- India-made Volkswagen Virtus scores 5 stars in Latin NCAP crash test [Video]India-made Volkswagen Vir…
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India-made Volkswagen Virtus scores 5 stars in Latin NCAP crash test [Video]
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Published: December 2, 2022
Latin N-CAP has tested made-in-India Volkswagen Virtus that is on sale in the Mexico market. The Virtus has received a 5 star safety rating. While the made-in-India Virtus is based on the same platform, it has a number of additional standard equipment and features.
The Latin N-CAP has tested the base variant of the Virtus that is on sale in the Mexico market. The car has recieved a five-star rating. According to the official test report of Latin N-CAP, the all-new Virtus offers a good protection to driver and passenger’s head, neck and knees. The driver’s chest has adequate protection and passenger’s chest has good protection. The body shell is rated as stable and tghe footwell area is also rated as stable.
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Side impact: Head, abdomen and pelvis protection was good, chest protection was adequate. Side Pole Impact: head, abdomen and pelvis protection was good, chest protection was marginal. Whiplash: the seat showed good protection to the adult neck.
Differences between the Indian and Latin America model
The base variant of the Volkswagen Virtus sold in India gets dual airbags while the Latin American model gets six airbags as standard. The higher-end variants of the Virtus in India get six airbags though. Also, the Latin American model is LHD while the Indian model is RHD. Additionally, there is optional Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) available in the Latin American model, which is not available even as an option in India.
India-spec model likely to score 5-star
Global N-CAP upgraded its crash test norms and the all-new Volkswagen Taigun and the Skoda Kushaq became the first cars to receive five-star ratings under the new test protocols. Since the Kushaq and the Taigun use the same MQB A0 IN platform, it is highly likely that the Indians-spec sedan counterparts – Skoda Slavia and Volkswagen Virtus also recieve similar crash test ratings.
Both Skoda Kushaq and Volkswagen Taigun are the first vehicles to be made on the MQB A0 IN platform. It is made for the India platform and is derived from the MQB A0 platform that underpins a large number of cars in the international markets. While the platform is derived to make sure that they are cost-effective for developing markets like India, the latest crash tests by Global NCAP ensure that the new platform is as safe as the European counterparts.
Updated crash tests Global NCAP
Global N-CAP used to test the cars with single front crash test at a speed of 64 km/h. Unde rthe new regulations, side crash impacts have been added. Also, the rules are now more stringent with the front test, Global NCAP has become stricter in calculating the chest load readings on the crash test dummies.
The side impact tests are now mandatory. However, if the car scores zero stars in frontal crash test, the Global N-CAP will not be under obligation to perform a side-impact test on the vehicle. Child dummies are now mandatory for side impact tests. The new crash test also takes the pole side impact into consideration. Pedestrian protection is a must on all the new models and manufacturers need to get validation for UN127 or GTR9 testes.
Global NCAP also requires manufacturers to make the ESC standard across the variants within two years of the test publication. With such stricter rules, the Global NCAP tests are now much more closer to the other crash test agencies in terms of crash test requirements.
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