Zero Stars: Watch These Indian-Market Cars Prove What Death Traps They Are
Three versions of a Renault hatchback spectacularly failed their frontal crash tests in India, earning them zero out of five stars, even with an available airbag.
It’s food for thought for the 125,000 Indian buyers who placed orders for the subcompact coffin, but the Renault Kwid isn’t alone in flunking Global NCAP testing in that car-hungry country.
The Maruti Suzuki Celerio, Maruti Suzuki Eeco, Mahindra Scorpio and Hyundai Eon also failed to earn a single star, reports Business Standard.
Airbags aside, the main problem with these cheap vehicles is their lack of a rigid bodyshell. Without that protection, there’s little to stop a vehicle from crumpling all the way to the backseat. Global NCAP said the vehicle bodies were unstable, adding that the driver of each vehicle would suffer life-threatening injuries in a similar crash.
The Indian frontal tests were performed at 40 miles per hour. Imagine a head-on collision between two of these vehicles.
In response to its vehicle pooping the safety bed, Renault India stated it was “committed” to complying with the country’s looming 2017 crash test regulations for new vehicles.
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The Celero looked plenty rigid in the body, just the dash wouldn't sit still. :)
The Celerio seems almost too rigid, if anything. The roof stays completely intact, even the windshield is hardly shattered. Anyway, there's not much space to dispell the crash energy. What really bothers me though is reading through the comments here. It is incredible how harsh people have become. Lots of aggressive comments, pre-emptive strikes, and name-calling. I know this is the internet, but the car web can do much better. C'mon!
The fact is that the only legitimate function of the government is to PROTECT its citizens from those who practice or threaten violence, theft, fraud, and abuse by other people, and protect its citizens from attack from other countries. Every other activity of the government is unconstitutional, and therefore illegal, no matter what congress, the president, and (increasingly) black-robed perverts on the federal courts deign to decree. Our country will be brought back to reality soon, whether by global or civil war, or by financial collapse. Ever wonder why there was no "gay rights movement" in the 30s or 40s ? It was because people were busy surviving- first, the Great Depression, and then World War II. To quote Bob Dylan, "It's a hard rain gonna fall." .
Where were we ? Oh, yeah...cars, right.... Anywhoo...I believe these tests are run with empty gas tanks and engines turned off. If that is the case one can only wince at the fiery death awaiting any unfortunate survivor inside these deathtraps. Watching the A pillars pushing the roofline back and up was not a pleasant experience...