Maruti Swift and Datsun GO fails Crash test,SIAM defends

Stating that car makers in India meet the country's safety norms, auto industry body SIAM today
defended Maruti Suzuki and Nissan, which had failed crash tests conducted by Global NCAP on their Swift and Datsun GO models respectively.

requirements. Our cars are meeting safety norms set by the
government."

Lashing out at Global NCAP, an umbrella body of consumer car safety testing bodies, for "scaremongering", SIAM Director General Vishnu Mathur said: "Every country has its own safety

He further said the protocol followed by Global NCAP was not designed for India and tests must be conducted based on the conditions here. Even in a developed market like Europe, crash test is done at a speed of 56 kmph and not at 64 kmph as done by Global NCAP.

"Our average speed in India is far slower. To say that a particular car hasn't met its (Global NCAP) test is nothing but scaremongering," Mathur said.
 
"There is no data to prove that a particular car is dangerous based on how many occupants have been killed in accidents," he said, adding the Global NCAP had issued a test result based on just a crash test.
He said India is already working on road safety regulations, based not just on crash test but after
considering overall safety related issues.
 Mathur also defended the companies stating that they have not "duped consumers".

 "None of these companies have ever claimed that their models are 5 star rated on safety. The consumers are aware what they are buying. What Global NCAP should be doing is to
spread awareness on safety and encourage customers to but cars with all safety features, even if they come at higher cost," he said.

Yesterday, Global NCAP had said Maruti Suzuki India's popular hatchback Swift and Nissan's Datsun GO have failed crash tests showing "high risk of life-threatening injuries with both cars receiving zero-star safety rating for their adult occupant protection".
"These risks would be significantly reduced if the cars had to comply with the UN test regulation for frontal and side impact," Global NCAP had said in a statement.

Both Maruti Suzuki and Nissan had stated they fully conformed to all the regulations that are presently applicable in India.

Nissan to unveil Datsun GO

Nissan to launch awaited small car Datsun Go, March 19 in India, is one of the most eagerly awaited budget hatchbacks.

 According to our sources, the new Datsun Go will be available in three variants.

Being a budget hatchback targeted primarily at first-time car buyers, the base Datsun Go will come with the bare essentials. There will be black bumpers instead of body coloured ones, manual wind-down windows and no power steering or air conditioning.   

The mid-level Go will add air conditioning and a two-speaker audio system with only aux-in compatibility (not even radio).  

The top-end Go is expected to be called the Go XV and will get all features of the mid variant and additionally get front power windows, electric power steering, body coloured bumpers, wheel covers, a gear shift guide, folding rear seat back, trip computer with a digital tachometer, tripmeter, distance-to-empty, and average and instantaneous fuel efficiency read-outs. It also gets segment-first follow-me-home headlamps. According to our sources, the top-end Go is expected to be priced at Rs 3.80 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).

In terms of dimensions, the Go measures 3,785mm in length, 1,635mm in width and has a wheelbase of 2,450mm. The Go’s three-cylinder, 1198cc petrol motor makes peak power of 67bhp at 5,000rpm and peak torque of 10kgm at 4,000rpm.