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| Volvo's new XC90 has just been given the CAA's Pyramid Award for Safety Innovations for its innovative bumper solution that protects small cars hit during frontal impacts. (Photo: Volvo) |
Lange commented on the results and said, "Gm is currently participating in an industry-wide effort to address collisions between smaller and larger vehicles including light truck-based vehicles. One group is studying frontal collisions and another is focusing on side impacts. The groups are expected to issue recommendations before the summer."
Lange further pronounced that, "in researching the subject, we considered various vehicle characteristics and the potential to address the balance of self and partner-protection in a fleet of large and small vehicles."
Volvo has recently addressed this concern by incorporating protective beams and crumple zones into its 2003 XC90 SUV that cause it to directly engage lower car bumpers during a collision rather than over-riding them. Due to this and its roll-over protection system the automaker was recently honored with a 2003 CAA Pyramid Award for Safety Innovations.