20th October 2009 - Holden Ute 5 Star Ancap Rating

[Ryzz]

HOLDEN UTE – FIRST UTILITY TO ACHIEVE
5-STAR SAFETY IN AUSTRALIA

Holden’s VE Ute range has become the first utility in Australia to receive a maximum five star safety rating from the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) or the Euro New Car Assessment Program (EuroNCAP).

This follows the announcement last month that Holden achieved another Australian safety first by launching the first Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) to offer six airbags as standard across the range.

The latest result means Holden’s entire locally manufactured vehicle range now carries a five star safety rating from ANCAP.

The ANCAP result reflects the long list of safety features found standard across the VE Ute range including side impact airbags, curtain airbags and Electronic Stability Control (ESC) which incorporates Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), Electronic Brake Assist (EBA) and Traction Control System (TCS).

Holden Vehicle Structure & Safety Integration Manager, Steve Curtis said Holden had a long and proud history of delivering safety firsts.

“Exceptional safety has always been our priority,” Mr Curtis said.

“Ensuring Ute met the same high standard as the rest of the VE range has been a real focus.

“Our efforts have produced the only light commercial vehicle in Australia to offer 5-star safety as standard across the range.

“This endorsement from ANCAP is a very clear indication that we are on the right path of continual improvement.”

VE Omega Utes that are converted to dual fuel LPG will also receive the five star safety rating.

[VESportswagon20]

Well done to Holden for ensuring that they supplied Australians with a 5 star ute range. It shows that Holden actually are taking it upon themselves to ensure that safety is paramount in their cars.
Why Ford keeps coming up with these excuses for not ensuring all their cars in the Falcon range I dont know but it shows their contempt for people who cannot afford the range topping models by not allowing curtain airbags to be standard and making prospective owners pay for what should be standard fitment in these times. This is the coment quoted from a Ford Spokeswoman regarding Fords plans with the Falcon Ute which was also a comment about some of their sedan range by memory not that long ago.

The only other locally-constructed utility, the Ford Falcon ute, has a four-star rating and spokeswoman Sinead McAlary said Ford had no plans ‘‘at this stage’’ to push for five stars.

‘‘We had the opportunity to do that when we launched the ute and we determined that in that section of the market, it wasn’t as much of a key customer want as it is in the passenger segment in terms of customers being able to choose a number of options such as stability control or curtain airbags,’’ she said.



How about them being proactive and not treat their buyers as second rate citizens. They will only supply these critical safety features as a option. I personally believe that a car should be ineligable for 5 stars if it does not have curtain airbags which also protect rear seat passengers and as such the FG lower spec models do not deserve the 5 star rating and if their ute has not got it the sedan doesn't deserve it either.

Here is the drive.com story regarding the Holden ute gaining the 5 star safety ANCAP rating.

http://www.drive.com.au/Editorial/ArticleDetail.aspx?ArticleID=66556&vf=2

[Hamico]

Congrats to Holden for taking the lead in commercial vehicle safety

This is one category that has been neglected for years...

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