SWEDEN - The Swedish police force will be taking delivery of their new V90 Volvo's

The Swedish police will take delivery of its first V90 police cars early next year, after the car recently achieved the highest rating ever in the Swedish police’s highly demanding driving test.

The demands on emergency vehicles are higher than on normal road cars. On top of that, unlike in many other countries, in Sweden the police car is judged as a workplace. This means any car has to meet strict demands in areas such as performance, comfort, quality and ergonomics in order to qualify as a police car.

The Swedish police car test focuses on five areas: a brake test, an obstacle course, evasive action tests with and without braking, and high-speed emergency driving.

The overall score for the V90 was 9.2 out of 10, the highest rating ever achieved by any car in this demanding test.

The final test protocol on the V90 prepared by Swedish police test drivers concludes that “overall, it is difficult to find any faults at all. Chassis, steering, suspension, traction control and powertrain all show exemplary performance. Quick lane changes at high speeds feel almost deceptively easy, the car does what it is told to do and shakes off lateral forces without any protest.”

While the Swedish police will be the first to start using the V90, Volvo Cars sells its police cars in other countries as well. Other police forces that in recent years have used Volvos include Norway, Italy, the UK and the Netherlands. The V90, too, will be made available to any interested police forces around the globe.

With the V90 police car, Volvo takes the highly refined driving experience of the award-winning standard V90 to the next level. To transform the premium estate into a suitable emergency vehicle, the Volvo Car Special Products department further develops the car to meet the specific demands of police forces.

For instance, the chassis is made stronger and more dynamic, the brakes and suspension are improved, and the car is fully equipped with all necessary tools and communication equipment. It takes about a week to transform a standard V90 into a police car at Volvo Cars’ special manufacturing facility in Torslanda, Sweden.

Volvo Cars has a long history in providing police cars: as far back as 1929, Swedish police fought crime from behind the wheel of a Volvo. In the decades that followed, classic Volvos such as the Amazon and the 144 also served in police uniform. More recently, the XC70 and V70 estates have been used by police forces. The XC70, too, was the best police car ever tested by Swedish police at the time of its introduction.

USA - The 2017 Dodge Challenger gains the full five stars from the NHTSA, the fifth time in doing do.

• 2017 Dodge Challenger earns five stars overall, the highest rating in NHTSA’s vehicle-evaluation program
• High-strength steel structure contributes to five-star ratings for both NHTSA side-impact tests – vehicle and pole
• Fifth time Dodge Challenger has been accorded overall score of five stars
• 2017 Challenger boasts more than 70 available safety and security features, including Forward Collision Warning, Blind-spot Monitoring and Rear Cross Path detection

The 2017 Dodge Challenger has earned a five-star overall safety rating from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Five stars is the highest rating in the regulatory agency’s vehicle-evaluation program.

“This proves the 2017 Dodge Challenger is much more than a great-looking car,” says Mike Dahl, Head of Vehicle Safety and Regulatory Compliance, FCA North America. “It reflects our commitment to delivering exceptional occupant safety in every vehicle segment.”

Nearly 60 percent of the sporty Challenger’s body structure consists of high-strength steel. This engineering strategy, combined with the careful integration of side-guard door beams, was critical to the car’s performance in NHTSA’s side-impact testing.

The agency simulated collisions with a pole and with another vehicle at closing speeds of 32 miles per hour and 62 miles per hour, respectively. The Challenger’s rating for each: five stars.

Supplementary restraint systems also contributed the car’s performance. Driver and front-passenger side air bags are standard equipment on all Challenger trim levels, as are front and rear side-curtain air bags.

In its assessment of the new Challenger, NHTSA notes the availability of Forward Collision Warning (FCW), which features forward-facing sensors programmed to detect the potential for certain types of frontal collisions. If a frontal impact with another vehicle appears imminent, the system pre-fills the Challenger’s brakes and transmits audible and visual warnings for the driver to respond.

FCW is among more than 70 available safety and security features on the 2017 Dodge Challenger. Others include Blind-spot Monitoring (BSM) and Rear Cross Path (RCP) detection.

BSM uses radar sensors to aid the driver when changing lanes, passing or being passed. When another vehicle is detected in the driver’s blind spot, its presence is noted with illuminated icons in the Challenger’s side-view mirrors and a driver-selectable chime.

RCP detection warns drivers of lateral traffic when backing out of parking spaces. It automatically activates whenever the driver puts the Challenger in reverse gear.

Since the modern Dodge Challenger was launched in 2008, NHTSA has included the car in its annual model-year ratings seven times. It achieved five-star scores every time, including five overall five-star ratings – one for each year overall ratings have been awarded.

USA - NHTSA awards Kia the full Five Stars for the US built Sorento CUV.

Kia’s All-New Sorento CUV Earns NHTSA’s Highest Rating¹

• Sorento’s extensive use of Advanced High Strength Steel makes Kia’s largest CUV stiffer and more durable than ever
• The 2016 Sorento combines a strong base with additional design improvements to reduce NVH and provide a comfortable and quiet interior environment

Kia Motors America’s (KMA) all-new 2016 Sorento CUV has received the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) 5-star overall safety rating.  Built in the U.S. at Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia (KMMG)*, Sorento is KMA’s best-selling CUV, having sold more than 100,000 units each of the past five years, and offers a long list of standard safety features and an expertly engineered body structure.

“NHTSA’s recent 5-star rating of the 2016 Sorento is a testament to Kia’s commitment to safety.  The Sorento is all-new for 2016 and is Kia’s most capable CUV ever, yet still offers customers the tremendous value Kia is known for,” said Orth Hedrick, vice president, product planning.  “Meant for customers with active lifestyles, Sorento is the perfect getaway vehicle for adventurers and families on the go, and they can feel confident knowing their vehicle scored a 5-star NHTSA rating – the highest rating achievable from NHTSA.”

The core of the all-new 2016 Sorento is its significantly enhanced platform.  The structure increases torsional rigidity by 14 percent over the 2015 Sorento.  The unit-body consists of 53-percent Advanced High Strength Steel, a 115 percent increase over the previous model.  Liberal application of industrial strength adhesives, the use of dual-seal lip joints as well as large diameter and laser welding techniques combine to make the 2016 model the most robust and durable Sorento ever.

About the All-New 2016 Kia Sorento

The completely redesigned 2016 Sorento CUV raises the bar in a traditionally utilitarian segment with its refinement and first-class amenities.  Available with an advanced All Wheel Drive (AWD) system and up to 5,000 pounds of towing capacity, the new Sorento rides on a 3.1-inch lengthened wheelbase, which allows more room for passengers and cargo.  

Standard premium features and luxurious appointments span the line of five trim levels, and the Sorento is now offered with three engine choices, including a 2.4-liter inline-four cylinder, a new 240-horsepower 2.0-liter turbo-charged inline-four and a powerful 3.3-liter V6 producing 290 horsepower.  The all-new Sorento offers a wide array of available driver-aid technology including Surround View Monitor², Smart Cruise Control², Blind Spot Detection² and Lane Departure Warning².

* The Sorento and Optima GDI (EX, SX & Limited and certain LX Trims only) are assembled in the United States from U.S. and globally sourced parts

1 Government star ratings are part of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA’s) New Car Assessment Program (www.safercar.gov).

2 These features are not substitutes for safe driving and may not detect all objects around vehicle. Always drive safely and use caution.

** 2015 K900 V8 available in select trims and in select markets with limited availability.

*** 2015 Soul EV in select markets with limited availability.