SATURN SL EARNS DOUBLE 5-STAR RATING IN GOVERNMENT FRONTAL COLLISION TESTS

TROY, Mich. -- The 1999 Saturn SL sedan has earned 5-Star ratings for both driver and passenger protection in frontal collision tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). To date, the Saturn SL is the only model in the light passenger car category to earn double 5-Star ratings in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). A 5-Star rating indicates the best protection in the NCAP frontal test for vehicles within the same weight class.

"These results reflect Saturn's continuing commitment to safety," said Joe Kennedy, Saturn vice president - sales, service and marketing. "While these NHTSA tests represent only one set of data, Saturn puts a strong emphasis on many active and passive systems that enhance safety. The results of these efforts are reflected in insurance industry accident data as well as in government tests. Our belief in making safety a priority even in small cars is part of the Saturn difference."

Saturn customers indicate that safety is a high priority for them, continued Kennedy. "Research indicates that Saturn customers are third only to Volvo and Saab customers in listing safety as among their top three reasons for purchase."

In designing its models, Saturn conducts crash tests that replicate a wide variety of potential, real-world circumstances. These include front, side and rear fixed-barrier collisions, along with car-to-car crashes and crashes involving moving barriers and poles. In addition, different size crash test dummies are used to help provide occupant protection to infants, children, women and men.

The 1998 Saturn SL had earned a 5-Star rating for the driver's side and 4-Star for passenger side protection in NCAP frontal testing. "Through a concerted continuous improvement effort, the Saturn organization has been able to enhance our safety objectives," said Jim Ulrich, Saturn vice president - engineering. "An example of this continuous improvement is a revised seat belt system for 1999 models that reduces compression loads on the chest."

One of Saturn's key safety attributes is its steel space-frame body structure, which is engineered to help maintain the integrity of the passenger compartment in the event of a crash, while incorporating front and rear crumple zones that help absorb and isolate impact energy.

Other important Saturn safety features include: reinforced steel side pillars and other side-impact protection; dual front reduced-force air bags designed to be used with a shoulder/lap belt system; daytime running lamps for increased visibility, and an adjustable child-safety seat-retention mechanism to make it easier to properly install a child seat in the rear. Saturn also offers an optional anti-lock braking system with traction control, helping drivers in crash avoidance.

NHTSA conducts NCAP testing on about 35 new models every year to find out how well they would protect the driver and front-seat passenger in a severe head-on crash. While federal law requires all passenger cars to pass a 30 mph frontal crash test, NCAP tests involve crashing into a fixed barrier at a speed of 35 mph. The impact is the same as two identical vehicles hitting head-on at a closing speed of 70 mph.

Each test vehicle carries two dummies the size and weight of an average adult male that contain instruments to measure forces and impacts on their heads, chests and thighs. Those measures form the basis for the NCAP "star ratings."