Porsche Cayenne

Porsche will reveal the second generation Cayenne at the Geneva motor show next week. Longer and lighter than its predecessor, the new SUV is more powerful yet more fuel efficient than the model it replaces. It will also be available with a hybrid powertrain for the first time.
Though the changes appear to be subtle, the new Cayenne's design is now more closely aligned to that of other Porsche models. The front face employs similar headlamps as the Cayman and the LEDs, tucked into the upper corners of the gaping airdam, are akin to those on the recent 911. The rear end, however, with its taillamps bleeding over onto the rear fender, have an innate Japanese-like design quality. We hope they will be better experienced in the metal.

Along with the 48mm increase in length, the new car's wheelbase has also been extended by 40mm, offering occupants more space and variability inside. The most significant enhancement within the interior is the center console rising up to the front with its upright selector or gearshift lever, lending a more sporting character to the driver-oriented cockpit.

The new Cayenne will be available in Europe from May.

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Speakers confirmed for Interior Motives China Conference 2010

Beijing hosts this year's Interior Motives China Conference which takes place 21-22 April on the eve of the auto show. Click for larger images

Simon Loasby, director of design for VW China, will be presenting at the conference. VW has the largest sales of the Western OEMs in the market

The 2010 conference picks up from last year's event where Chery's director of styling, Li Chuanqun (above), questioned misconceptions from young Chinese designers that Western design is the modern way to go

Zhen Su Lin (far left), design director for Dongfeng Motor Corporation, discussed the iCar at the 2009 conference held in Shanghai

At last year's event, 27 of the world's foremost car design experts and nearly 250 delegates debated the future of Chinese car design

Top image (left) - Getty Images. Copyright: Sam Diephuis

Speakers are being confirmed for CDN's China conference this year, an event that seeks to bring together the changing design tones of global OEMs with the best of local design.

Titled ‘New brands and the search for a design identity', the conference will explore both global and Chinese influences in this exploding market, and include both international and Chinese design chiefs within global OEMs.

Rising talent Wulin Gaowa, senior designer at Beijing Automotive Technical Center (BATC) will be speaking at the event

Double Du, chief of the China design team for PSA Peugeot Citroën, will be participating

Robert Walker, project manager, PSA Peugeot Citroën China design studio

The event is hosted by CDN's print

magazine, Interior Motives, and takes place in Beijing on 21-22 April, just before the auto show opens to the press on 23 April. It is the third in an annual series of conferences from Car Design News.

Presenters will include both Simon Loasby and Cia Qian, respectively director of design for VW China, and head of the Shanghai design studio for the Shanghai VW joint venture. VW has the largest sales of the Western OEMs in the market.

Likewise, Double Du and Robert Walker, respectively chief of the China design team, and project manager in the China design studio, for PSA Peugeot Citroën will also be speaking.

New Chinese design will be represented by rising talent such as Wulin Gaowa, a graduate of both Qinghua and Pforzheim, who has experience at the Mercedes Technology Center in Sindelfingen and Italdesign Giugiaro in Italy. She is now a senior designer at BATC (Beijing Automotive Technical Center), the design hub for Beijing Auto Works, and will be at the conference together with the director of design and development at BATC, Shan Wei.

Last year's Interior Motives conference was in Shanghai, and saw lively debate about the nature of the so-called ‘C-factor' as the key to Chinese automotive design. Chery's director of styling Li Chuanqun told delegates that "there is a misconception from young Chinese designers that Western design is the modern way to go.

"When they see traditional Chinese references they somewhat look down on them. Experienced designers need to show them examples of old culture. We need to bring the tools and processes from the West, but want our Chinese nationals to draw on their own influence."

Progress towards that goal will be one of the measures to look for at 2010's event.

The conference is supported by sponsors Alcantara, Eagle Ottowa, Johnson Controls and Stile Bertone, and is organized in partnership with the Beijing Auto Show, an affiliate of CCPIT (the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade).

The Interior Motives China Conference is the only event where Western and domestic car makers talk exclusively about the interior design of cars. Find out more at the conference website, where you can register to attend. There will be simultaneous English/Mandarin translation.

