Euro NCAP's Best and Worst Performers of 2010

The European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP), which is similar to the American IIHS testing regimen, has released a list with the safest car in each vehicle category and the two worst performers overall of 2010. The cars that attained the coveted five star rating and achieved the highest overall score in their respective segment are:

------ Executive category: BMW 5 Series
------ Small Family category: Alfa Romeo Giulietta
------ Supermini category: Honda CR-Z
------ Small off-road 4×4 category: Kia Sportage
------ Small MPV category: Toyota Verso

On the other side of the fence are two models that achieved the poorest results of 2010. These are the Citroen Nemo with three stars and China's Landwind CV9 that received only two stars.

The European body noted that the cars in the top list "accomplished a high combined score based on the scores in each of the individual four areas of Euro NCAP’s assessment, while notably exceeding the thresholds for a 5 star overall rating". Along with the five top achievers, Euro NCAP said that the Suzuki Swift, Kia Venga, BMW X1, VW Sharan/Seat Alhambra, Citroen C4 all exceeded the 80% mark in overall score putting them on the runner-up list for the safest cars of 2010.

Commenting on the results, Dr Michiel van Ratingen, Euro NCAP Secretary General said: “Every year, car manufacturers constantly work to innovate and make their cars better and safer for the driver, whatever the size of the vehicle. The presence in these categories of high performing 5 star cars demonstrates car manufacturers’ commitment to safety for all sizes of vehicles.”

In early 2009, Euro NCAP implemented tougher crash testing procedures that make it more difficult for vehicles to receive a five-star rating. Last year, the European body crash tested a total of twenty-nine vehicles from numerous categories, of which 65 per cent reached the five star rating, compared to 90% in 2009.

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Subaru to Finally Present its RWD Coupe Concept at Geneva Motor Show

It's been a long time in the making but we're finally going to get our first glimpse of Subaru's version of the Toyota FT-86 RWD Coupe, which is a joint project from the two companies, at the upcoming Geneva Salon in March. The somewhat blandly named “Subaru Rear Wheel Drive Sports Car Technology Concept” will share the spotlight with the Impreza Concept (pictured above) and the Trezio mini MPV, both of which will receive their European premiere at the Swiss motorshow.

Despite rumors suggesting that Subaru may present an all-wheel drive version of the coupe project, the Japanese carmaker is keeping the rear-wheel drive setup, at least for now.

Not surprisingly, the Subaru coupe will be powered by a boxer engine, possibly the same four-cylinder unit lent to Toyota for the FT-86. Subaru did not release any photos nor any additional information on the Coupe concept model.

As for the company's two European premieres, the Impreza Concept was first shown in LA last November and previews a new design direction for the production model, while the Trezio is a re-badged version of the Toyota Verso-S mini MPV, which will be offered in Europe with a 1.3-liter gasoline and 1.4-liter turbo diesel engines.

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New Subaru Trezia Adds Impreza Face to Toyota Verso-S MPV

Meet the all-new Trezia, the latest in a long line of Toyota models turned into Subarus as part of the ongoing partnership between the two Japanese automakers. It's essentially a rebadged version of the Toyota Verso-S (called Ractis in Japan), which was introduced in Europe at this year's Paris Motor Show.

The differences between the Trezia and its Verso-S twin are limited only to the Impreza-like front grille, the chrome treatment on the tailgate trim and of course, Subaru's logos. Everything else, including the interior and even the alloy wheel and hub cover designs remain unchanged.

Like the Toyota Ractis in Japan, the Trezia will offer buyers a choice of a 1.3-liter or a 1.5-liter engines as well as front- or all-wheel drive layouts. Prices in Japan range from 1.36 million Yen to 1.87 million Yen.

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Paris Show: Toyota Targets Honda Jazz / Fit with New Verso-S MPV

Toyota is re-entering the European small MPV segment with a new model called the Verso-S, which made its debut at the Paris Motor Show today. Set to go on sale across Europe from February 2011, the Verso-S is a spiritual successor to the Yaris Verso and targets cars like the Honda Jazz / Fit and Kia Venga.

The five-seater Verso-S is less than 4 meters long (3,990 mm). However, it compensates with a relatively long, 2,550 mm wheelbase. In addition, Toyota claims that careful attention to detail has maximized spaciousness and as a result, the Verso-S offers "front seat headroom, rear seat roominess and luggage capacity to rival that of C-segment cars."

In the practicality category, the Verso-S gets numerous cup holders and pockets as well as a three-level, dashboard storage compartment and 60:40 split rear seats featuring a center armrest and a one-touch, fold-flat mechanism.

The 760 mm long boot floor incorporates a lightweight, two-stage cargo deck board that can be positioned either at bumper level for a 336 liter cargo volume, or lowered to increase the loadspace depth by 95 mm and the cargo volume to 393 liters. With the rear seats folded flat, the total load-space volume increases to a maximum of 1,388 litres.

Another highlight of the interior is a new, 6.1 inch, full color, Touch Screen Multimedia system incorporating an AM/FM radio, a CD/MP3 player, Bluetooth mobile phone connectivity, a USB port for the connection of portable music players and the facility to display iPod album cover art, and a rear parking camera.

The Verso-S will be available with a choice of two engines, a 1.33-liter gasoline unit or a 1.4-liter D-4D turbo diesel, both mated, as standard, to 6-speed manual gearboxes. The 1. petrol engine may also be equipped with an optional, Multidrive S, continuously variable transmission which features a 7-speed, sequential paddle shift mode.

According to Toyota, the petrol model delivers a combined fuel economy of 5.5 lt/100 km [42.8 mpg US] and CO2 emissions of 127 g/km, and the diesel model, 4.3 lt/100 km [54.7 mpg US] and 113 g/km respectively.

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