Rüsselsheim. The European new car safety assessment organization, Euro NCAP, has awarded the new Opel Astra five stars for safety – the top rating for new tough regulations that took effect this year.
Euro NCAP gave its highest points ever awarded for Astra’s active head restraints which protect against whiplash. This is especially important because whiplash is the most common occupant injury suffered when a car is hit from behind. Opel’s active headrest system, an integral part of the brand’s industry-leading seats, is in itself a technical innovation. It is completely reversible, requiring no dealer reset after a rear-end collision.
The Astra scored very well on its front passenger occupant protection in a frontal impact. NCAP also added points because Electronic Stability Controlplus – a computerized technology that improves a vehicle’s stability by detecting and minimizing skids – is standard on all variants in all of the 27 countries which use Euro NCAP ratings as well as Norway and Switzerland.
Euro NCAP now releases one overall star rating with a maximum of five stars. The number of stars reflects how well a vehicle performs in four areas: adult protection, child safety, pedestrian protection and safety assist. The score is calculated by weighing points in the four areas while still ensuring that no section is neglected “Opel designs, engineers and builds some of the safest cars in the world. That isn’t opinion, it is fact confirmed by independent safety organizations,” says Hans Demant, managing director of Adam Opel GmbH.
The body structure and occupant restraint systems on the Astra are prepared to meet current and anticipated crash safety standards not just in Europe, but all over the world, offering optimal protection in real life situations.
Among the many safety features on the Astra are new advanced dual seat belt pre-tensioners, which help achieve prevent injury because they keep occupants’ hips in place during a crash, eliminating the need for expensive, heavy knee airbags and making way for more occupant storage space.
Other passive safety equipment found on the Astra includes six airbags, smart seatbelt reminder system and a passenger airbag switch-off to allow child seats to be safely placed in the front. Further safety equipment includes ABS with numerous assistance functions, tractions control, new generation ESPPlus, adaptive brake lights, Adaptive Forward Lights (AFL+) and the Opel Eye camera system.
Extremely rigid passenger compartment aids outstanding crash performance
Passive safety on the Astra starts with a rigid passenger cells that is primarily made from high-strength steel that Opel engineers designed for the least deformation and highest survival space possible in case of a crash. The front and rear of the cabin are surrounded by crumple zones that deform and protect in a safe, controlled manner.
The front end has a three-load path design, including the chassis sub frame, which can withstand impact even in the case of a high speed, front impact collision by spreading the energy produced from a crash. For side impact protection, where there is little leeway to engineer a substantial crumble zone, the stiff side body structure is made to spread loadings. Doors are made with ultra-high strength steel reinforced beams that are now mounted diagonally so that the B-pillar, itself made of the highest grade steel, side sill and floor and the roof cross-members work together to spread the load.
Engineers have also worked to continually improve pedestrian protection by, in part, providing adequate clearance for all hard points under the hood and adopting a hood that considers both stiffness and protection against head impacts from pedestrians. The Astra scored maximum NCAP points in one subcategory because its bumper with energy absorbing foam materials protects against lower leg injury across nearly the entire vehicle width
Keeping children safe
In the frontal and side impacts, the Astra scored maximum points for protection of the 3-year dummy during NCAP testing. This is achieved, in part, through specially developed Opel Child Seats which protect against both front and side impacts. In addition to the ISOFIX lock, Opel Child Seats come with an extra top tether that is standard so that the seat is safely anchored to the back of the rear seat. ISOFIX child seat features are located on outer rear seats. The front passenger airbag can be switched off so that child seats can be safely used there as well.
Coherent Safety Strategy
Opel engineers have synchronized active and passive safety systems on the Astra for a coherent safety strategy. Many of these state-of-the-art features lead the compact class segment, ensuring best possible safety.
Features which assist the driver include:
Euro NCAP gave its highest points ever awarded for Astra’s active head restraints which protect against whiplash. This is especially important because whiplash is the most common occupant injury suffered when a car is hit from behind. Opel’s active headrest system, an integral part of the brand’s industry-leading seats, is in itself a technical innovation. It is completely reversible, requiring no dealer reset after a rear-end collision.
The Astra scored very well on its front passenger occupant protection in a frontal impact. NCAP also added points because Electronic Stability Controlplus – a computerized technology that improves a vehicle’s stability by detecting and minimizing skids – is standard on all variants in all of the 27 countries which use Euro NCAP ratings as well as Norway and Switzerland.
