Five stars for the safest VW Polo ever
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The Volkswagen Polo will arrive
in Australia during H1 2010.
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Volkswagen
1st September, 2009
The new Volkswagen Polo has been subjected to the more stringent
EuroNCAP crash tests and received the best possible score of five stars. Volkswagen put together a safety
package for the new 5th generation Polo including optimised body structure, a highly effective belt and air bag
combination and driver-assist systems. The result is the safest compact car in the world.
During the most recent tests performed by the European New Car Assessment Programme (NCAP), the VW Polo was
subjected to a controlled collision with a barrier at a speed of 64 km/h, whereby the passenger cell remained
nearly undamaged. The crash dummies testify to the Polo's high scores in the most important categories: occupant
protection and child safety. The structurally rigid body, among other things, contributes to this result.
The extreme rigidity of the new Polo was achieved through the use of high-strength and ultra high-strength
steels in the side structures and footwell. The extremely rigid bumper cross-member in front ensures that impact
forces are distributed.
But pedestrian safety is just as important as occupant safety. The requirements for pedestrian safety were
already integrated into the developmental work during the design phase of the new Polo. Consequently, the "harp",
as the newly designed sheet metal behind the front bumper cover is called, provides the deformation space
necessary to minimise the severity of leg injuries.
Electronic safety and assistance systems which prevent accidents or avoid severe injuries are also evaluated
in the new Euro NCAP procedure. One of the most important assistance systems, the electronic stabilisation
programme ESP, is standard in the Polo. Additional standard equipment such as a highly effective belt-and-air bag
combination as well as front head restraints which counteract whiplash further improves safety.
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