Electronic Stability Program To Be Standard On Entire VE, WM & Captiva Range

[JoeT]

Holden Delivers Another Safety First For Australia

GM Media
20 June 2006
www.media.gm.com

The new generation of Australia ’s best selling car, the Holden Commodore, will be the first locally built range with the acclaimed safety technology Electronic Stability Program (ESP) as standard.

Holden says the Australian safety first was considered a crucial feature for the all-new Commodore, due for release in the third quarter of 2006.

Holden will also make ESP standard on its upcoming Statesman and Caprice flagship cars and the all-new Captiva sport utility vehicle.

ESP technology has been hailed as one of the most significant safety advances since seatbelts were made compulsory in the early 1970s.

State Transport Ministers, State Coroners and motoring organisations have been among advocates for local manufacturers to make ESP more available to Australian car buyers.

GM Holden Chairman and Managing Director, Denny Mooney said today: “Holden is leading the Australian automotive safety agenda by offering the first locally built car range with ESP as standard.

“More importantly, we have chosen Australia ’s best selling car range for the past decade to deliver our most comprehensive safety package.

“The decision to make ESP standard in the all-new Commodore was easy because it’s the right thing to do for our buyers.

“ESP is all about assisting crash avoidance rather than minimising harm if crashes do occur.

“We hope this will create the momentum which governments and road bodies have sought to push ESP further into the mainstream.”

ESP is widely acclaimed because it helps drivers to avoid crashes where emergency action has been taken, rather than focussing on minimising harm if they do crash. International studies have suggested that ESP can prevent more than 30 per cent of single vehicle accidents.

ESP greatly improves vehicle safety performance in situations where the driver takes emergency action to avoid a collision. It does this by electronically correcting vehicle paths through individually applying brakes to each wheel and managing engine torque.

The system operates so smoothly that in most situations the driver will not be aware it has been activated.

“Making ESP standard meets growing demand for its availability and Holden’s continued leadership in active and passive safety technology,” Mr Mooney said.

“We have not witnessed such vocal support for new automotive technology as we have for ESP. The call is coming from all parts of society including police, safety experts and coroners.

“Holden was the first local carmaker to fit seat belts, first to offer anti-lock braking, first to offer driver and passenger airbags and now first to make ESP standard on an entire local range.”

Holden safety expert Dr Laurie Sparke, who worked with Monash University Accident Research Centre to develop the award winning Holden airbag system, said ESP was a significant crash avoidance technology.

“The introduction of seat belts in 1966, frontal airbags in 1993 and then side airbags in 1998 has provided the Australian community with world leading protection,” Dr Sparke said.

“Electronic Stability Program, as fitted to the new VE Commodore range and WM Statesman and Caprice, will assist the driver in maintaining vehicle control in emergency situations. Although most drivers are skilled and cautious, they can still be caught out by unexpected situations.

“The majority of crashes result not from reckless driving, but from driver error. Analysis by Monash University Accident Research Centre suggests that drivers will be able to avoid over 20 per cent of serious crashes, and as many as 50 per cent of serious crashes on wet surfaces with ESP.

“ESP is a safety technology that will benefit even the most experienced, skilful drivers.”

Holden’s ESP system was developed in conjunction with the local operations of Robert Bosch GmbH, which first supplied ESP to automotive manufacturers in 1995.

Holden was the first local manufacturer to offer ESP with a locally built sedan when it was specified as standard in 2004 on VZ Commodore Acclaim and V6 variants of Calais , Statesman and Caprice.

The technology was made standard on the VZ series Adventra all-wheel-drive wagon launched in early 2005. It is also standard on Vectra CDXi and new Astra CDTi turbo diesel and SRi turbo petrol imported cars.


ESP: What Experts Have Said

"This technology is critical to further reducing the road toll. It will reduce not only the fatalities but also serious injuries and even collisions. We're behind the times. The problem is that until such time as demand increases significantly, there will obviously be a slow take-up of the technology."

Victorian State Coroner Graeme Johnstone
(Sunday Age, 29 January 2006 )

"We've introduced seatbelts and we've introduced random breath testing. And electronic stability control has the potential to be just as important for road safety as these two initiatives - if not more so."

Queensland Minister for Transport and Main Roads, The Hon. Paul Lucas
(Press release, 2 June 2006 )

"Consumers should vote with their feet. We are talking about (saving) 50 lives a year."

TAC road safety manager David Healy
( Sunday Herald Sun, 1 January 2006)

"With research showing that this technology can dramatically reduce the chance of being involved in a crash in the first place, it's a life-saving technology well worth consideration."

RAA technical manager Mark Borlace
( Adelaide Advertiser, 8 April 2006 )

"To call it a golden bullet is not too strong a term."

RACV chief vehicle engineer Michael Case
(Sunday Herald-Sun, 1 January 2006 )

“A very high proportion of our single vehicle crashes could have been prevented if they had been fitted with electronic stability control. I think it's far and away the most important development in vehicle safety in 30-40 years."

Adelaide University Professor Jack McLean, Centre of Automotive Safety Research
( Adelaide Advertiser, 14 January 2006)


Holden Safety: Decades Of Industry Leadership

Holden has a safety pedigree back to its decision in 1966 to be the first Australian manufacturer to fit seat belts on all models. Three years later, Holden opened Australia ’s first automotive safety testing laboratory to support its work.

