Toyota Issuing Fixes to Improve Crash Test Scores
After receiving poor scores in the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety’s (IIHS) small-overlap crash test, Toyota is working to introduce quick fixes for many of its volume models.
Back in December, both the 2013 Toyota Camry and 2013 Prius V were rated at the lowest possible level by the IIHS, while the 2013 Toyota RAV4 followed suit in July. “We are now implementing some design countermeasures to improve our small overlap results,” said Osamu Nagata, CEO of Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America.
SEE ALSO: 2013 Toyota RAV4 Flunks Small Overlap Test
Nagata confirmed that changes are coming to the RAV4, but would not comment directly on which other vehicles would get the updates. “Each vehicle has its own countermeasure schedule,” Nagata said. “As soon as designs are ready and parts are fixed, we’ll have running changes for any vehicle, not only the RAV4.” Structural parts will be strengthened in the affected vehicles.
The small overlap crash test consists of running 25 percent of a vehicle’s front end into a 5-foot-tall rigid barrier at 40 mph.
[Source: Automotive News]
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Stephen covers all of the day-to-day events of the industry as the News Editor at AutoGuide, along with being the AG truck expert. His truck knowledge comes from working long days on the woodlot with pickups and driving straight trucks professionally. When not at his desk, Steve can be found playing his bass or riding his snowmobile or Sea-Doo. Find Stephen on <A title="@Selmer07 on Twitter" href="http://www.twitter.com/selmer07">Twitter</A> and <A title="Stephen on Google+" href="http://plus.google.com/117833131531784822251?rel=author">Google+</A>
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