Euro NCAP now releases one overall star rating with a maximum of five stars. The number of stars reflects how well a vehicle performs in four areas: adult protection, child safety, pedestrian protection and safety assist. The score is calculated by weighing points in the four areas while still ensuring that no section is neglected “Opel designs, engineers and builds some of the safest cars in the world. That isn’t opinion, it is fact confirmed by independent safety organizations,” says Hans Demant, managing director of Adam Opel GmbH.
The body structure and occupant restraint systems on the Astra are prepared to meet current and anticipated crash safety standards not just in Europe, but all over the world, offering optimal protection in real life situations.
Among the many safety features on the Astra are new advanced dual seat belt pre-tensioners, which help achieve prevent injury because they keep occupants’ hips in place during a crash, eliminating the need for expensive, heavy knee airbags and making way for more occupant storage space.
Other passive safety equipment found on the Astra includes six airbags, smart seatbelt reminder system and a passenger airbag switch-off to allow child seats to be safely placed in the front. Further safety equipment includes ABS with numerous assistance functions, tractions control, new generation ESPPlus, adaptive brake lights, Adaptive Forward Lights (AFL+) and the Opel Eye camera system.
Extremely rigid passenger compartment aids outstanding crash performance
Passive safety on the Astra starts with a rigid passenger cells that is primarily made from high-strength steel that Opel engineers designed for the least deformation and highest survival space possible in case of a crash. The front and rear of the cabin are surrounded by crumple zones that deform and protect in a safe, controlled manner.
The front end has a three-load path design, including the chassis sub frame, which can withstand impact even in the case of a high speed, front impact collision by spreading the energy produced from a crash. For side impact protection, where there is little leeway to engineer a substantial crumble zone, the stiff side body structure is made to spread loadings. Doors are made with ultra-high strength steel reinforced beams that are now mounted diagonally so that the B-pillar, itself made of the highest grade steel, side sill and floor and the roof cross-members work together to spread the load.
Engineers have also worked to continually improve pedestrian protection by, in part, providing adequate clearance for all hard points under the hood and adopting a hood that considers both stiffness and protection against head impacts from pedestrians. The Astra scored maximum NCAP points in one subcategory because its bumper with energy absorbing foam materials protects against lower leg injury across nearly the entire vehicle width
Keeping children safe
In the frontal and side impacts, the Astra scored maximum points for protection of the 3-year dummy during NCAP testing. This is achieved, in part, through specially developed Opel Child Seats which protect against both front and side impacts. In addition to the ISOFIX lock, Opel Child Seats come with an extra top tether that is standard so that the seat is safely anchored to the back of the rear seat. ISOFIX child seat features are located on outer rear seats. The front passenger airbag can be switched off so that child seats can be safely used there as well.
Coherent Safety Strategy
Opel engineers have synchronized active and passive safety systems on the Astra for a coherent safety strategy. Many of these state-of-the-art features lead the compact class segment, ensuring best possible safety.
Features which assist the driver include:
- Advanced Adaptive Forward Light (AFL+) cornering light system adjusts the car’s headlamp beam automatically to prevailing road and weather conditions. AFL+ has nine functions so drivers can see the road better when, for example, they are turning a corner or driving on a country road at night.
- Opel Eye – a lane departure warning and traffic sign recognition system
- Automatic Lighting Control
Active safety features which give the Astra excellent handling and control to help prevent accidents from happening include:
- Electronic Stability Controlplus, which intervenes on up to three wheels.
- FlexRide, Opel’s mechatronic chassis system with Adaptive Stability Technology helps the car adjust automatically to prevailing driving conditions
- Brake Assist
- Traction Control with engine and brake intervention
In addition to the rigid passenger compartment and six airbags, other passive safety features on the Astra are:
- Active head rests to prevent whiplash
- Dual seatbelt pre-tensioners,
- Belt load limiter that releases seatbelts to limit pressure on the chest
- Pedal release system that reduces the danger of driver leg injuries
- Anti-submarining ramps on all seats, so that occupants can’t slide under the seatbelts
- Energy- absorbing steering column
Warning and security systems are:
- Adaptive brake lights warn vehicles driving behind the Astra if it must brake suddenly or if Anti-lock braking system intervenes at speeds above 30 km/h.
- Automatic fuel pump deactivation which prevents fuel from leaking in case of an accident
- Warning indicator activates automatically post-impact
- Automatic interior light activation so that passengers and rescuers have light immediately
Source: GM Media
