Hyundai i20 becomes first India produced car to bag five-star Euro NCAP
28 May 2009
New Delhi:
According to the European 'new car assessment programme' (NCAP) has announced that the Hyundai i20 has gained the maximum possible score and has been awarded the five star NCAP rating for safety, which the Korean automaker says is a major achievement for a car the size of the i20 as compacts are not known to be high on safety.
Hyundi said in a press release, "The i20 after its launch in India and globally has raised the benchmark for compact cars (B segment) not only in terms of performance, build quality, ergonomics and aesthetics but also majorly in terms of occupant and pedestrian safety."
The NCAP, 5-star rating which is the first for any car produced in India.
The press release says the i20 five-door model scored exceptionally well on all four parameters of the NCAP safety test, which assess newly launched cars on four main criteria of safety – adult occupancy, child protection, pedestrian protection and safety assist. The i20 achieved the highest possible score resulting in the highest overall rating.
Notably the i20 attained 88 per cent in the adult occupant protection tests, including the new whiplash assessment. The car's active head-restraints, front seatbelt, pre-tensioner and six airbags – front, side and curtain – played a key role in achieving success in the tests for frontal, side barrier and car-to-pole impacts, Hyundai said.
"Equipped with high levels of standard safety equipment, the i20 scored an impressive six out of a maximum seven points in the safety assist category, receiving top marks for its seatbelt reminder and Electronic Stability Control (ESC)."
It said the computerised ESC system helps to minimise the risk of skidding by applying brakes to individual wheels to direct the car where the driver wishes to go.
The Hyundai i20 has an extensive list of active and passive safety equipment, including six airbags as standard, active head-restraints, front seatbelt pre-tensioners, anti-lock braking system (ABS), Electronic Stability Control, and Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD).
The i20 received an average score of 80.25 per cent, the highest among the six models assessed under the new NCAP rating scheme. The average is based on scores from the four categories: Adult, 88, Child, 83, Pedestrian, 64, Safety Assist, 86. Further noteworthy is the fact that the 64 per cent score for the pedestrian protection test is the highest among all models.
Commenting on the achievement, H S Lheem MD, HMIL, said, "This is a proud moment for Hyundai. The i20's five-star rating is recognition of our commitment to providing customers with class leading safety and performance. The i20's equipment level which includes a set of six airbags is a benchmark for cars in not only this segment but one above.
"This and other safety features easily allow the i20 to meet the stringent European safety norms and without a doubt the i20 is one of the safest compacts on road today. As a company we are committed to not only meeting the norms but also bettering them through constant research and development. The NCAP rating will undoubtedly increase the appeal of the i20 for our customers."