Diverse News 2007®

2008 Vehicle Top Safety Awards

Number Of Winners Increases; Pickups Eligible For First Time

November 2007 - (Medialink) - Thirty-four vehicles earn the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's TOP SAFETY PICK award for 2008. The award recognizes vehicles that do the best job of protecting people in front, side, and rear crashes based on ratings in the Institute's tests. Winners also have to be equipped with electronic stability control (ESC), which research shows can significantly reduce the risk of crashing.

Compared with last year, automakers have more than doubled the number of vehicles that meet criteria for TOP SAFETY PICK. At the beginning of the 2007 model year, 13 models qualified. But, as manufacturers have made changes and introduced new and safer vehicle designs, 10 additional vehicles qualified during the year. Now, another 11 vehicles are being added to the list for 2008. Designating winners based on the tests makes it easier for consumers to identify vehicles that afford the best overall protection without sifting through multiple sets of comparative crash test results.

All current car and minivan models, small and midsize SUVs, and small and large pickup trucks are eligible to win TOP SAFETY PICK. Eight vehicles from Ford and its subsidiary, Volvo, make the list of winners for 2008. Seven winners are from Honda and its subsidiary, Acura.

For more information, go to www.iihs.org.

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