Crash Tested: Euro NCAP Beats Up Opel Ampera
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Back in 2011, the European New Car Assessment Program took an Opel Ampera through its series of safety tests. The extended-range plug-in electric came away with a maximum five points overall and ranked ion the 85th percentile for adult occupant safety, in the 78 percentile for child occupant safety, in the 41 percentile for pedestrian safety, and in the 86th percentile for safety assist systems — somewhat better yet somewhat worse than its platform-mate, the Chevy Cruze.
Perhaps most important is the comment that the “electrical safety of the car was checked after all of the impact tests and no problems were found.” NHTSA, get your act together. As a reminder, frontal impact takes place at 64 Km/h (40 mph) with 40 percent of the car’s width striking a deformable barrier, the side impact takes place at 50 Km/h (31 mph) with the driver’s door being struck by a mobile deformable barrier, while the car is propelled sideways at 29 Km/h (18 mph) into a rigid pole .
In the meantime, feel free to marvel at E-NCAP’s video captures of the crash tests:
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I’ll think about this, next time I’m sliding into a solid steel telephone pole.
I slided sideways (driver’s side) at 50 MPH into a telephone pole in my brother’s 1967 Camaro RS (due to rain and slick tires), and I didn’t have a scratch on me. It just had the seat belt (no airbags), but I managed to get out through the passenger’s side so quickly that the first fellow driver who came to me and asked if I was in the car. I answered yes, and he asked how did I get out!
The Camaro was declared a total loss because of the bent frame, but that Camaro was strong. If I were in any import, I wouldn’t be writing here!
GM sure builds very strong vehicles!!