A radical revamp of the European accident test scores means cars and trucks will soon be offered with two separate star ratings. Motorists will then have to choose whether to buy the common cars and truck with the lower score, or sprinkle out on a super-safe version instead.
Crash test professional Euro NCAP introduces its new star score plan in January 2016, targeting drivers who “still think about airbags as well as seatbelts to be the adequate security equipment”, according to its secretary general, Dr Michiel van Ratingen.
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Cars introduced after this date will only gain the maximum five stars if they have the most advanced accident avoidance systems, like autonomous emergency braking (AEB), pedestrian detection as well as lane departure warning.
Only manufacturers that make this tech common across all design variants, as well as offer in adequate numbers, will be able to bypass the two-tier star system.
Premium brands like Mercedes as well as Audi are likely to take this option, van Ratingen says. however he warned: “If they do not offer them in the numbers they predict, the cars and truck will lose its five-star rating.”
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List costs are likely to be impacted by the move, as more advanced optional security set is made standard. insurance coverage premiums may autumn as a result, though, according to Philip Jegoe, group score leader at research study expert Thatcham, for cars and trucks “clearly identifiable as having AEB as standard”.
Around 70 per cent of all new cars and trucks – including the next Ford Fiesta – will be offered under the two-tier system, van Ratingen predicts, as well as these will normally accomplish three stars without an optional security pack.
The present Fiesta is a five-star car, however van Ratingen added: “The new Fiesta will have some security devices which earns it four stars, however there will then be more optional devices to boost that to five.”
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