The new Peugeot 208 has missed out on a maximum score in the latest Euro NCAP safety ratings, with testers awarding it four stars. The French hatch missed out on top marks due to what Euro NCAP testers said was “poor” whiplash protection for rear passengers. The Jeep Cherokee was also awarded four stars in the latest tests, and they are the only two cars tested so far in 2019 that have failed to achieve five stars. Matthew Avery, director of research at Thatcham Research, which conducts Euro NCAP tests, called the 208’s score “respectable”, but added it was “not a good choice if you’re carrying adults in the back, with its ‘poor’ whiplash protection for rear passengers. Protecting both front and rear occupants is especially important as families continue to downsize from larger vehicles.” The Cherokee lost marks for both adult occupant protection and child occupant protection, and was criticised for offering limited whiplash protection. Avery called the result an improvement on the Jeep Wrangler, which scored one star when tested last year, but added: “There’s still a long way to go before Jeep can get back to producing five-star cars like the 2017 Compass.” Two BMW models excelled when they were tested, with the 1 Series and 3 Series both scoring the maximum five stars. The 3 Series achieved a 97% score for adult occupant protection, one of the highest scores in
Origin: Peugeot 208 falls short of maximum Euro NCAP score
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Bear falls onto moving cop car, causes crash and wildfire
“Caution Falling Bear!”California highway management was prompted to issue this rather strange warning last week after a bear tumbled from an embankment and onto the hood of a moving police car, causing it to flip and ignite a fire that burned about a half-acre of brush. According to reporting by ABC KRCR News, the Sheriffs deputy was responding with lights and sirens to a call about an overdose at 11 p.m. when the bear fell from an overhanging bank and onto the hood of the cruiser.The officer was able to escape the flipped vehicle but unable to put out the fire that eventually consumed the car and some surrounding vegetation. The bear fled the scene and hasnt been heard from since.“Travelers are reminded to stay alert while exploring the beautiful highways and nature of District 1,” the state highway department’s Facebook post reads. “Bears, elk and deer are just some of the critters sharing our coastal home.”Much of Canada is also home to wildlife that can and does spill out onto the roads. Be prepared for the worst with these tips for surviving collisions with large animals.
Origin: Bear falls onto moving cop car, causes crash and wildfire
New BMW 6 Series GT facelift seen as axe falls in US
BMW’s 2020 model year revisions for the 6 Series Gran Turismo have been seen on a testing prototype – a few days after the model was dropped from sale in the US. The Audi A7 rival is being withdrawn from the North American market alongside its 3 Series Gran Turismo sibling. The latter is no surprise given the 3 Series has now moved to a new generation, but it’s unlikely to be replaced. The niche positioning of the 6 Series GT has meant it’s struggled to find homes all over the world, but the SUV-focused US market has been particularly unkind. Just 65 examples found homes over there in July, compared with 3800 X5s during the same period. By comparison, 428 examples were registered across Europe in July. A BMW UK spokesperson confirmed to Autocar that there are no plans to discontinue the 6 Series GT “within its life cycle”. The model, which shares parts of its underpinnings with the 5 Series and 7 Series saloons, is expected to get similar updates to its siblings (the 2020 5 Series was only seen last week). That will mean external modifications to bring its styling into line, alongside technology upgrades including an updated iDrive operating system. All petrol engines will receive emissions-reducing upgrades including petrol particulate filters. There’s a likelihood a new plug-in hybrid variant could be brought in, too, as part of BMW’s ever-increasing electrification roll-out. Expect more details to emerge before the car arrives some time next
Origin: New BMW 6 Series GT facelift seen as axe falls in US
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