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June 24, 2004
The Saab 9-3 Convertible joins the 9-3 Sport Sedan and Saab 9-5 in achieving a maximum five-star assessment under the EuroNCAP collision test program.
Saab Automobile's leading role in car safety was confirmed when the Saab 9-3 Convertible received five stars for occupant safety, the highest rating possible in EuroNCAP's frontal and side-impact crash tests.
The result, announced at a EuroNCAP press conference in Prague, gives Saab an impressive all five-star product line-up in Europe, including the 9-3 Convertible, 9-3 Sport Sedan and the Saab 9-5.
The 9-3 Convertible was developed alongside its sedan sibling and, despite its drophead design, Saab engineers adopted the same crash safety performance targets for both products. They were able to meet such tough requirements for a convertible by incorporating substantial reinforcements of the A-pillars; the chassis cross-members, including a completely new box structure behind the rear seat; lower B-pillars and side sills. The Convertible's five-star EuroNCAP rating is now an indication of the success of their work.
In addition, while developing the Convertible's DynaCage occupant protection system, Saab helped pioneer one of the world's most comprehensive rollover crash test programs. Pop-up rear roll bars, seatbelt pre-tensioning and the A-pillars, supporting a strengthened windscreen header rail, are all combined under Dynacage to provide an integrated safety system in the event of a roll-over or its possible onset.
Although Saab welcomes EuroNCAP's independent findings, its work in crash impact protection will continue to be based on a 'Real-Life Safety' strategy, which involves studying the outcome of actual crashes in everyday road conditions. In such a way, Saab does focus its efforts on much more than achieving a favorable EuroNCAP test result.
"EuroNCAP is an independent organization whose evaluations contain accessible and objective information which can be a useful guide for consumers," says Per Lenhoff, Head of Crash Safety Development at Saab Automobile. "However, our Real Life Safety concept is, as always, the controlling factor which guides crash safety development at Saab."
The Saab 9-3 Convertible is not the only GM product to achieve five stars in the latest EuroNCAP results. The new Opel Astra also received the highest possible rating, giving it a 'best-in-class' result for sedans within EuroNCAP's 'small family car' category.
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