Ford F-150 MI Owners Learn Truck is among 55 vehicles in Updated 5-Star Safety Ratings Program
Ford F-150 MI buyers will be able to review the 2011 model-year pickup rated on new government safety standards. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced Thursday, July 29, 2010, the complete lineup of 2011 model-year vehicles that will undergo a new safety ratings evaluation.
The 5-star safety rating program has been updated, and Ford F-150 MI shoppers will find the truck as well as 54 others have been reviewed under stricter safety standards. There will be only one overall safety score per vehicle tested, instead of the multiple star ratings.
The Detroit News reports the NHTSA will require new crash-test dummies, including one to resemble a “small woman” that will be placed in the front seat during a crash. The newspaper also cited a quote from NHTSA Administrator David Strickland made in April that said the vehicles tested account for 72 percent of auto sales by volume—as opposed to 85 percent of the 2010 model-year vehicles tested.
“The vehicles we are announcing today will be the first ones tested under the Department’s tougher, more rigorous 5-star ratings program,” Secretary Ray LaHood said in a press release. ”This new testing program significantly raises the safety bar for all vehicle manufacturers and will provide consumers with a great deal more safety information about the cars and trucks they want to buy.”
Ford F150 MI buyers should know it will be harder for vehicles to receive high safety marks under the standards in the new program, and some models may receive much lower ratings than previously achieved; however, because the ratings system has changed an apples-to-apples comparison of previous safety ratings versus the new ratings will be impossible.
The 55 vehicle lineup is comprised of 24 passenger cars, 20 sport utility vehicles, two vans, and nine pickups. The updated testing program will give additional information on advanced crash avoidance technologies, such as lane departure or frontal-crash warning systems.
The pickup trucks being tested include the 2011:
Ram 1500 Crew Cab
Ram 1500 Quad Cab
Ford F-150 Super Cab
Ford F-150 Super Crew Cab
Ford Ranger Extended Cab
Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Extended Cab
Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Crew Cab
Toyota Tacoma Double Cab
Toyota Tundra Double Cab
The 24 passenger cars being tested are the 2011:
BMW 5 Series
Dodge Caliber
Ford Fiesta
Ford Fusion
Ford Taurus
Chevrolet Cruze
Chevrolet Malibu
Buick Lucerne
Honda Accord
Honda Civic
Hyundai Sonata
Kia Forte
Kia Optima
Mazda Mazda3
Infiniti M37
Nissan Altima
Nissan Sentra
Nissan Versa
Toyota Camry
Toyota Corolla
Toyota Prius
Audi A4
Volkswagen Jetta
2011 mode-year vans being tested are the:
Honda Odyssey
Toyota Sienna
And 2011 SUVs will be the:
Jeep Grand Cherokee
Ford Edge
Ford Escape
Chevrolet Tahoe
Chevrolet Traverse
Chevrolet Equinox
Acura MDX
Honda CR-V
Honda Pilot
Kia Sorento
Kia Soul
Nissan Murano
Nissan Rogue
Subaru Forester
Subaru Outback
Lexus RX350
Toyota Highlander
Toyota RAV4
Toyota Venza
Volvo XC60
The NHTSA will post the results as they become available on their website. Visit http://www.miautotimes.com for further news coverage as more information becomes available.
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