| Front and side impact rating |
 |
|
|
 |
|
Pedestrian test rating |
 |
|
|
|
Test Scores: Front 9(56%) Side 14(78%) Overall 23(68%) Pedestrian 11(31%)
|
|
|
|
Audi
modified the A6 after initial testing because the airbag
fired late. Changes made included a new airbag crash
sensor and load-limiting front belts and the company has
said that the upgraded car tested here is available now.
Still, protection for the driver's chest was not as good
as that of some rivals. The A6's pedals were found to be
loose after the test – they are designed to break away
in a serious impact. The car will pass side-impact
legislation taking effect from October. Tests to assess
pedestrian protection found the bumper and bonnet's
leading edge were likely to cause injury, The bonnet rated
better for head impacts. |
Impact
Protection
|
 |
|
 |
 |
 |
| Driver
Front Impact |
Passenger
Front Impact |
Driver
Side Impact |
|
Frontal
Impact
|
|
|
| The
bodyshell remained stable during the impact but the
driver's chest suffered relatively high loading from his
seat belt and airbag, suggesting he might sustain injury.
The lower facia contained hard structures which could
cause local damage to his knees and increased the risk to
his upper legs and pelvis. And, although the steering
column was covered by an energy absorbing pad over the
column angle adjuster bracket, it did not offer sufficient
protection to prevent the risk of load concentrations on
the knee, and the steering wheel lock was not covered by
this pad. Finally, the break-away pedals fitted to this
car much reduced the risk of feet and ankle injuries. |
Side
Impact
|
|
|
| The
Audi has seat-mounted side-impact chest airbags fitted as
standard equipment. The driver's cushioned his arm, chest,
abdomen and to some extent the pelvis, but chest
protection was not as good as for some cars in this group. |
Child
Restraint
|
|
|
| Belts
designed to lock around a child restraint are fitted to
the outer rear seats. But, because their instruction
labels do not meet Euro NCAP standards, the auto-lock
function was not tested. A European manufacturers'
association (ACEA) pictogram warning of the dangers of
fitting a child seat next to an airbag was partially
hidden on the central pillar, but a windscreen label in
two languages carried the message, too. However, it did
not warn of the risk of serious injury or death, as Euro
NCAP would want, and could also be peeled off: it would
almost certainly be lost if the windscreen had to be
replaced. Audi's own forward-facing seats were used, but
these did not comply with European regulations because
their belt guides were not colour coded, and instructions
were poorly attached. |
Pedestrian
Protection
|
|
|
| The
A6's front proved particularly unforgiving, though the
bonnet area where head impacts are likely to occur rated
better. |
Model
history and safety equipment
|
|
|
| The
latest A6 was introduced in May 1997. Twin front and side
airbags, anti-lock brakes, belt pre-tensioners and load
limiters, brake pedal protection system and power steering
are fitted to cars sold in the EU. Test modifications are
available on factory orders from June '98. |
| Make,
model and hand of drive |
Audi
A6 2.4 LHD |
| Body
type |
4-door
Saloon |
| Model
year |
1998 |
| Kerb
weight |
1400
kg |
| VIN
and date when rating applies |
WAUZZZ4BZXN002665 |
|
