The I-Pace is not only officially good for the environment, but also provides high levels of safety in an impact, says Euro NCAP following its latest round of crash safety tests, in which the I-PACE received the maximum five stars.
STAY SAFE IN AN I-PACE
Jaguar’s first electric car scored 91 percent for adult occupant protection, 81 percent for child occupant protection, 81 percent for safety assist, and scored maximum points for both the side barrier impact and the more severe side pole test (simulating skidding sideways into a tree/post), with good protection of all critical body areas.
Simon Black, senior project leader, body engineering at Jaguar Land Rover, was delighted with the results, which come after the I-PACE has already received awards for its design, performance and handling. He said, “This latest award from Euro NCAP confirms the I-PACE’s exceptional safety standards.
The SUV has been expertly engineered with a lightweight aluminium body structure and integrated battery pack to provide outstanding crash protection for occupants. Safety is our biggest priority and it is fantastic to see the Euro NCAP results reflect this.” Frontal crashes are responsible for more deaths and serious injuries than any other accident type. A typical scenario is a head-on collision between two oncoming cars at moderately high speeds. NCAP’s report confirms that the I-PACE’s passenger compartment remains stable in such an impact.
The full-width rigid barrier test, in which the I-PACE was driven into a rigid barrier at 50km/h, places high demands on the restraint systems. Strict limits placed on the decelerations of the chest and on the degree of chest deflection have encouraged manufacturers to fit more sophisticated restraints, which must be, “stiff enough to restrain a male dummy in the 64km/h test and one that is compliant enough not to put injuriously high deceleration forces on a small female.” The protection of the chest was adequate for both the driver and rear passenger, and protection of all other critical body areas was good.
In both the side barrier impact and the more severe side pole test, maximum points were scored, with good protection of all critical body areas.
Tests are also carried out by Euro NCAP to, “promote best-practice seat and head restraint design.” Whiplash injuries, associated with rapid and excessive distortion of the spine, can be long lasting and extremely debilitating, but are also common. Most occur in low-speed, rear-end collisions. Reassuringly, the I-PACE’s front seats and head restraints demonstrated good protection against whiplash injuries in the event of a rear-end collision, although a geometric assessment of the rear seats indicated marginal whiplash protection. The standard-fit autonomous emergency braking system performed well in tests at low speeds, typical of city driving.
Michiel van Ratingen, secretary general at Euro NCAP, summed up the tests by saying, “The I-PACE demonstrates that future vehicles will provide high levels of safety.” If you are interested in learning more about the tests, go to www.euroncap.com.
THE SUV PROVIDES OUTSTANDING CRASH PROTECTION FOR OCCUPANTS