The conference is one of a trio of Car Design News events taking place on the eve of the Beijing Auto Show. Also among them is the announcement and presentation ceremony for our China Design Awards, which will be held at a dinner on 21 April, the evening of the first conference day.

Related Articles:
Report: Interior Motives China Conference 2009 – Day 1
Report: Interior Motives China Conference 2009 – Day 2

Related Website:
http://china.interiormotivesconference.com

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Pforzheim Winter Degree Show 2010

Pforzheim University's winter degree show was held in the Congresshall complex in downtown Pforzheim. Click for larger images

1908 'Brutus' racing car on loan from the Sinsheim museum

Jun Hyuck Eoh and his 'New Smart Interior' concept

Rendering by MA student Jan Schmid (right) and Stransky Vojtech (left)

Sketch by BA student Strunz Korbinian

BMW 'Airic Airin' by Seung Mo Lim

Pforzheim University held its winter degree show earlier this month, taking over the Congresshall complex in downtown Pforzheim again, rather than the school itself, which is situated on the outskirts of the town. The German school's exhibition covered projects from five graduating Masters' students and eight BA students, with an increasing number of interior projects being tackled, especially by MA students.

MA student Dennis Rohm's 'Carat' concept

'Mercedes Design Spaceship' animation

'Mercedes Design Spaceship' by Zimo Yang

'New Smart Interior' animation

'Active Interior for Active People' by Raphael Gross

Concept animation by MA sudent Jan Schmid

The exhibition also included work from first-semester Masters students for a vehicle for the nearby spa town of Bad Herrenberg, as well as a ‘My First Mercedes' project from fourth and sixth semester undergraduates. In addition, a range of designs for a VW Cargo project from third semester students was shown, with work projected on a large screen. The entrance to the Congresshall was graced with the amazing ‘Brutus' racing car from the Sinsheim museum, a veritable supercar dating from 1908 with an incredible 46-liter BMW aircraft engine.

Projects from the graduating MA students included:

Mercedes Design Spaceship
Zimo Yang
After graduating from Tsinghua University in Beijing, Yang went on to take an Internship at Mercedes, working in interiors. This led to a final year project for a fanciful spaceship, a Virgin Galactic-type space trip capsule for four people. The 'passengers' are located in personal rigid 'sleeping bags', looking like kyacks or seed pods that can rotate to keep the occupant horizontal when in vertical flight mode and keep them rigidly located at all times. The 1:7.5 scale model was finished as a full interior/exterior mock-up, with an asymmetric window layout that affords 360 degree visibility for all occupants.

New Smart Interior
Jun Hyuck Eoh
Another full exterior/interior model using asymmetry, ‘Eddie' Eoh's project is a co-branding of a Smart car and Apple computer, set in a future where urban customers merely rent cars rather than buy them, accessing them via their iSmart PDA device. Unlike the current Smart, with its product design-inspired interior, Jun's interior set out to have very flowing lines and may be seen as a development of the currently popular Car2Go service in Ulm. The two-seat layout allows the passenger seat to stow behind that of the driver, opening up a large stowage space beside them if needed. The 1/3 model was beautifully finished with its asymmetric lift up canopy and a scale road atlas on the seat.

Active Interior for Active People
Raphael Gross
This was another interior project where a PDA device orders the most appropriate vehicle for the user's needs, with the car being automatically driven. "The assumption is that people just want to be passive when not driving a car," says Gross. "I wanted to prove the opposite: that people like to be active. So here they can create piezoelectricity to energize the vehicle, or challenge your passenger to a game". This is done by gripping a series of colored ribbons that flow around the interior, creating fun effects and colors to leave for the next user. An accompanying video showed examples of piezoelectric exhibits, including the Doewe Egberts interactive coffee machine from Dutch Design Week and the piano steps from a Scandinavian experiment, where 60 percent of passers chose the piano steps rather than tasking the escalator. "In future we'll have nano-scale piezoelectricity, woven into fabrics, generated in shoes while you walk".

