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Consumer Reports Deputy Automotive Editor Jeff Bartlett on the new crash test being used and which luxury cars failed.
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All right well with -- it's been a little more to get the safety of a luxury car that's what a lot of people think.
-- that you may not be getting your money's worth most midsize luxury cars are failing.
A new frontal crash test developed by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
For more on the new crash -- I'm joined by Jeff Bartlett the deputy automotive editor consumer reports Jeff welcome back to show great to see you.
I thought this was really interesting there's a new test -- -- T bone were used to the side tests.
Why new test.
Well with this new test the insurance institute is chasing other avenues of improving automotive safety.
Certainly because of their tests and those run by the government.
Car safety is dramatically improve through the years they've identified in this area as one -- place that they can focus their attention to make -- safer.
So let's talk about how this works -- this -- like you're hitting say utility Paul.
Or something like that on that front of your car but not directly in the center so.
What's the point -- that is that a common problem.
-- the big difference is the it traditional front and side tests that the insurance institute do.
It simulates being -- by another vehicle another vehicle that can absorb the energy as well as the energy being absorbed by what your rent this -- concentrates.
All of the energy and just 25%.
Of the front of the car the corner as if you -- a -- a rigid objects of the forces are much more dramatic.
Are right so let's take a look at the cars that failed this test because this is pretty much a shocker.
And at first we have the Mercedes C class really I couldn't believe that.
Lexus I S 250 Audi a four yes I -- that Lexus ES 350.
You know how how -- -- -- you can pay the big dollars that you pay for these kinds of cars and they -- a simple tasks like this well.
This isn't necessarily a simple -- -- and the reality is this is a pop quiz this isn't a test of the manufacturers didn't engineer for.
-- manufacturers target all of the existing tests so this new one is gonna present or a real challenge and one that I think the manufactures gonna rise to face.
Our analysts -- go -- the list here here's the cars -- got -- that are acceptable rating Acura TL Volvo S sixty infinity G.
What of those cars have -- devastating.
Well the key thing there is those vehicles are able to absorb the energies -- keep them away from the occupant.
And really protect the passenger cabin and keep it documents say well chapel would happen -- me if -- been sitting.
In that Mercedes C class in one of these tests instead of you know -- -- Well did significant injuries really the lower -- come from the likelihood.
That serious injuries -- be experienced in looking at the data you're seeing that isolated largely to lower extremities but also head injuries.
Given that.
The forces to the side of the vehicle in an angle causing a somewhat twisting motion so that real injuries are likely.
All right so I would -- through pass the tests who failed the test so marginal.
So these are cars -- sort of a marginal rating Acura TSX.
B&B MW three series a lot of people a lot of our viewers will have that car Lincoln MK -- Volkswagen CC.
Do you think that these people who designed these cars are gonna go out -- design now because of this test.
Well this isn't gonna Gaza spontaneous redesign but it's certainly one more factor that engineers will be looking at.
As they designed the next generation of the vehicles it'll take years for manufactures to truly integrate all of this into their car designs.
Well it's great and you're it'd be testing some cars next time around that are not luxury.
They kind of middle of the board which means and they could have even more problems I would think.
It.
It remains to be seen that that's -- and natural assumption.
The next test of the institute plans to do will look outside of this luxury category and the results will be entrusting and like I said they they should.
Further influence our car -- going forward and what's ideal buy L-1 of these cars that had a poor rating.
But the important thing is not to panic all of the cars included in this group.
And receipt.
Good marks on the front and side traditional tests.
These are considered safe cars by today's standards it's just this new tests that they frankly were not designed for that has shown weakness among many of so it does underscore the importance of safety ratings and it also -- -- cars are against paper over time.
That is good news and -- I should mention here that Mercedes says.
Network questioning the results of the test they say as a leader in automotive safety we have full confidence in the protection.
The -- class of -- its occupants and less confidence confidence that any test that doesn't reflect that.
How do you respond.
Well good that's and natural piece of damage control certainly all of these companies put millions of dollars and -- engineering the cars.
To be as safe as possible.
But -- Taking a look at a new variation of an accident may expose certain weaknesses I think in the end all of these companies are going to be working hard to make the car safer.
Right when you test those non luxury models come back because I want -- I wanna hear the results thanks a lot Jeff.
Absolutely my pleasure.
