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11-16-2007, 06:21 AM
By KEN THOMAS
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON — The number of new cars considered the safest by the insurance industry has nearly tripled.
Ford and Honda had the most vehicles on the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's annual list of safest cars (www.iihs.org). Thirty-four vehicles received the designation for 2008, compared with 13 from 2007.
The institute requires new cars and trucks to have electronic stability control (ESC), among the factors it considers. Car companies are putting the anti-rollover technology into their fleets ahead of a government requirement for it by the 2012 model year.
Adrian Lund, the institute's president, cited studies that say 10,000 fatal crashes could be avoided annually if all vehicles had the technology.
Ford products on the list: Taurus and Mercury Sable with optional ESC; Edge, Taurus X and Lincoln MKX SUVs; Volvo S80, C70 and XC90. Ford plans to put stability control on its entire lineup by the end of 2009.
Honda products on the list: Accord, Odyssey, Pilot, CR-V and Element; and the Acura MDX and RDX.
Subaru and Hyundai each had four on the list. Toyota had two, and Volkswagen had three from its Audi unit.
The institute said Toyota could have had 10 more on the list and VW another four if they had improved seat and head restraint designs.
from: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/motoring/2004016299_safecars16.html
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON — The number of new cars considered the safest by the insurance industry has nearly tripled.
Ford and Honda had the most vehicles on the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's annual list of safest cars (www.iihs.org). Thirty-four vehicles received the designation for 2008, compared with 13 from 2007.
The institute requires new cars and trucks to have electronic stability control (ESC), among the factors it considers. Car companies are putting the anti-rollover technology into their fleets ahead of a government requirement for it by the 2012 model year.
Adrian Lund, the institute's president, cited studies that say 10,000 fatal crashes could be avoided annually if all vehicles had the technology.
Ford products on the list: Taurus and Mercury Sable with optional ESC; Edge, Taurus X and Lincoln MKX SUVs; Volvo S80, C70 and XC90. Ford plans to put stability control on its entire lineup by the end of 2009.
Honda products on the list: Accord, Odyssey, Pilot, CR-V and Element; and the Acura MDX and RDX.
Subaru and Hyundai each had four on the list. Toyota had two, and Volkswagen had three from its Audi unit.
The institute said Toyota could have had 10 more on the list and VW another four if they had improved seat and head restraint designs.
from: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/motoring/2004016299_safecars16.html