The Acura RL luxury performance sedan was today awarded the highest rating given by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for side impact crash protection. The GOOD rating validates Acura's extensive efforts and commitment to creating vehicles that provide an extraordinary measure of safety.
According to IIHS, its results show a range of performance in how well large cars are designed to protect people in serious side crashes. IIHS reports that side impacts are the second most common fatal crash type after frontal crashes.
The latest GOOD rating in SICE adds to the Acura's existing GOOD rating for IIHS' frontal offset impact test. Further evidence to the RL's outstanding safety is the RL's 5-Star rating (the highest rating possible) in all three of the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) governmental crash tests that include front impact, side impact, and rollover tests.
The IIHS' rigorous Side Impact Collision Evaluation (SICE) test is expressed with performance ratings of good, acceptable, marginal, or poor based on a crash test in which a barrier designed to replicate the front end of a typical SUV or pickup truck strikes the tested vehicle in the side at 31 mph.
A key component to the RL's outstanding NHTSA and IIHS crash test ratings comes from its Advanced Compatibility Engineering ™ (ACE ™) body structure. ACE ™ features a frame structure composed of a highly efficient energy-absorbing main frame, an upper frame that absorbs the higher up part of the collision energy, and a lower member that helps prevent misalignment of the frames of the vehicles involved. Acura's ACE™ body structure is also featured with the MDX and RDX luxury SUV's, and both received the IIHS' TOP SAFETY PICK award.
In addition, the RL offers as standard features the latest generation of dual-stage, dual-threshold front airbags for the driver and front passenger, side airbags for the driver and front passenger, plus side curtain airbags for all outboard occupants.
Acura offers a full line of technologically advanced performance luxury vehicles through a network of 268 dealers within the United States. The 2008 Acura lineup features five distinctive models including the RL luxury performance sedan, the TL performance luxury sedan, the TSX sports sedan, the turbocharged RDX luxury crossover SUV and the award-winning MDX luxury sport utility vehicle.
For additional information about Acura vehicles, please visit www.acura.com. For media inquiries please go to www.acuranews.com.
