Volvo S60 Shines as Other European Luxury Cars Struggle in New IIHS Crash Test

TOPSHAM, MAINE (08/23/2012)(readMedia)-- Automakers can usually tailor the design of their vehicles to meet existing crash-test requirements, but when a new test comes along, the initial results can provide a more revealing look into which models are truly built for overall protection. Case-in-point is the recent addition of a new small overlap frontal crash test from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), which saw the 2012 Volvo S60 emerge as the only European model among luxury and premium midsize cars to earn a top rating.

The new small overlap frontal crash test simulates a collision between the front corner of the vehicle and another object or vehicle, an impact that is said to represent nearly a quarter of all frontal accidents that lead to serious injury or fatalities. In the IIHS test, the front driver's side of the car collides with a solid five-foot-tall barrier at 40 mph. A total of 11 luxury and premium midsize vehicles were tested, with only three cars, including the Volvo S60 and its top rating of "Good," earning a rating of "Acceptable" or better.

"Volvo is dedicated to building vehicles that protect drivers against real-world crashes, not just those that get tested by groups like the IIHS," said Rob Goodwin, general manager of Topsham, Maine Volvo dealer Goodwin's Volvo. "Offset frontal crashes are very dangerous, and Volvo did its due diligence before there was ever an official test to ensure its vehicles can protect their passengers. It's just another example of Volvo being a pioneer in automotive safety."

Volvo's current safety efforts extend beyond crash protection as well, as it continues to research new ways to prevent accidents from occurring in the first place. The automaker is working on three new preventative safety systems, including its Autonomous Driving Support technology, which uses camera and radar sensors to enable cars to react automatically to the vehicle directly ahead.

Another new technology being developed is dubbed Intersection Support, which uses sensors to detect oncoming vehicles at intersections and automatically applies the brakes, reducing the severity of collisions or possibly preventing them altogether. According to Volvo, more than 20 percent of all fatal accidents in the United States in 2007 happened in an intersection, and Intersection Support is said to help correct not only the Volvo driver's mistakes, but those of surrounding drivers as well.

A third technology should be especially appealing to those who frequently drive through wooded areas at dusk. Volvo's Animal Detection system is based on the automaker's Pedestrian Detection technology, and it is being refined to recognize the shape and movement patterns of larger wild animals. Volvo says most wild animal collisions occur at cruising speeds, and if its system can reduce speeds from around 65 mph to down below 50 mph, the risk of injury would be greatly reduced.

"The best way to stay safe is to avoid accidents to begin with, and Volvo's new technology should be a major help in that regard," Goodwin noted. "Those features are still a little ways off, but current Volvo buyers can already take advantage of existing preventative technologies like Collision Warning, Adaptive Cruise Control and Lane Departure Warning."

About Goodwin's Volvo:

Goodwin's Volvo provides Maine Volvo drivers with unmatched service by ensuring that the customer relationship goes well beyond the initial sale. With a wide inventory of new and used Volvo vehicles and parts, the sales and service staff at Goodwin's Volvo can answer customers' detailed questions to guarantee an educated purchasing decision. Visit their Topsham, ME Volvo dealership at 91 Main Street, check out their online inventory at www.goodwinsvolvo.com, or call them at 888-221-3201. They can also be found on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoodwinsVolvo.