Genesis destroyed to get top marks (video)
Genesis, Hyundai Motor’s new flagship luxury sedan, has achieved the highest score in the 21-year history of testing in the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP), with 36,88 points out of a possible 37 and a maximum 5-star ANCAP safety rating.
Although this is not a test necessarily valid for South African derivatives, it is nonetheless interesting.
A 5-star safety rating is ANCAP’s ultimate measure of vehicle safety protection for occupants and pedestrians. The demanding assessment includes a 64 km/h frontal offset test and a 50 km/h side impact test, along with a 29 km/h pole test, a whiplash test simulating a 32 km/h rear-end crash, and a 40 km/h pedestrian impact protection test. A minimum number of active safety assist technologies (SATs) are also required.
The Genesis’ tally of 36,88 points includes a frontal offset score of 15,88 out of 16 and a side impact protection score of 16 out of 16. Genesis also scored 2 out of 2 in the pole test and a whiplash protection test rating of “good”.
Earlier this year, the all-new Genesis was the first and only rear-wheel drive vehicle in its class to receive the US Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest honor as a 2014 TOP SAFETY PICK+, continuing its segment leadership. Genesis was also the first rear-wheel drive luxury sedan to earn a “Good” rating in the IIHS’s small overlap crash test.
“The Genesis is Hyundai’s flagship model and as such offers a high level of physical crashworthiness and excellent safety features as standard,” said ANCAP chairman Mr Lauchlan McIntosh.
“This is one of the first times we have seen the word ‘Standard’ listed against almost every safety feature on our check list. Importantly, automatic emergency braking is one of these standard features – one that has recently been left off many new models hitting our shores.”
Structural integrity and strength has been a key priority of Hyundai Motor Company’s engineering teams since development of the new “DH” model Genesis sedan began six years ago. The vehicle uses advanced high-strength steel throughout its body structure, and has been designed from the outset to pass the world’s most demanding crash tests.
ANCAP is supported by all Australian and New Zealand motoring clubs, the Australian Government, the New Zealand Government, Australian state and territory governments, the Victorian Transport Accident Commission, NRMA Insurance and the FIA Foundation.
