ALL SUBARU MODELS RECEIVE IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK (TSP) FOR 2015

FIVE MODELS ALSO RATED TSP + BY INSTITUTE

Subaru of America, Inc. announced that all seven 2015 Subaru models; the Legacy, Outback, Forester, BRZ, WRX/STI, Impreza and XV Crosstrek, have earned 2015 Top Safety Pick awards from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Subaru is the only manufacturer with IIHS Top Safety Picks for all models for six years running (2010-2015).

Furthermore, five of the seven vehicles also earn 2015 Top Safety Pick+ status; Subaru Forester, Legacy, Outback, Impreza, and XV Crosstrek, when equipped with optional EyeSight® Driver Assist Technology. 

Top Safety Pick+ (TSP+) is the highest standard of safety the Institute can award and the 2015 Subaru Legacy, Outback, Forester, Impreza and XV Crosstrek were awarded the highest possible rating of “Superior” for front crash prevention. When equipped with the optional EyeSight, these five 2015 models also earned 6 of 6 points for front crash prevention. 

Impreza and XV Crosstrek are the only cars in the entire small car category to achieve the “Superior” rating. Beginning with model year 2015, the Impreza and XV Crosstrek joined the Legacy, Outback and Forester carlines in offering the award-winning EyeSight® Driver Assist Technology, which includes Adaptive Cruise Control, Pre-Collision Braking and Vehicle Lane Departure Warning. Subaru EyeSight was the first system ever to use only stereo camera technology to detect objects such as vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists. Since its U.S. debut in 2012, features available on this system have been highly praised.

“We are very pleased that the IIHS has recognized Subaru in their recent tests,” said Thomas J. Doll, president and chief operating officer, Subaru of America, Inc. “Safety is a long-time hallmark of the Subaru brand and we are proud to have the IIHS’ 2015 Top Safety Pick endorsement for every vehicle in our line-up.”

To win 2015 Top Safety Pick, a vehicle must have “Good” ratings in all four tests of high-speed front and side crash tests, a rollover test, and evaluations of seat/head restraints for protection against neck injuries in rear impacts. In addition, “Good” or “Acceptable” performance in a small overlap front test introduced in 2012 is also required. The same level of performance in those tests, along with an “Advanced” or “Superior” rating for front crash prevention, is required for the higher accolade, 2015 Top Safety Pick+.

Visit Kupper Subaru in Mandan or view our award-winning lineup online at kupper-subaru.com. 

HONDA ODYSSEY RECEIVED HIGHEST RATING

 The 2014 Honda Odyssey is the only minivan to earn the highest possible ratings of GOOD in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's (IIHS) stringent small overlap frontal crash test and is a 2014 TOP SAFETY PICK+ designation when equipped with optional front crash prevention. The Honda Odyssey became the first minivan to earn the TOP SAFETY PICK+ rating in August of 2013. The IIHS created the small overlap frontal crash test to replicate what happens when the front corner of a car collides with another vehicle or an object such as a tree or utility pole.

"Honda's commitment to the safety of its customers is clearly demonstrated by the segment-leading safety ratings of the Odyssey," said Art St. Cyr, vice president of auto operations at American Honda Motor Co., Inc. "As the only minivan to offer the highest possible IIHS-rated protection in small overlap crashes, car buyers can look to the Honda Odyssey to securely and safely transport what's most important – their families."

Already the benchmark minivan in terms of fuel efficiency and innovative features, occupant safety for the 2014 Honda Odyssey is further enhanced through the next-generation Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure. The second-generation of the ACE™ body structure has also been applied to the 2014 Honda Accord Coupe and Sedan and the 2014 Civic Sedan models that previously achieved the TOP SAFETY PICK+ rating.

The next-generation ACE™ body structure improves frontal crash energy management through a wider range of offset and oblique collision modes. In addition, other body reinforcements work in tandem with the strengthened body structure to better maintain the occupant compartment volume during frontal collisions by providing additional crash energy pathways to help mitigate the forces transmitted to the passenger compartment.

Standard safety equipment on all Honda and Acura models include Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®) with traction control; an Anti-lock Braking System (ABS); side curtain airbags (some vehicles equipped with a rollover sensor as well); dual-stage, multiple-threshold front airbags; and front side airbags.

While Honda has made structural improvements to the 2014 Odyssey, Honda also has applied a new type of side curtain airbag that includes a front chamber design providing additional protection in situations where occupants move in a more angled outboard trajectory, such as those that might occur in oblique or offset crashes.

The company also is offering advanced driver-assistive technologies such as LaneWatch™, Forward Collision Warning and Lane Departure Warning as available technologies to a broad segment of its product lineup. Also, Honda has applied rearview cameras as standard equipment to 100-percent of its vehicle lineup for the 2015 model year.

