Feds tip in $5m to ANCAP

THE Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) has received an extra $5 million in federal funding for more crash tests on new vehicles entering the Australian market.

The crash-test regime receives funding from a variety of sources, including the New Zealand government, Australian state government road and transport authorities, the Victorian Transport Accident Commission, NRMA Insurance, the FIA Foundation and Australian and New Zealand automobile clubs.

Federal transport minister Anthony Albanese this week announced that the Rudd government was “joining forces” with existing supporters and becoming a full member of ANCAP “to drive home the safety message”.

The funding will be allocated over four years and will enable ANCAP to almost double the number of crash tests it performs each year, from 10 to 15 to around 25 tests.

“We are committed to improving safety on our roads and cutting the carnage through a multi-layered approach – safer vehicles, safer drivers and safer roads,” Mr Albanese said.

“This is one more step we are taking to save lives and prevent injury on our roads.”

ANCAP chairman Lauchlan McIntosh described the federal government funding as “a real fillip for new-car buyers and testimony to the important role ANCAP plays in testing and rating new cars for safety”.

“ANCAP is now working closely with most sections of the automotive industry in ensuring safety is built into new cars on the Australian market,” he said.

“This partnership with the government will allow us to ensure the latest safety features are available for new car buyers.”

From top: Alfa Romeo Guilietta, BMW 5 Series and Mazda CX-7.

The ANCAP announcement comes as the latest European NCAP crash tests show the new-generation BMW 5 Series – which reaches Australian showrooms this month – and Alfa Romeo’s forthcoming 147-replacing Giulietta have both received a maximum five-star safety rating.

Meanwhile, overseas reports indicate Mazda’s CX-7 SUV received a four-star rating from Euro NCAP, coming in for criticism for poor protection against whiplash.

Alfa Romeo said the Giulietta, which is due on sale in Australia in the final quarter of 2010, achieved a class-leading result with an overall score of 87 out of 100, describing it as “an extraordinary result that makes it the safest compact ever”.

BMW also used the result to claim its new 5 Series is the “benchmark in this discipline”. Of particular note was the 100 per cent rating it achieved in the new Safety Assist section of the test, which takes into account the level of standard safety equipment.

It also said the 5 Series scored maximum points for occupant protection for children, while the new model’s ‘active bonnet’ boosted its score in the pedestrian protection section of the test.