BMW Airic Airin
Seung Mo Lim
This two-seater roadster explores fluid surfacing in a new way, using magnesium lightweight wire as a body cladding material. "The advantage could be to produce lower drag by encouraging airflow along the grooves, not unlike sharkskin or Speedo Fastskins," explains Lim. Interestingly, the wires were laid from the centerline of the hood outwards, so that they become increasingly distorted as they move over the various body contours onto the bodysides and around the wheelarches. The two passengers are in cockpits separated by a central windmilling fan mounted at 30 degrees that uses airflow from the rear diffuser to draw air from above through the fan to recover some energy to the motors.

'20/20' project by Harish Kumar. Click for larger images

'Status Quo' by Bastian Baudy

'Elementar Racer' by Dennis Kosik

'Audi Desert Offroader' by Khalid Hadad

'Mutation' by Daniel Lichtwald (left); Mercedes interior concept by BA student Sebastian Platzer (right)

'VW Katana' by Cemal Kurus

Photos: Nick Hull

20/20 project
Harish Kumar
This was the most abstract project on display, and explores how forthcoming haptic displays and interfaces might be used in an interior. "It aims to include blind people into the design team and gives sighted people an alternative experience of how to interact with the surrounding space," says Kumar.

Projects from the graduating BA students included:

Harish Kumar and his '20/20' concept

Personal mobility concept animation by MA student Sang Hoon Lee

Opel FLEXscha' by Dennis Brings

Concept animation by MA student Do Vale Rodrigo Ciossiani

Concept animation by Alan Tam

Animation by MA student Steven Bockmann

Animation by Jonathan Hodder

Status Quo
Bastian Baudy
This complex, highly-finished model comprises two cockpits separated by a solid membrane, with seats integrated into the tub as a series of faceted surfaces. The deeply recessed doors and roof appear as transparent frosted ice cubes and the steering column develops out of the windshield on an elongated tube. The rear is concave with a series of fragmented cubes to suggest the technology breaking out of the surfaces.

Opel Kite Surfer
Ji Won Jung
Another beautifully detailed exterior/interior model, designed for an Asiatic ecotown. This three-seater hydrofoil sports a center driving position, plus a sweeping cantilevered glass roof with exposed rear deck.

Opel FLEXscha
Dennis Brings
Another concept for southeast Asia, this resembles a giant two-seat Segway that can take alternative rear modules for different user needs. The model showed an interlocking rear module for two further passengers, sitting lower and wider than in front.

Elementar Racer
Dennis Kosik
This two-seat racer features a center body broken into strips that flow up the hood and disperse around the glasshouse, progressing into separate vanes at the rear. The resulting reptilian look to the face of car and surfaces is set off by big diameter wheels, with a strong negative camber.

Audi Desert Offroader
Khalid Hadad
Hadad's saucer-shaped body with high ground clearance and separated chassis is said to express lightweight and sportiness. The design took inspiration from solar racers, manta rays and the Desertec solar mirrors energy project in the Sahara. The idea is that water could be collected in the rear fenders to feed a turbine. "It's simple in the surfaces, very iconic, no gimmicks," he said.

VW Metropolis
Edwin Mailänder
This is a four-wheel tandem bug with separate drivetrain and close-coupled rear wheels. The idea is you buy the car and rent the technical parts with various power units available: a narrow rear track for a small engine, wider track for GTi power. The central driving seat can slide back to nest into the surrounding two rear seats to create a chill-out lounge area.

VW Katana
Cemal Kurus
The Katana is another plug-in drivetrain concept where the customer buys a bodyshell and rents the powertrain, like a mobile phone contract. Kurus also displayed a VW Up! model with similar front face. Both were painted clay models.

The Bachelor course covers the Transportation Design program in seven semesters, with students embarking on specialized transportation projects in their second semester. Bachelor students are encouraged to continue on the Masters Course, which comprises three semesters. The Masters course is taught in English and involves training in digital design workflows, running alongside the project work.

Related Articles:
Pforzheim University Summer Show 2009
Pforzheim University Winter Degree Show 2009

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Honda 3R-C concept

Honda 3R-C concept
Honda's new 3R-C concept, a single seat battery-powered electric vehicle, is set to make its world debut at the Geneva motor show next week. It will take center stage at the stand alongside the EV-N show car, U3-X electric personal mobility vehicle and the FCX Clarity, the Japanese automaker's fuel-cell electric vehicle.

