smart fortwo earns IIHS’ “strongest roof” rating among all cars in its class, also outranking other larger cars in same test
BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Mich.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The 2009 smart fortwo today was designated “strongest roof” among competing micro and mini cars by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), confirming once again that the smallest car on the road is safe. The IIHS tested roof strength, and the smart fortwo was the only vehicle to achieve the highest rating of “Good” in its class. The smart fortwo also tested higher than all but one of the 13 small SUVs previously tested by IIHS.
Roof strength is the most important vehicle attribute for protecting occupants in a rollover crash according to IIHS. “If you’re considering a small car, the smart fortwo is the answer when it comes to safety,” said Dave Schembri, President of smart USA. “As our society increasingly turns to small cars, smart proves that small can be safe.” He added, “This is the ninth standardized crash test performed by either the federal government or the IIHS that confirms the smart fortwo is safe.” According to the IIHS, the smart fortwo withstood a force of 5.4 times its weight during the tests, and far exceeded the minimum required force ratio of 4 times the vehicle’s weight to earn a “Good” rating. The IIHS reports that a vehicle in the “Good” category, like the smart fortwo, has 50 percent less risk of serious or fatal injury in a single-vehicle rollover crash.
As IIHS makes clear, when it comes to roof strength for rollover protection, lightweight vehicles can fare better because “their roofs don’t have to work as hard to keep the structure around the occupants intact…”
The government’s “Cash for Clunkers” incentive program and sustained high gas prices has led more and more consumers to smaller, more fuel efficient cars, but some continue to question the safety of small vehicles. The numerous smart fortwo safety tests have proven these concerns to be without merit. The smart fortwo has met or exceeded all standardized tests performed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the IIHS, and achieved the highest rating among standard IIHS bumper tests of microcars. In addition, the smart fortwo already exceeds the new federal roof strength requirements that will not start phasing in until 2012, with all vehicles needing to comply by 2016. Engineers designed the smart to be a trendsetter in safety of small cars, with a high level of standard technologies that eclipse federal mandates.
The smart fortwo’s tridion safety cell, which surrounds and protects vehicle occupants, is a reinforced steel cage that acts like a race car roll cage, and is the primary reason the smart fortwo performed so well in the IIHS roof strength test. The 2009 smart fortwo also comes equipped with electronic stability program (esp®) as standard. According to the IIHS, vehicles with esp® are 20% less likely to be in a fatal accident with another vehicle and 51% less likely to be in a fatal single-vehicle accident. Visit www.safeandsmart.com to learn more about the smart fortwo’s safety features and real-life owner accident stories. The smart fortwo offers the right balance of power, outstanding fuel efficiency, innovative safety features, environmental friendliness and excellent value. Models start at $11,990* and the smart fortwo is rated as the most fuel efficient, non-hybrid vehicle by www.fueleconomy.gov, on sale in the United States. smart USA has available many attractive financing offers in conjunction with the “Cash for Clunkers” program and the smart fortwo qualifies for the maximum government credit of $4,500.
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