The Dacia Jogger has been trashed by safety experts after crash tests. Three vehicles feature in the latest round of Euro NCAP safety testing: the DS4, Dacia Jogger and Honda HRV. The DS4, which was originally a four-star car, has been re-tested with the optional safety pack and achieved a five-star rating, scoring highly across all assessment … [Read more...]
GB experts develop autonomous safety ratings
Accident experts in Britain are working on the world’s first rating system for the safety of autonomous cars. Crash testers at Thatcham Research outside Reading have worked with global systems engineers, car makers and the Law Commission to draw up the safety ratings which could be applied to models in the same way as the familiar Euro NCap stars. The … [Read more...]
Newslines 25 January
Production of the Rasa hydrogen car by Riversimple of Llandrindod Wells has been pushed back from this year to 2024. That is when it anticipates a manufacturing plant with 220 people will be completed in Mid Wales and the company can also look at adding a saloon and commercial vehicle to the current coupe offering, founder Hugo Spowers has told media. The … [Read more...]
Serious concerns over Renault Zoe accident protection
The final round of Euro NCAP testing of 2021 reveals some sobering safety scores for two new vehicles from the carmaker who brought five-star safety to the market 20 years ago. The Renault Zoe and Dacia Spring have achieved zero-stars and one-star respectively in safety assessments. The Renault Zoe, a vehicle in the Supermini class, becomes only the … [Read more...]
Assisted Driving tech is getting better say testers
Thatcham Research and Euro NCAP are encouraged by the results of their latest Assisted Driving Gradings, which show all seven of the mainstream vehicle manufacturers whose cars were tested, are committed to fitting robust Assisted Driving technology at every price point. The world-first Assisted Driving Grading assessments were introduced in October 2020 … [Read more...]
Repairers are poorly prepared for rising EV sales
The steep rise in electric vehicle sales is a pivotal moment for all EV stakeholders, writes Adrian Watson, Head of Engineering Research at Thatcham Research. September 2021 was the UK’s best month ever for new battery electric vehicle (BEV) registrations, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. Not only did the 32,721 new BEV … [Read more...]
Drivers to get safety ratings for computer systems
Driving assistance systems will get specific safety tests and be rated for them. Zenzic, the organisation dedicated to accelerating the self-driving revolution in the UK, has announced funding for a proof-of-concept consumer safety rating for Automated Driving Systems, via Thatcham Research and CAM Testbed partners. Initially, the independent rating … [Read more...]
Chinese electric vans heading to UK next year
Two Chinese electric van brands will go on sale in Britain early next year with five year warranties. DFSK and Skywell models will be imported by Innovation Automotive, based in the Cotswolds, and CEO is Paul Brigden, formerly Operations Director of Mitsubishi Motors UK headquartered in Cirencester. The vehicles will be imported through Portbury, Bristol … [Read more...]
Breaking the code and confusion for car cover
Confusing technology terms are being explained through a new data tool for insurers and developed by Thatcham Research. The lack of data regarding the varying features of newer vehicle models can fundamentally affect an insurer’s understanding of vehicle risk and there are up to 50,000 possible variants recorded on cars since 2015. Many insurers struggle … [Read more...]
Self-driving cars too risky on UK roads, say safety experts
British government plans that could allow self-driving cars on highways as soon as 2021 would put lives at risk because the available automated technology falls well short of human driving capabilities, according to safety experts at UK insurance group Thatcham Research. "We don't believe that this technology adequately addresses what consumers will … [Read more...]