Created by European designers working at Honda's Research and Design facility in Milan, the three-wheeled 3R-C concept envisions a future minimal urban transport vehicle for one person. The battery electric drivetrain is mounted low in the three wheeled chassis, keeping the center of gravity low and improving stability.

With a clear canopy that doubles as a protective windsheild and covers the driver's seat while the vehicle is parked, the 3R-C's designers also created a flexible cover that surrounds the upper torso to reduce exposure and improve comfort. The 3R-C also features a 'safety shell' seat with high sides - to reduce the threat from side impact - and a lockable storage area ahead of the driver.

Related Article:

Design Review: Honda EV-N concept

Review By cardesignnews

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Test Drive: 2010 Nissan Altima 3.5 SR

By: Josh Sadlier , Associate Editor www.edmunds.com

Vehicle Tested: 2010 Nissan Altima 3.5 SR 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl CVT)
Pros: Smooth and powerful V6, excellent CVT, sporty handling, high-quality interior, impressive electronics.
Cons: Desirable options are clustered in pricey packages, low rear-seat cushion penalizes longer legs.

So, first things first — don't let the new name fool you. The 2010 Nissan Altima 3.5 SR is basically the same as the outgoing sport-tuned 3.5 SE model, albeit with the refreshed styling and technology bits common to all 2010 Altimas. But at the same time, don't let this model's advancing years put you off. The 3.5 SE was the sports car of family sedans when it debuted for 2002, and the 3.5 SR carries on that tradition, even as the current-generation Altima enters its fourth year of production.

Of course, a few challengers have appeared in the intervening years. The Ford Fusion Sport provides similar power and handling. The Mazda 6 combines entertaining athleticism with American-size dimensions. The Subaru Legacy boasts all-wheel drive and a capable chassis. But with the exception of the manual-transmission-onlyLegacy GT, there's still no family hauler that's as gratifying to drive as the taut and tossable Altima 3.5 SR.

Yet there's much more to this Nissan's appeal than its appetite for tight corners. The powertrain is a revelation, a blissful marriage of broad-shouldered V6 thrust and seamless CVT (continuously variable transmission) oversight. The interior materials are Infiniti-grade — few cars in this class can compete. And the technology is top-notch, including updated optional navigation and sound systems with real-time traffic and Bluetooth streaming audio.

There are still nits to pick with the Altima 3.5 SR. The relatively low rear-seat cushion, for example, forces longer-legged passengers to ride with their knees in the air. Also, Nissan makes you pay through the nose for desirable option packages. But if you appreciate the Altima's sporting character, these burdens will be easy to bear. The 2010 Nissan Altima 3.5 SR is proof positive that family-minded consumers still have the option of enjoying the drive.

Photos

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  The 2010 Nissan Altima receives a few styling tweaks, including a new hood and grille. Only Altima aficionados will likely notice them.
  (photo by: Scott Jacobs)

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  "Elegant simplicity" is the name of the Altima's interior game. Materials are top-notch, though the silvery plastic trim looks a bit odd.
  (photo by: Scott Jacobs)

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  Enlarge Photo

  The current-generation Altima's looks have always been in keeping with its driving character: sharp and sporty.
  (photo by: Scott Jacobs)

Performance

The 2010 Nissan Altima 3.5 SR is powered by a 3.5-liter V6 rated at 270 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The CVT is now mandatory, as the formerly available six-speed manual has been discontinued for 2010. EPA fuel economy estimates are 20 mpg city/27 mpg highway and 23 mpg combined. At the test track, our Altima hit 60 mph in 6.8 seconds en route to a 14.8-second quarter-mile at 97.5 mph — healthy numbers for a V6-powered family sedan. Brake testing returned a respectable stopping distance of 123 feet from 60 mph.

The 3.5 SR's powertrain is quite simply one of the best in the business. A CVT doesn't have gears, so there's none of the occasional thumping and lurching while the right cog is selected. Instead, opening the throttle in this Altima sends the engine speed zinging up to 4,000 rpm — the beginning of the V6's sweet spot — at which point it slowly progresses toward the 6,500-rpm redline.

Nissan also provides a manual mode with six simulated gears, but we usually just left it in Drive and let this preternaturally smooth transmission work its magic. As for the VQ-Series V6, it pulls hard and sounds great here, with none of the coarseness that plagues the 370Z's 3.7-liter version.

