The Indian made Datsun Go has failed its NCAP testing, making it more of a No-Go than anything else.
The global independent New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) organization has turned up the heat on two more international automakers by giving devastating zero-star safety ratings for two “new” car models in India where one person dies on the road on average every four minutes.
In one of the crash tests, the structure of the Nissan-made Datsun Go collapsed so badly that NCAP engineers concluded airbags would have been pointless, even if they had been fitted. The steel itself is very doubtful, so it may have used recycled soft drink cans?
It’ll polish out!
Bharat (an alternative name for India) NCAP is a collaboration between the Indian government and Institute of Road Traffic Education, and like similar organizations in eight other key markets aims to give consumers a guide to vehicle safety and not be afraid to publicize the results, poor or otherwise.
So far, zero scores have been handed out by Global NCAP to seven Indian-made cars, bringing in to question the commitment of many automakers to car safety in developing countries.
An NCAP photograph of the 64 km/h frontal offset crash test – a standard NCAP test around the globe – of the 2014 Datsun Go was particularly telling, revealing a massive buckle in the roof and body deformation almost to the rear hatch.
The front wheel was pushed back into the driver’s side cabin space, and the dummy’s head impacted the steering wheel.
In India, the Go is the latest model from the born-again Datsun brand – Nissan’ s low-cost supplier of cars in Third World markets.
Bharat NCAP is the 10th NCAP to be formed around the world, and with India now the fifth largest producer of passenger cars, “This new consumer program will no doubt have a direct effect on improving vehicle safety standards across India,” ANCAP Chairman Lauchlan McIntosh said.
From zero stars, anything will be an improvement!
