Ford has won three out of a possible seven 2012 Euro NCAP best-in-class safety awards – more than any other car maker – with wins for the new Kuga, the new Transit Custom and the new B-Max.
The Kuga topped the SUV sector, the Transit Custom triumphed in the Business and Family Vans class, and the new B-Max was the joint winner in the small MPV category.
“Safety is a core value at Ford,” said Stuart Southgate, Ford automotive safety director. “For Euro NCAP to evaluate our vehicles and determine that they are segment leaders in their safety assessment is a wonderful recognition of the values and talent of our designers and engineers.”
Euro NCAP is Europe’s largest independent authority on vehicle safety. The awards reflect vehicle crash test performance and availability of advanced safety technologies. In 2012 the new B-Max, new Fiesta, new Kuga and new Transit Custom were each awarded a maximum five-star rating under Euro NCAP’s new crash test scoring system; and the Ranger and Focus retained five-star ratings awarded in 2011, against more stringent 2012 requirements.
The new Kuga achieved a score of 88 per cent for overall protection, the highest-ever rating for a mid-sized SUV, while the new Transit Custom achieved 77 per cent for overall protection, after becoming the first vehicle in its class to earn a five-star Euro NCAP rating that also applies to the new Tourneo Custom people mover.
The new B-Max achieved 83 per cent for overall protection. Ranger is the first and only pickup to achieve a five-star rating. Last year, Ford became the first car manufacturer to achieve a total of seven different Euro NCAP Advanced rewards in recognition of a wide range of technologies that Ford has introduced across a number of vehicles.
