Euro NCAP Crash Test Results: Nissan Almera Family Achieves a Four Star Rating
|
March 27, 2001 Euro NCAP Crash Test Results: Nissan Almera Family Achieves a Four Star Rating The European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP), an independent organisation, crash tests announced today that the Almera and the Almera Tino achieved a four star rating following the safety tests completed last October; the best rating by a Nissan since the programme started in 1997. Masaki Sugisawa, Senior Vice President Design and Development, Nissan Europe NV said: "As well as exterior styling and interior design we aimed to provide Almera and Almera Tino with a comprehensive and innovative safety package. The NCAP four star rating confirms that we have achieved this and that both vehicles are among the best in category for safety." The Almera and the Almera Tino were designed under Nissan's triple safety concept' which splits safety considerations into information safety, control safety and impact safety. Impact safety is assured by the structural integrity of the vehicles as well as a host of supplementary restraint systems. Nissan's new Medium/Small global platform, upon which both the Almera and Almera Tino are based, pioneers an advanced 'two zone body' body construction that delineates between an energy-absorbing crush zone and a high strength cabin safety cell. This zonal body is 30% stiffer in all directions than the previous Almera platform which contributes to a strong structural integrity as well as to the comfort and refinement of the vehicles. The crush zone at the front of the cars is built around new hexagonal section side members, which both to crush and bend on impact. The new S-shaped members are designed to deform to take energy away from the fascia and reduce interior intrusion through fascia deformation. A further reinforced section of the side member minimises deformation of the floor of the vehicles while the 'A' pillars have also received special reinforcements. The Almera was the first in its class to introduce whiplash reducing Active Head Restraints. In conjunction with conventional front airbags Nissan's head and thorax side airbag system protects both the head and chest of the occupants in the event of impacts and is particularly protective for situations such as NCAP's 'pole test'. Offered along side load-limiting seat belts with pretensionners, the Almera and Almera Tino are among the leaders in their categories. The importance of active safety, the ability to avoid potential accidents is taken extremely seriously at Nissan. The MacPherson strut front and multi-link beam rear suspensions are the cornerstones of the Almera series' stable and predictable handling in all conditions. The latest Bosch ABS system in combination with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution and Nissan Brake Assist improve the driver's performance in emergency braking situations and are key in reducing stopping distances. Information safety relates to the ability to see and to be seen and is a contributor to active safety. Extensive research into ensuring good and unobstructed visibility of the road ahead, the instrument panel and other vehicles which is enable by the driving position and additional features such as the panoramic driver's door mirror to minimise blind spots. The use of clear lens illumination technology on the tail lamps, headlamps and the high mounted stop lamps ensure optimum visibility both at night and while braking. # # # |
