08-26-2010, 08:05 AM
Ford Fiesta first minicar to earn IIHS ‘Top Safety Pick’
Source: leftlanenews.com
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety recently upped the ante by increasing the requirements necessary to receive the coeted ‘Top Safety Pick’ award by including a new rollover test, but that didn’t stop Ford’s all-new 2011 Fiesta from snagging the first-ever Top Safety Pick for a minicar.
Ford’s Fiesta was highly touted as being a top-performer in the realm of safety by the automaker before any U.S. crash testing entities got their hands on the car. Ford pointed to its liberal use of high strength, ultra high strength, and Boron steel – the strongest automotive grade steel in the industry. The strategic placement of these stronger-than-normal steels not only helped Ford achieve its exclusive Top Safety Pick award, but they were also responsible for helping to cut weight by reducing the amount of steel needed.
More than enough
When the IIHS decided it was time to increase the level of engineering necessary to keep vehicles as safe as possible, they imposed a new rollover crash test that places pressure on a single corner of the vehicle on the roof. The test requires vehicles to withstand four-times their own weight in order to pass, something the Fiesta managed with ease as it actually recorded a five-times cave-in strength.
In total, Fiesta earned the top rating of “Good” for front, side, rollover and rear crash protection. The Fiesta also contained electronic stability control as standard equipment, a requirement for the Top Safety Pick.
IIHS points out that the Fiesta was modified in order to strengthen outer door handles to reduce the chance of doors opening in an accident, meaning only vehicles produced after July 2010 will have the changes in place.
Ford also notes that with the Fiesta’s designation as a Top Safety Pick, the Dearborn-based automaker has more Top Safety Picks than any other manufacturer after breaking its tie with Toyota.
![[Image: 2011FiestaCrash.jpg]](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v81/frost__2001/2011FiestaCrash.jpg)
Source: leftlanenews.com
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety recently upped the ante by increasing the requirements necessary to receive the coeted ‘Top Safety Pick’ award by including a new rollover test, but that didn’t stop Ford’s all-new 2011 Fiesta from snagging the first-ever Top Safety Pick for a minicar.
Ford’s Fiesta was highly touted as being a top-performer in the realm of safety by the automaker before any U.S. crash testing entities got their hands on the car. Ford pointed to its liberal use of high strength, ultra high strength, and Boron steel – the strongest automotive grade steel in the industry. The strategic placement of these stronger-than-normal steels not only helped Ford achieve its exclusive Top Safety Pick award, but they were also responsible for helping to cut weight by reducing the amount of steel needed.
More than enough
When the IIHS decided it was time to increase the level of engineering necessary to keep vehicles as safe as possible, they imposed a new rollover crash test that places pressure on a single corner of the vehicle on the roof. The test requires vehicles to withstand four-times their own weight in order to pass, something the Fiesta managed with ease as it actually recorded a five-times cave-in strength.
In total, Fiesta earned the top rating of “Good” for front, side, rollover and rear crash protection. The Fiesta also contained electronic stability control as standard equipment, a requirement for the Top Safety Pick.
IIHS points out that the Fiesta was modified in order to strengthen outer door handles to reduce the chance of doors opening in an accident, meaning only vehicles produced after July 2010 will have the changes in place.
Ford also notes that with the Fiesta’s designation as a Top Safety Pick, the Dearborn-based automaker has more Top Safety Picks than any other manufacturer after breaking its tie with Toyota.