Volvo
Seats Get Top Scores in Thatcham Whiplash Tests
Once again, Volvo has achieved top scores in the
latest, 2006 model year new car whiplash ratings by the UK's
Motor Insurance Repair Research Centre in Thatcham¹ which
conducted the tests on behalf of the International Insurance
Whiplash Prevention Group (IIWPG).
In
fact, Volvo was one of only two manufacturers to achieve top
'Good' scores for every model tested² thanks to its
supportive seats which have a fixed head restraint position to
ensure they are always in the correct position to offer the
best support, and the Volvo Whiplash Protection System (WHIPS)
that moves the entire backrest to absorb the impact during a
rear-end collision to help reduce the forces on the neck.
Thatcham tested seats from 182 new
cars and scored them in three categories: Geometric, Dynamic
and Overall. Ratings range from a top score of 'G' (for 'good'
protection), to 'A' (acceptable), 'M' (marginal), to 'P'
(poor) and 'R' (manufacturer refused to submit seats).
According to the Thatcham tests, all
Volvo seats were awarded the top 'G' score in all three
categories, but by comparison the overall rating for all the
Audi models tested was only 'A', and 'M' for Lexus, while four
BMW models (including the 3-Series, X3, X5, and the standard
seat in the 5-Series) were rated 'P' overall.
Matthew Avery, Crash Laboratory Manager at Thatcham said:
"Volvo has shown a continuing commitment to safety, and
their seats once again performed very well in our tests. This
is supported by real world injury data which confirms that
these seats do produce a significant reduction in whiplash
injuries - Volvo continues to be the trend setter in this
area."
Ingrid Skogsmo, Safety Director of
the Volvo Car Corporation Safety Centre, said: "We are
very pleased that the Volvo seats have performed in line with
our expectations from our own tests and standards. This is one
of several results that confirm Volvo has the right approach
to help reduce neck injuries in rear impacts."
1. Full details of the 2006 model year results of the Thatcham Whiplash
Testing are available at: www.thatcham.org
2. The Volvo S40, S60, S80, V50, V70
and XC90 all received the top 'Good' rating in the 2006 model
year results of the
Thatcham Whiplash Testing. The readers could choose between
372 models in 25 different categories.
Volvo
Car Corporation, Accessories - Wireless hands-free function in
Volvo cars with Bluetooth® and a mobile telephone
• Automatic connection to the car’s
loudspeaker system
• The system recognizes up to four different telephones
• Easy to switch between hands-free and telephone
• Voice dialing promotes traffic safety
It
is now possible to connect a Bluetooth-capable mobile
telephone to a Volvo car’s audio and loud-speaker system –
totally wirelessly. With the help of the new accessory Volvo
Hands-free with Bluetooth®, a mobile telephone becomes an
integrated hands-free system with voice dialing.
Volvo
Hands-free with Bluetooth® can be fitted in most late-model
Volvo cars. The system consists of an electronic control
module, a module with function buttons, a dedicated microphone
located near the rear-view mirror, and the necessary wiring. The
mobile telephone used must be Bluetooth-capable. Once a paired
link has been set up with the car’s Bluetooth module,
the telephone is recognized and connected automatically when
the owner enters the car. Story
Volvo
Models Best in Interior Air Quality According to New Study
An independent survey carried out by the Ecology Center in
Detroit shows that the interiors of Volvo’s cars emit lower
levels of toxic substances than other car makes.
The Ecology Center recently
presented a study (Toxic at Any Speed: Chemicals in Cars &
the Need for Safe Alternatives) of the toxic chemicals used in
building car interiors. Flame retardant PBDE and phthalates,
whose main use is as a softener in plastics, were included in
the study. These chemical substances can migrate from plastics
and textiles, particularly at high temperatures. The car’s
occupants may thus be exposed to these substances, for
instance through the respiratory system. Certain types of
phthalates and flame retardants can for instance promote
genetic mutations and can subject car occupants to health
hazards. The survey reveals that the concentrations of PBDE in
dust and on the windscreen are up to five times higher than in
the homes of most people, and since many people today spend a
lot of time in their cars, car interiors thus have a
significant effect on human health. For
More
Volvo
iPod Adapter - Volvo opens up to iPod users
Now it
will be possible for iPod users to plug their entire music
archive into their Volvo’s audio system. Together with
supplier PhatNoise Inc and Apple, Volvo Cars has developed an
adapter kit for installation in the Volvo S80 from model year
1999 on and in the S60, V70 and XC70 from model year 2001.
iPod is the world's number one digital music
player and allows music lovers to carry their entire music
collection with them on the go.
Now with the Volvo iPod Adapter, they can play their music in
their Volvo.
Volvo
Seats Get Top Scores in 2006 Thatcham Whiplash Tests
Once again, Volvo has
achieved top scores in the latest, 2006 model year new car
whiplash ratings by the UK's Motor Insurance Repair Research
Centre in Thatcham¹ which conducted the tests on behalf of
the International Insurance Whiplash Prevention Group (IIWPG).
In
fact, Volvo was one of only two manufacturers to achieve top
'Good' scores for every model tested² thanks to its
supportive seats which have a fixed head restraint position to
ensure they are always in the correct position to offer the
best support, and the Volvo Whiplash Protection System (WHIPS)
that moves the entire backrest to absorb the impact during a
rear-end collision to help reduce the forces on the neck.
Story
