The Mercedes-Benz B-Class hatchback has just set the record for a crash test score for the Australasian New Car Assessment Program, or ANCAP for short. The test’s highest possible score is 37, and the B-Class garnered a near-perfect 36.78―quite a bit higher than the previous best of 36.59 scored by Toyota Aurion.
Now, the B-Class joins the elite company of other ANCAP 5-star rating scorers: the Aurion, Ford Fiesta, Lexus CT200, Toyota Prius, and Volkswagen Polo. ANCAP, established in 1993, is the body responsible for giving out safety ratings for new vehicle models in terms of their front and side impact protection, ratings that cover Australia as well as New Zealand.
According to ANCAP, the unprecedented score for the B-Class just shows how its safety features are "ahead of its time." The rating covers the entire range of B-Class models, which are set to be released in New Zealand in a few weeks.
The B-Class scored 15.78 out of 16 for the front collision impact tests and a perfect 16 of 16 for the side impact tests. The vehicle was awarded 5 bonus points because of exceptional pole test results as well as for outstanding seatbelt reminders.
The 2012 Monaco Grand Prix ended well enough for the Mercedes AMG Petronas team, with Nico Rosberg finishing on the podium in front of his home crowd. However, qualifying pacesetter Michael Schumacher wasn’t able to finish the race after new problems surfaced with his car.
Rosberg was ecstatic. "It’s a fantastic feeling to be on the podium at my home race in Monaco today in front of all my family and friends. The team have done a really good job this weekend to get the car working so well.
"Although we thought this track would suit our car, it’s been better than we expected. I had a clean start but Mark drove a very controlled race today. I could keep in touch with him but we all know how difficult it is to overtake around the streets here and there just wasn’t a way past." True enough, the top six finishers were all within 3.1 seconds of each other.
Schumacher, on the other hand, maintained that his incident at the start with Romain Grosjean was unrelated to the fuel pressure problems that surfaced in the latter laps of the race. He described it as "doubly disappointing" but remained hopeful for the next race.
"I will take the boost from the high points of this weekend with me to Canada. The track should suit us and I’m hoping to have a normal, clean race."
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