Twelve American Honda Models Earn IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK

[jcramin]

Twelve American Honda Models Earn IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK

Twelve American Honda models, including the all-new 2012 CR-V that goes on-sale today, received the highest possible safety rating of TOP SAFETY PICK from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) under its more-stringent testing guidelines implemented last year.

The IIHS award recognizes vehicles that do the best job of protecting vehicle occupants involved in front, side and rear crashes, plus rollover performance based on ratings in the Institute's tests.

Announced by IIHS today, the Honda Fit, CR-Z, Insight, Accord, CR-V, Pilot and Ridgeline along with the Acura TL, TSX and MDX all earned the highest-possible score of GOOD in all four ratings, including the more rigorous roof-strength test. Earlier this year the all-new Civic and redesigned Odyssey earned the TOP SAFETY PICK, giving American Honda twelve 2012 TOP SAFETY PICK winners.

"We're proud to have achieved IIHS TOP SAFETY TOP rating for nine new 2012 Honda models and three 2012 Acura models, making American Honda among the best in the industry with twelve vehicles with top-class IIHS safety ratings under their new, more stringent ratings protocols," said John Mendel, executive vice president of sales, American Honda Motor Co., Inc. "In fact, 91% of American Honda vehicles sold in the U.S. are TOP SAFETY PICKS. This accomplishment is part of a concerted effort we have made to reassert the Honda brand as a clear leader in this area."

Standard safety equipment on all Honda and Acura models include Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®) with traction control; an Anti-lock Braking System (ABS); side curtain airbags (some vehicles equipped with a rollover sensor as well); dual-stage, multiple-threshold front airbags; a driver's front side airbag; and a front passenger's side airbag with an occupant position detection system. All 2012 Honda and Acura models recognized by the IIHS, with the exception of the Ridgeline, utilize the Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure. ACE is an exclusive body design that enhances occupant protection and crash compatibility in frontal crashes. The ACE design utilizes a network of connected structural elements to distribute crash energy more evenly throughout the front of the vehicle. This enhanced frontal crash energy management helps to reduce the forces transferred to the passenger compartment.

2012 American Honda TOP SAFETY PICKS:

Honda
Fit
Insight
CR-Z
Civic
Accord
CR-V
Pilot
Odyssey
Ridgeline


Acura
Acura TSX
Acura TL
Acura MDX

[Saulutations!]

I know that we have ACE body structure in the 2011, but does anyone know if it was improved upon for the 2012 model?

I don't remember the north american CRz being a top safety pick by anybody last year.

[gozoner]

Originally Posted by Saulutations!

I know that we have ACE body structure in the 2011, but does anyone know if it was improved upon for the 2012 model?

I don't remember the north american CRz being a top safety pick by anybody last year.

I just checked the IIHS website. The 2011 Honda CR-Z was most definitely not a top safety pick last year. So, something besides a black interior has changed for the 2012 model. See IIHS CR-Z Ratings, All Years

[wicked1]

Or has something less scientific and more political happened?

-actually, just looked at the results, and I suppose they could have strengthened the roof.. I guess they wouldn't necessarily brag about that in their 2012 literature, as it's sort of admitting a fault w/ the 2011 model.

[Saulutations!]

Yeah, I looked into it and it seems that the 2012 CRz weighs 17 pounds more than the 2011 model because as wicked1 stated, the roof was reinforced. The new model could withstand about 5500 more pounds of pressure in a rollover than the 2011 model can.

That kind of makes me want a 2012 one now.

[TCroly]

Originally Posted by Saulutations!

Yeah, I looked into it and it seems that the 2012 CRz weighs 17 pounds more than the 2011 model because as wicked1 stated, the roof was reinforced. The new model could withstand about 5500 more pounds of pressure in a rollover than the 2011 model can.

That kind of makes me want a 2012 one now.

This is very interesting and I would love to know what was done to improve the roof strength. The Honda Fit shows a similar improvement to the CRZ and it is shown as the exact sane weight fore both years. So the improvement may have been as simple as more or better welds.

[Billz]

Interesting that the press release on safety award says 2012 CR-Z is "all new." Sounds like PR-speak to me, given what I know now about roof strength and black interior. Any one know of any other truly "new" features?