Car manufacturer PSA Peugeot Citroën has agreed to introduce ESC as a standard feature to their new models, Citroën Nemo and Peugeot Bipper after a mishap during a test carried out by ‘Which?’, a British consumer protection organisation.
The Elk-Test, a double-lane-change manoeuvre used to evaluate the stability of a car when faced with a sudden obstruction, replicates a vehicle being turned violently from one direction to the other. When the Nemo’s non-ESC model took the test at 50mph, the vehicle somersaulted onto its roof. The Bipper, due to its identical handling characteristics, was expected to react the same way and testing was stopped due to health and safety reasons.
The Fiat Qubo, another vehicle of virtually identical characteristics was then put to the test, this time, with ESC fitted. At 57mph - faster than the Nemo - the Qubo went through the course steadily. Being of such similar design to both the Nemo and Bipper, moderators expected that without ESC the Qubo was likely to cause accident, so once again, tests were halted.
As a reaction to the test’s results, PSA has confirmed that it will now fit both vehicles with ESC as a standard feature. Diesel variants will come with standard ESC from July 2010 and PSA plans to equip its petrol models with ESC as soon as possible, however no later than autumn 2011. Both Peugeot UK and Citroen UK confirmed this would be the case for UK vehicles.
To watch the Nemo’s Elk-Test, click here
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