July 5, 2011
ROYAL
OAK, Mich., - The Saab 9-4X crossover has earned 'Top Safety Pick', the
highest rating for crashworthiness awarded by the Insurance Institute
for Highway Safety (IIHS) in the United States. Only three weeks ago,
the Saab 9-5 Sedan received the same accolade.
"To
achieve two Top Safety Picks in three weeks is, of course, extremely
gratifying," says Per Lenhoff, Head of Safety Development at Saab
Automobile. "Our main priority is always the protection of real people
in real accidents, but the IIHS tests are a valuable guide for consumers
and it is important for us to achieve good results."
IIHS is a research and communications organization funded by auto insurers in the US. The test procedures include front impact (offset) and side impact
crashes. Seat/head restraints are also tested in a simulated rear-end
impact to assess protection against whiplash injuries and the roof
structure is tested to assess vehicle rollover protection.
Performance
is rated as 'Good', 'Acceptable', 'Marginal' or 'Poor' in each of the
tests and to achieve the 'Top Safety Pick' award, cars must achieve the
highest rating in all four procedures and should also be fitted with
ESP.