On our slalom course, the Altima 3.5 SR's sport-tuned suspension contributed to an average speed of 66.1 mph, trailing only the gonzo manual-only Legacy GT (67.7 mph) and the Mazda 6 s Grand Touring (66.4 mph) in this segment. In the real world, the Nissan makes an even better showing.

Unlike the supersized Mazda, the 2010 Nissan Altima evokes a bygone era when family four-doors were compact enough to feel nimble. It tackles tight corners with sport-sedanlike grace, and its steering is extraordinarily tight and responsive. Only advanced (or foolhardy) drivers will encounter the understeer that surfaces as the 3.5 SR's limits approach.

Comfort

The Altima 3.5 SR's cabin is hushed at highway speeds, but there's no doubt that the sporty suspension has an effect on the car's ride quality. Those looking forCamry-style cushioning over broken pavement should head straight for their local Toyota dealers. Still, this Altima's suspension is by no means harsh; it just provides less isolation from the road below, a trait that the target audience actually might appreciate. The rival we're most reminded of in this respect is the Honda Accord, though it lacks the 3.5 SR's overt athleticism.

The Altima's thin-rimmed leather-wrapped steering wheel fit our hands nicely, and we appreciated the substantial armrest padding all around. Our leather-trimmed tester's front seats provided good long-haul support, but their lateral bolstering was curiously conservative given the Altima's impressive performance envelope. As noted, the rear-seat cushion is mounted low, which may provoke complaints from lanky passengers. Average-size rear riders will have no gripes, however.

Function

The Altima's primary gauges are crystal-clear, and the control stalks on the steering column move through their detents with uncommon refinement. Our 2010 Nissan Altima had the optional touchscreen navigation system, which proved easy to use and delivered sharp graphics to boot. This system includes 9.3 gigabytes of music storage and Bluetooth audio streaming for the digital generation. The 6.5-inch display also manages the iPod interface (part of the pricey Premium package), which our editors applauded for its straightforwardness.

The Bose stereo, which also comes with the Premium package, is one of the better-sounding factory systems to bear the audio company's name (we've been less impressed with its setups in Mazda's lineup). In the 3.5 SR, the Bose system delivers crisp highs and smooth lows. Don't turn it up too loud, though — the rear deck is rattle-prone even with the bass on its neutral setting, an issue we've noticed on other Altimas of this generation.

In real-world usability testing, the Altima's average-size 15.3-cubic-foot trunk made quick work of our standard golf bag and suitcase, and our rear-facing child seat slipped easily into the backseat.

Design/Fit and Finish

The Altima received a mild exterior styling refresh for 2010, and our staff is split on whether it's an improvement. In any case, the current Altima has always been a good-looking car, and nothing about the new tweaks changes that.

Inside, the Altima continues to boast segment-topping sophistication, from the extensive use of rich soft-touch materials to the classy and restrained aesthetic. Like the related Murano SUV's interior, this one wouldn't look out of place in an Infiniti. Build quality on our test car was without fault.

Who Should Consider This Vehicle

The 2010 Nissan Altima 3.5 SR is a top choice for family-sedan shoppers who like to drive but don't want to sacrifice the practicality and comfort for which this segment is known. If the Camry's appliancelike ethos isn't for you, Nissan has the antidote.

The manufacturer provided Edmunds this vehicle for the purpose of evaluation.

