Final 1999 NHTSA Crash Test Result Available on World Wide Web Site

Topics:  Volkswagen New Beetle

NHTSA
August 13, 1999

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NHTSA 39-99
Friday, August 13, 1999
Contact: NHTSA, Tim Hurd, (202) 366-9550

The U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) today announced that its final crash test result for 1999 model year vehicles is now available on the Internet at http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/ncap.

It shows ratings from the side impact crash test of the model year 1999 Volkswagen Beetle. The Beetle received a side rating of five stars in the front seat and three stars in the rear seat.

These new test results are in addition to results for many vehicles tested previously that remain valid because auto manufacturers are selling the same or essentially the same vehicles in model year 1999. The NHTSA worldwide website provides frontal impact safety information on a total of 102 model year 1999 vehicles, and it now provides side-impact safety information on 92 model year 1999 vehicles.

For both frontal and side impact, the New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) reports crash test results in a range of one to five stars, with five stars showing the best crash protection for vehicles. Frontal tests should be compared only within the same weight class.

Copies of crash test results, printed in a fact sheet containing explanatory information and tables showing NCAP crash tests results for model year 1999 vehicles, are available by calling the NHTSA Office of Public and Consumer Affairs, 202-366-9550; the Auto Safety Hotline, 1-800-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236); or by writing to NHTSA Public Affairs, Room 5232, 400 Seventh St., S.W., Washington, D.C. 20590.

###