the optionally equipped car. Euro NCAP’s requirements on ESC have encouraged much broader fitment of this important technology by car manufacturers, ahead of the European legislation which will begin in 2012 for new car models and 2014 for all cars. Three of the cars demonstrated good protection against whiplash injuries in a rear-end collision, the Citroën C4 being the only one rated as marginal in this regard. However, the C4 was the only car to be rewarded for an active, driver-set speed limitation device which assists drivers in maintaining a safe driving speed. Euro NCAP believes that car manufacturers who are committed to safety need to be justly! awarded with a good overall rating and is encouraging all car manufacturers to reach such good results in the future.

Results released today are in the categories Small Family, Supermini and Small Offroad 4x4. The ratings for these cars can be seen in more details at www.euroncap.com. Euro NCAP releases new test results on a quarterly basis. Keep checking our website for more details or forthcoming results.

MAKE AND MODEL CLASS YEAR OF TEST OVERALL SAFETY SCORE

Citroen C4 (1.6 hdi, LHD) Small Family 2010 5 stars

Honda CR-Z (1.5 petrol electric hybrid, LHD) Small Family 2010 5 stars

Hyundai ix35 (2.0 diesel ‘Style’, LHD) Small Offroad 4x4 2010 5 stars

Suzuki Swift (1.2 GL, LHD) Supermini 2010 5 stars

For more information please contact Sinziana Gille at 022820816

About Euro NCAP

Euro NCAP provides motoring consumers with a realistic and independent assessment of the safety performance of some of the most popular cars sold in Europe.

Established in 1997 and now backed by seven European Governments, the European Commission and motoring and consumer organizations in every EU country, Euro NCAP has rapidly become a catalyst for encouraging significant safety improvements to new car design.

Editors’ notes

1.    Consumers should be aware that not all cars are comparable due to their varying size and weight. For comparable cars please consult our website www.euroncap.com.

2.    Euro NCAP’s overall rating includes Adult Occupant Protection, Child Occupant Protection, Pedestrian Protection and Safety Assist. Vehicles are awarded a single overall score from one to five stars. The assessment incorporates Rear Impact (Whiplash) testing, the availability of ESC and the presence of speed limitation devices. The overall rating is based on the car’s performance in each of the four main areas and the scores are weighted with respect to each other. Over the next three years, stricter requirements will be introduced increasing the emphasis on all-round safety performance and demanding higher levels of achievement in each area.

3.    Consumers should be aware that results are time dependent, the more recently a car has been tested, the more accurate and up-to-date the results of its safety performance. Only ratings for the year the car was tested apply for older or second-hand cars. These ratings can be considered compromised if the car has been involved in an accident.