The Euro NCAP has awarded the 2013 Volvo V40 a five star rating and has called it the safest car it has ever tested. European New Car Assessment Programme subjected the new Volvo hatchback to a battery of tests, where it achieved a 98 per cent adult occupant protection score and 88 per cent pedestrian safety score thanks to its innovative pedestrian airbag system.
The pedestrian airbag is an innovative system from Volvo, wherein sensors sets off a small charge to inflate an airbag under the hood if the car makes contact with a pedestrian, cushioning the blow. This prevents the victim from coming in contact with other components of the engine or the hood. This system from V40 will soon be used on many other Volvo models.
The V40 has achieved a 100 per cent rating in safety assist thanks to technologies like pedestrian detection, auto braking and city safety which has won the Euro NCAP Advanced Award.
The 98 per cent adult occupant protection score has been achieved thanks to technologies like whiplash protection. However in terms of child safety the V40 has only managed to achieve 75 per cent.
Speaking on the achievement, Thomas Broberg, senior technical advisor safety at Volvo Car Corporation, said “A fantastic result. We are very proud to have one of the world's safest cars and we're taking yet another important step toward our 2020 target - where nobody should die or be seriously injured in a Volvo.”