12 GM Models Make IIHS’ First-Ever List of Recommended Used Cars for Teens

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety named 12 models from current and former GM brands at Kupper Chevrolet to its first-ever list of recommended used vehicles for Bismarck-Mandan and surrounding area teen drivers.

Supported by automobile insurance companies, the IIHS released its recommended vehicles with the results of a new survey. Results of the survey showed that half of parents said their teens drive 2006 model year or earlier vehicles.

“We know many teens are driving the older, smaller vehicles in the family fleet are less likely to afford optimal crash protection,” said IIHS Senior Vice President for Research Anne Mccartt. “The vehicles from GM brands on our list provide teens with important safety features across all family budgets.”

IIHS did not recommend any brand’s mini or small cars, or high-horsepower vehicles.

“These IIHS recommendations will help guide our customers as they seek safe and affordable transportation for their young drivers,” said Alan Batey, president of GM North America. “The technologies that help inexperienced teen drivers in many cases avoid crashes are found on many of our late-model vehicles.”

GM brands were recommended in two categories – Best Choices ($20,000 and under) and Good Choices ($10,000 and under) – and include Chevrolet (three models), Buick (four models), GMC (two models) and the discontinued Saab (one) and Saturn (two) brands. Pricing excludes tax, title and license and is based on oldest model and lowest trim levels in Good condition or Better condition found on Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com. They are:

Best Choices: Earned Good ratings in IIHS moderate overlap front, side, roof strength and head restraint tests; earned at least four out of five stars in federal government crash tests; and offer standard electronic stability, which helps drivers prevent rollover crashes.

Large Cars

• 2011 and later Buick Regal
• 2010 and later Buick LaCrosse

Midsize Cars

• 2010 and later Chevrolet Malibu built after November 2009
• 2012 and later Buick Verano

Midsize SUVs

• 2010 and later GMC Terrain
• 2010 and later Chevrolet Equinox

Large SUVs (GM brands swept this category)

• 2011 and later Buick Enclave
• 2011 and later GMC Acadia
• 2011 and later Chevrolet Traverse

“We are proud to be a part of the GM brand that continues to strive for outstanding safety performance in their vehicles,” said Used Car Sales Manager Rod Sandvig of Kupper Chevrolet. “As always, we are here for Bismarck-Mandan and surrounding area parents to discuss all options for teen drivers.”

Because behavior also influences traffic safety, GM and the GM Foundation are working to reduce injuries and fatalities to young drivers and passengers. In June, Safe Kids Worldwide released “Teens in Cars,” a research report funded as part of a $2-million grant from the GM Foundation. The report was based on a national survey of 1,000 teens between 13 and 19. Of those surveyed, one in four reported they do not use a seat belt all the time for reasons that range from not making it a habit to discomfort.

Visit www.kupper-chevrolet.com to view a complete list of our GM Certified Pre-Owned Inventory.

Chevrolet Malibu Earns IIHS 2014 Top Safety Pick+ Rating

IIHS says + models are best vehicle choices for safety within size categories

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has named the 2014 Chevrolet Malibu with Forward Collision Alert, which is available at Kupper Chevrolet, a Top Safety Pick+. The distinction requires cars to receive high marks in crash worthiness to achieve a basic, advanced or superior rating for frontal crash prevention.

The crash tests consist of front, side, roof strength and head restraint tests. In order to receive a 2014 Top Safety Pick+ status, the 2014 Malibu’s frontal crash protection system had to meet IIHS requirements. The sedan also needed to receive “Good” rating in four of five crash tests. The 2014 Malibu exceeded those requirements, achieving a “Good” rating in all five tests.

The 2014 Malibu’s available Advanced Safety Package, which includes active safety features like Forward Collision Alert, Lane Departure Warning, and Side Blind Zone Alert, contributed to its Top Safety Pick+ consideration. The Forward Collision Alert system uses camera and radar systems to monitor the distance to the car in front of the Malibu, and will sound an alert if it senses a possible collision. The Advanced Safety Package is available on 2014 Malibu 2LT, 3LT, and LTZ models.

The IIHS simulates certain types of crashes that can occur on the road. They then evaluate the damage that occurred on key areas of the vehicle’s body structure and the risk of occupant injury. 

For instance, the Side Impact Crashworthiness Evaluation Crash Test consists of rolling a 3,300-pound sled into the side of a test vehicle at 31.1 mph.

Similarly, in the Moderate Overlap Frontal Crashworthiness Evaluation Crash Test, the test vehicle runs into a wall offset from the vehicle’s centerline.

The Chevrolet Malibu has been a Top Safety Pick for the past four years, but 2014 marks the first time it has been named a Top Safety Pick+. It is the second Chevrolet car to receive the Top Safety Pick+ rating, following the Spark mini car.