Dodge Durango snags Top Safety Pick laurels from IIHS [w/video]
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August 3, 2011 by Dodge Blogger · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Safety , Chrysler , Dodge Chalk one up in the win column for Chrysler . The 2011 Dodge Durango has earned the title of Top Safety Pick from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety . That’s a nice step forward over previous generations, which failed to achieve the honor. Now, however, any Durango built after May of 2011 can wear the safety crown proudly. In order to get the Top Safety Pick award, the 2011 Dodge Durango needed to score a ‘good’ rating in front, side, rollover and rear crash tests. That’s precisely what it did, and in doing so, it joins seven other Chrysler models that also earned the title of Top Safety Pick. The Durango can stand alongside the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee , Chrysler 300 , Dodge Charger , Chrysler 200 sedan , Dodge Avenger , Dodge Journey and Jeep Patriot (when equipped with available seat mounted side airbags). Check out the video of the side impact test after the jump. Be sure to read the full press release from the IIHS after the jump , and check out the gallery of the particular 2011 Dodge Durango that was put out to pasture for the good of the model. Continue reading Dodge Durango snags Top Safety Pick laurels from IIHS [w/video] Dodge Durango snags Top Safety Pick laurels from IIHS [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 03 Aug 2011 16:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Chrysler joins Ford, backs hand-held cellphone ban
July 20, 2011 by Dodge Blogger · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Safety , Technology , Chrysler Chrysler has joined Ford in backing a federal ban on the use of hand-held mobile phones while driving. According to The Detroit News , Chrysler, Ford and Verizon Wireless have all announced their support of the Safe Drivers Act of 2011 . The bill, sponsored by Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D, NY), would require the Transportation Department to study the impact of distracted driving over two years, especially on younger drivers. After that time, the agency would make a recommendation on minimum federal standards to ban cell-phone use while driving and appropriate penalties. That’s in spite of recent research by the Governor’s Highway Safety Association that indicates distracted-driving legislation has had little to know actual impact on phone use behind the wheel. Still, as The Detroit News points out, nine states and the District of Columbia have enacted laws aimed squarely at cell phone use. A federal standard would require all states to enforce the same penalties. General Motors , meanwhile, has declined to support the bill, opting instead to back Oprah Winfrey’s efforts on distracted driving awareness. Chrysler joins Ford, backs hand-held cellphone ban originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 19 Jul 2011 08:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Ford F-150, Toyota Tundra earn IIHS Top Safety Pick Awards
May 13, 2011 by Dodge Blogger · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Truck , Safety , Chevrolet , Dodge , Ford , GMC , Nissan , Toyota IIHS Full-Size Pickup Rollover Crash Testing – Click above for high-res image gallery Like their body-on-frame SUV cousins, full-size pickup trucks are more prone to roll over than a standard passenger car. That’s exactly why it’s so important to have a vehicle that earns good marks in roof-strength tests. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has just released the data on its recent volley of tests on full-size pickup trucks, and both the 2011 Ford F-150 and 2011 Toyota Tundra earned the coveted Top Safety Pick designation. The vehicles earned the highest possible rating of ‘good’ in the institutes crush test, where a large steel plate is pressed against one corner of the roof to calculate a strength-to-weight ratio. Meanwhile, the 2011 Nissan Titan took home an acceptable rating in the rollover evaluation while the 2011 Chevrolet Silverado , 2011 GMC Sierra and 2011 Ram 1500 netted marginal scores. IIHS says that the roof on the Toyota Tundra stood up to 4.5 times the truck’s weight while the F-150 handled 4.7 times the pressure. A vehicle must withstand 4 times its weight before five-inches of crush is detected before being awarded a Good rating. Hit the jump for the full press release. Continue reading Ford F-150, Toyota Tundra earn IIHS Top Safety Pick Awards Ford F-150, Toyota Tundra earn IIHS Top Safety Pick Awards originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 12 May 2011 18:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
