Only 1 minicar out of 11 tested achieves an acceptable rating in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's small overlap front crash test, making these tiny vehicles the worst performing group of any evaluated so far.
The Chevrolet Spark's acceptable rating in the test, along with good ratings in the Institute's four other crashworthiness evaluations, earns the new minicar a 2014 TOP SAFETY PICK award. The Spark was among the initial award winners announced in December. The new small overlap test results for the rest of the minicar group mean that no other models in this size category join the Spark in the winner's circle yet.
Volvo Cars is teaming up with footballing icon Zlatan Ibrahimović again for the European launch campaign of the V90 premium estate in advance of the European Championships football tournament. The campaign will go live tonight on national TV stations and on Social Media platforms.
The new campaign shows the former Paris Saint-Germain striker, a long-time Volvo driver and fan, looking back at his rise from humble beginnings in one of Sweden’s toughest neighbourhoods in Malmö to international sporting stardom.
Zlatan, who is currently preparing for the European Championships feels a close affinity with the Swedish car brand.
“I’m happy to be working with Volvo Cars again. I’ve seen the new cars, I’ve driven and tested them. And I think they’re fantastic. Just like me, Volvo has gone their own way and dared to think differently. The previous campaign we did was good, but this time it’s Made by Zlatan,” said Zlatan Ibrahimović.
“The campaign is a celebration of the independent mind, of the power that lies in the ability to think differently. There are many similarities between Zlatan’s and Volvo’s journeys. We haven’t gotten to where we are now by doing the same as everyone else,” said Anders Gustafsson, Senior Vice President, Europe, Middle East and Africa at Volvo Car Group.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/uk/7848551-volvo-cars-v90-campaign-zlatan-ibrahimovic/
A group of four minivans recently tested by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety for protection in small overlap front crashes shows some of the worst possible outcomes for this type of crash, with only one vehicle performing acceptably.
The Nissan Quest, the Chrysler Town & Country and its twin, the Dodge Grand Caravan, all earn poor ratings. The exception to the disappointing pattern is the 2015 Toyota Sienna, which earns an acceptable rating. It joins the Honda Odyssey, which last year earned a good rating in the test, in the ranks of TOP SAFETY PICK+ winners.
The summer season is the busiest time of year on America’s highways and back roads. With young drivers accounting for 6 percent (12.6 million) of the total number of licensed drivers on the road this summer, MINI believes there is no better time than now to teach the importance of safe and non-distracted driving.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7250451-mini-usa-safe-motoring-tips-summer-driving-season/
Andrew Frankel reviews the Renault Zoe – one of a new breed of all electric cars that can truly claim to be a practical alternative to traditional fuel cars.
The Chevrolet Equinox and its twin, the GMC Terrain, are the only midsize SUVs out of nine evaluated to earn a good rating in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s small overlap front crash test, which continues to challenge manufacturers more than a year and a half after its introduction.
The Equinox and the Terrain qualify for the Institute’s highest award for 2014, TOP SAFETY PICK+. The Toyota Highlander, a midsize SUV whose acceptable small overlap rating was announced in December, also qualifies. The award is given to vehicles with a good or acceptable small overlap rating, good ratings in four other occupant protection tests, and a rating of basic or higher for front crash prevention.
Three other midsize SUVs in the test group rate poor for small overlap protection, and three are marginal.
The S90 marks a giant step forward for Volvo Cars. The Swedish car maker is better known for its SUVs and estates, but with the launch of the S90 Volvo is clearly intent on shaking up the premium sedan segment with its distinctive executive class sedan.
Equipped with a host of new technologies ranging from cutting edge safety to cloud-based apps and services, the S90 is further proof of the Swedish brand’s continuing transformation.
“With the launch of the XC90 we made a clear statement of intent. We are now clearly and firmly in the game. With $11 USD billion of investment over the past five years we have not only reimagined what Volvo Cars can be – we are now delivering on our promise of a resurgent and relevant Volvo Cars brand,” said Håkan Samuelsson, President & CEO, Volvo Car Group.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/uk/7702651-volvo-stakes-its-claim-with-the-S90/
Global NCAP, the umbrella body of consumer car safety testing bodies, welcomes the Indian Government’s initiative to launch a New Car Assessment Programme (NCAP) but believes that this positive step should also be accompanied by action to apply the United Nation’s minimum crash tests standards.
India is now the fifth largest producer in the world of passenger cars but new independent crash tests show why the country should use internationally accepted safety standards. Crash tests of Nissan’s Datsun Go and Maruti-Suzuki’s Swift demonstrate a high risk of life-threatening injuries with both cars receiving zero-star safety rating for their adult occupant protection. These risks would be significantly reduced if the cars had to comply with the UN test regulation for frontal and side impact.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/72762582-nissan-suzuki-safety-test-score/
Volvo Cars has chosen the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit to launch its new signature premium sedan, the S90, underscoring its long term commitment to the U.S. market and providing a clear sign of its confidence in continued sales growth in the coming year.
Volvo sales in the U.S. increased 24.3 per cent in 2015, with an especially strong performance at the end of the year with sales rising 87 per cent in October, 90 per cent in November and 89.9 per cent in December, driven by continued strong sales of the XC60 crossover and the new XC90 SUV.
“There are strong indications that Volvo is back on track in the U.S.,” said Lex Kerssemakers, Senior Vice President of the Americas at Volvo Car Group. “We expect this strong sales momentum to continue in 2016, helped by the new S90.”
The launch of the S90 highlights the ambition of the Swedish car maker, following an $11bn investment and the recent breaking of ground in Charleston, South Carolina, where Volvo Cars will build its first American production facility, employing around 2,000 workers.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7709951-kbb-naias-2016-detroit/
Volvo Cars, the premium carmaker, is inventing a new model of car access with the launch of the new Volvo XC40 and the new ‘Care by Volvo’ subscription service. This will make having a car as transparent, easy and hassle free as having a phone: a national, ready-negotiated monthly fee, combined with getting a new car every 24 months.
After ordering online, Care by Volvo customers will be able to drive away in a new Volvo without having to worry about the traditional extras such as down payments, insurances, taxes, service fees and geographical or customer age related differences.
Furthermore, Care by Volvo will, depending on regional availability, offer a range of digital concierge services, such as fuelling, cleaning, service pick-up and e-commerce delivery to the car.
To view the multimedia release go to:
https://www.multivu.com/players/uk/8181852-volvo-xc40-hassle-free-as-mobile-phone/
Lake Research Partners and Bellwether Research and Consulting recently released a new national poll sponsored by the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) that finds likely 2016 voters have widespread and serious concerns about ethanol’s unintended consequences—including damage to engines, land conversion and food prices.
“Voters across party lines express grave concerns for the impacts of the corn ethanol mandate from the Renewable Fuel Standard that touch many parts of their lives from the cars they drive to the food they buy,” said Celinda Lake, president of Lake Research Partners. “They strongly support bi-partisan proposals that would reduce the impact of corn ethanol, and particularly support the Environmental Protection Agency reducing the amount of corn ethanol required by law.”
As the EPA recently closed the comment period on its proposed ethanol volumes for 2014, 2015 and 2016, the poll also shows that 67 percent of people favor the agency setting ethanol volumes below what is required by law, with 68 percent of Democrats and 71 percent of Republicans supporting volumes lower than the statute.
To view the multimedia release go to: http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7576751-ama-national-ethanol-voter-poll/
