HIGH-SPEED
CRASH TEST RESULTS:
NEW
FORD PICKUP & MINIVAN ARE 'BEST PICKS,'
F-150 PICKUP SHOWS DRAMATIC IMPROVEMENT
The
redesigned Ford F-150 pickup truck and Ford Freestar minivan each earned the highest
overall rating in a recent series of 40 mph frontal crash tests conducted by the
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Both vehicles, which are 2004 models,
improved compared with their predecessors. The previous F-150 model was rated
poor, while the redesigned 2004 model F-150 earned a good rating and the added
designation of "best pick." Ford's previous minivan, the Windstar, was
rated acceptable, while the new Freestar earned a rating of good and also is a
"best pick."
Vehicle
ratings reflect performance in 40 mph frontal offset crash tests into a deformable
barrier. Based on the results, the Institute evaluates the crashworthiness of
passenger vehicles, assigning each vehicle a rating from good overall to poor.
If a vehicle earns a good rating, it means that in a real-world crash of similar
severity a belted driver would be likely to walk away with minor injuries. A "best
pick" designation means the vehicle performed well across the board in the
40 mph crash test.
"The
good crash test results of the F-150 pickup and the Freestar minivan mean that
Ford has the top-rated full-size pickup truck and one of the two top-rated minivans
in the Institute's frontal crashworthiness evaluations," says Institute president
Brian O'Neill.
Intrusion
measures are much lower for new F-150: "The F-150 went from the worst performing
large pickup we've tested to the best performing large pickup," O'Neill says.
"When we tested the old F-150, there was massive collapse of the occupant
compartment, and as a result high injury forces were recorded on the driver dummy.
In contrast, the compartment of the new F-150 held up extremely well in the offset
test, the dummy's movement was well controlled, and all injury measures were low."
RELATED
LINK: More
about this crash test
RELATED
LINK: Ford
F-150 is 2004 Truck of the Year RTM Award Winner
(Source: IIHS)