Model Year2010
MakeNissan
ModelAltima
Style3.5 SR 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl CVT)
Base Price$25,240
Price as Tested$31,945
Options on Test VehiclePremium Package ($2,380 -- includes leather upholstery and trim, driver power lumbar, heated front seats, Bluetooth phone connectivity, Bose audio, XM Satellite Radio, iPod/USB port, auto-dimming rearview mirror, rear air vents); Sport Package ($2,370 -- includes rear spoiler, foglights, xenon headlamps, dual-zone automatic climate control, sunroof); Technology Package ($1,780 -- includes navigation system, Bluetooth streaming audio, DVD player, VTR jack); Floor and Trunk Mat Set ($175).
Drive TypeFront-wheel drive
Transmission TypeContinuously variable
Transmission and Axle Ratio (x:1)N/A
Engine TypeV6
Displacement (cc / cu-in)3,498cc (213 cu-in)
Block/Head MaterialAluminum
ValvetrainDouble overhead camshaft
Compression Ratio10.3
Redline (rpm)6,500
Horsepower (hp @ rpm)270 @ 6,000
Torque (lb-ft @ rpm)258 @ 4,400
Brake Type (front)Ventilated disc
Brake Type (rear)Disc
Steering SystemSpeed-proportional power steering
Steering Ratio16.2:1
Suspension Type (front)MacPherson strut
Suspension Type (rear)Multilink
Tire Size (front)P215/55R17 V
Tire Size (rear)P215/55R17 V
Tire BrandBridgestone
Tire ModelTuranza EL 400
Tire TypeAll-season
Wheel Size17-by-7.5 inches front and rear
Wheel Material (front/rear)Alloy
Manufacturer Curb Weight (lb)3,357
Curb Weight As Tested (lb)3,412
Weight Distribution, F/R (%)62.1
Recommended FuelRegular unleaded
Fuel Tank Capacity (gal)20.0
EPA Fuel Economy (mpg)20 city/27 highway
Edmunds Observed (mpg)N/A
Testing Conditions

Temperature (Fahrenheit)66.5
Humidity29%
Elevation (ft)1,121
Wind2.75 C
Performance

0 - 30 (sec)3.1
0 - 45 (sec)4.8
0 - 60 (sec)6.8
0 - 75 (sec)9.4
1/4 Mile (sec @ mph)14.8 @ 97.5
0-60 with 1-ft Rollout (sec)6.5
30 - 0 (ft)31
60 - 0 (ft)123
Braking RatingGood
Slalom (mph)66.1
Skid Pad Leteral acceleration (g)0.81
Handling RatingVery Good
Db @ Idle43.9
Db @ Full Throttle74.9
Db @ 70 mph Cruise67.0
Tester Comments

Acceleration CommentsDoesn't roast tires like previous Altimas with conventional automatics, so launches are consistent. CVT ramps up to 6,250 rpm by 50 mph and maintains throughout quarter-mile. Power seems to come on at 4,000 rpm. No torque steer at full throttle. Using Manual mode inserts artificial "shifts" and makes acceleration runs slower.
Braking CommentsNoisy tires and steep jump-in from pedal. Faded only slightly in distance, though, and pedal remained firm. Lots of odor by last stop.
Handling CommentsSkid pad: Understeers on the limit but can be coaxed back online by breathing off the throttle -- which is exactly what stability control does when on. Steering gets rather heavy. Slalom: Nicely tuned front-drive manners, meaning you can use throttle to adjust yaw (i.e., stab it on the straight bits and lift for rotation). Steering is responsive but heavy. ESP on is very intrusive with front brake applications.
Specifications

Length (in)190.7
Width (in)70.7
Height (in)57.9
Wheelbase (in)109.3
Front Track (in)60.9
Rear Track (in)60.8
Turning Circle (ft)37.4
Legroom, front (in)44.1
Legroom, rear (in)35.8
Headroom, front (in)40.6
Headroom, rear (in)36.8
Shoulder Room, front (in)55.7
Shoulder Room, rear (in)55.5
Maximum Seating Capacity5
Cargo Volume (cu-ft)15.3
Warranty

Bumper-to-Bumper3 years/36,000 miles
Power Train5 years/60,000 miles
Corrosion5 years/Unlimited miles
Roadside Assistance3 years/36,000 miles
Scheduled MaintenanceNot available
Safety

Front AirbagsStandard
Side AirbagsStandard dual front
Head AirbagsStandard front and rear
Knee AirbagsNot available
Antilock BrakesFour-wheel ABS
Electronic Brake EnhancementsElectronic brakeforce distribution
Traction ControlStandard
Stability ControlStandard
Tire Pressure Monitoring SystemTire-pressure monitoring
Emergency Assistance SystemNot available
NHTSA Crash Test Driver5 stars
NHTSA Crash Test Passenger5 stars
NHTSA Crash Test Side FrontNot tested
NHTSA Crash Test Side RearNot tested
NHTSA Rollover4 stars
IIHS OffsetNot tested

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