Munich. The new BMW 3 Series sets new standards for
driving dynamics, aesthetic appeal and advanced technology in the
areas of control/operation, driver assistance and connectivity. And
the new BMW 3 Series Sedan and BMW 3 Series Touring also lead the way
in their class when it comes to safety. The latest-generation 3 Series
has been awarded the maximum five-star rating in the recent round of
Euro NCAP (New Car Assessment Programme) crash testing. Added to
which, it emerged with the best ever result for adult occupant
protection achieved by a “large family car” (midsize model) since the
introduction of the current, extremely demanding Euro NCAP test
format. The BMW 3 Series also recorded excellent results for child
occupant protection, “Vulnerable Road User” (e.g. pedestrian)
protection and standard safety equipment.
A five-star rating in Euro NCAP crash testing represents a
glowing endorsement of the effectiveness of a vehicle’s integrated
safety concept, which – in the new BMW 3 Series, as in other models –
encompasses both the body structure and the restraint systems.
Supporting structures with a weight-optimised design and a high
load-bearing capacity combine with precisely engineered deformation
paths in the new 3 Series to provide the ideal basis for preserving
the passenger cell’s rigidity in various types of collision – i.e. for
keeping the occupants’ survival space intact. In Euro NCAP testing,
the aluminium/high-strength steel safety passenger cell of the new BMW
3 Series proved to be extremely robust – both in the frontal and side
collisions and the side pole impact. In a frontal collision, the
forces acting on the vehicle are diverted via multiple load paths in
the floor assembly, side frame, bulkhead and roof, and absorbed by
large deformation zones. Reinforced side structures in the B-pillars
and side sill areas, high-strength side impact members in the doors
and sturdy seat cross-members protect the occupants in the event of a
side-on collision. The seats and head restraints have been specially
designed to minimise the risk of whiplash injuries resulting from a
collision against the rear of the vehicle. Strengthened pillars and
roof members ensure that the passenger cell retains its rigidity if
the car rolls over.
Central safety electronics control the functioning of the
various restraint systems fitted in the new BMW 3 Series. This means
the three-point inertia-reel seatbelts on all seats deploy as part of
a precisely coordinated response with the front, side and head airbags
– according to the type of impact and its severity. The testers’
evaluation of the crash test results revealed that the new BMW
3 Series offers exceptionally high levels of protection for adult
occupants, with an almost perfect score of 97 per cent. They are
therefore protected from injury to an outstanding degree, regardless
of their height or the seat’s position.
The levels of safety for children also impressed the test team.
ISOFIX child seat attachments for the outer seats in the rear of the
new BMW 3 Series make this an extremely safe place for children to
travel. With the relevant seat systems fitted for six- and
ten-year-old passengers respectively, the readings showed the test
dummies were exposed to extremely modest loads in both the frontal and
side crashes. The new 3 Series scored 23.8 out of a maximum 24 points
for this criterion.
Evaluating the protective measures for vulnerable road users
(such as pedestrians and cyclists), also forms part of Euro NCAP crash
testing. The new BMW 3 Series reduces the risk of injury to these
groups with carefully contoured body elements and flexible structures
around its front end. It also has an active bonnet, whose pyrotechnic
release mechanism is triggered as soon as the sensor data indicates a
relevant type of collision. This raises the bonnet, creating a
deformation zone that prevents direct impact with unyielding
components in the engine compartment.
The extensive active safety features fitted as standard on the
new BMW 3 Series are another factor in its five-star rating. The
collision and pedestrian warning with braking function managed to
safely avert a collision in all test scenarios, earning it maximum
points in the assessment. This technology forms part of the standard
Active Guard system that also comprises Lane Departure Warning with
lane return and the Speed Limit Display road sign detection system
with no-overtaking indicator. Standard specification for the 3 Series
also includes DSC (Dynamic Stability Control), a tyre pressure
indicator showing the pressures for each wheel, the Attentiveness
Assistant and intelligent emergency call with BMW Accident Assistance.