Recent safety firsts for an Australian automotive manufacturer from Holden have included:

1990 – first to fit Independent Rear Suspension to a large car

1992 – first to introduce anti-lock braking

1992 – Australia ’s first national field accident research program in partnership with Monash University Accident Research Centre

1993 – first to fit driver airbag system

1995 – first to fit passenger airbag system

1997 – first to offer traction control

1998 – first to fit side impact airbags

2000 – first family car range to provide anti-lock braking as standard

2004 – Electronic Stability Program offered for first time on locally built sedan

2006 – ESP standard on all locally built new generation sedans

[jbartley]

fan-tasmic!

[mikmak]

"Although most drivers are skilled and cautious, they can still be caught out by unexpected situations."

Surely you jest. It rained twice in the last 2 days and there have been 2 serious accidents on the same stretch of dead straight highway in the last 2 days.

Good on Holden for taking the initiative again!

[Gm786]

Sounds good!

[Butz]

Why don't they use StabiliTrac?

[perry]

holden is desprate to get some image back after korean barina's embarrassment, cos i never heard of ESP with basic VE, only heard from GM executives that there is no point to build a world's best vehicle for the mass market if they cant sell it. i was just wondering how many people will actually switch back to commodore after switching to good imports(accord euro, liberty, mazda6)? good designed and built front-wheel drive isnt that bad, is it?

[jbernie]

As much as adding addtional safety features standard is very commendable, having lived in both Aus & US, it would be great to see goverments stepping up to the plate and requiring drivers to have a higher ability. It is way too easy to get a license in either country and the finger of blame falls on the manufacturers for not doing enough.

Sounds like the VE is getting better and better as we get more information. Definately the increase in standard features will put the Commodore in a good position.

[Havasavana]

I read a few days ago that all manufacturers have committed to have curtain air bags standard on their products sold in the US by MY 2009. Does anyone know of something like this for stability control; either mandated or voluntarily?

[IMPALAon20s]

saw thing on nightline or 20/20 or some show like that.. where here in U.S. stability control will become required just like airbags and seatbelts.

[IMPALAon20s]

Originally Posted by Havasavana

I read a few days ago that all manufacturers have committed to have curtain air bags standard on their products sold in the US by MY 2009. Does anyone know of something like this for stability control; either mandated or voluntarily?

soon!
http://www.autoblog.com/2006/06/14/i...ility-control/

IIHS pushing for mandatory stability control
Posted Jun 14th 2006 7:04AM by Eric Bryant
Filed under: Government/Legal, Safety, Tech

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety claims that making electronic stability control (ESC) a standard feature in the US could reduce auto deaths by up to one-third, which would result in a whopping 11,000 fewer fatalities per year.

The institute's numbers show that otherwise identical vehicles have a 43 percent reduction in fatal crashes when equipped with ESC. Not only were single-vehicle crashes (most often occurring when a vehicle loses control and leaves the roadway) reduced, but high-speed multiple-car collisions were also less common. Not surprisingly, the number of low-speed crashes remained the same, as ESC doesn't do much good in a parking lot unless some serious hooliganism is involved.

While some call for specific federal legislation that would mandate the technology on all motor vehicles, an upcoming revision to NHTSA's rollover test that will invoke a dynamic handling maneuver is said to effectively require ESC on most vehicles. Approximately 70 percent of SUVs and 40 percent of passenger cars sold in the US in the current model year have ESC as standard equipment.

We've explored the limits of electronic stability control on several SUVs that have recently rolled through the Autoblog Garage, and we can state that modern electronic babysitters are indeed amazing at arresting our intentional attempts at upsetting the vehicles. As such, we definitely support the idea of ESC as standard equipment, just so long as each vehicle also includes a means to completely deactivate it.

[rueben44]

Originally Posted by perry

holden is desprate to get some image back after korean barina's embarrassment, cos i never heard of ESP with basic VE, only heard from GM executives that there is no point to build a world's best vehicle for the mass market if they cant sell it. i was just wondering how many people will actually switch back to commodore after switching to good imports(accord euro, liberty, mazda6)? good designed and built front-wheel drive isnt that bad, is it?

Your right on the money.

[DanCBJMS1988]

Originally Posted by Butz

Why don't they use StabiliTrac?

Umm, because ESP the system (which is most likely the same system fitted onto Mercedes-Benzes) is famous the world over. StabiliTrak might be too expensive to fit onto VE/WM and especially the Captiva, so ESP probably fits the bill and maybe cheaper. As a result of the star and laurel introducing ESP in the early 1990s (I think), ESP has entered into the vocabulary of many European languages to mean just that - stability control, alongside:

ASR (Anti-Slip Regulation): traction control
EBD/EBA (Electronic Brake-force Distribution/Electronic Brake-force Assistance): Brake Assist

And many more.

[redTT]

holden is desprate to get some image back after korean barina's embarrassment, cos i never heard of ESP with basic VE, only heard from GM executives that there is no point to build a world's best vehicle for the mass market if they cant sell it. i was just wondering how many people will actually switch back to commodore after switching to good imports(accord euro, liberty, mazda6)? good designed and built front-wheel drive isnt that bad, is it?

state

The media have tried their best in sullying Holden’s safety achievements and their record. Contrary to media reports, the Korean Barina has not tarnished Holden safety reputation. A survey was conducted several months ago asking what people thought about the Korean Barina. The survey summed up that buyers typically attracted to low priced cars i.e. first car buyers and teenagers, bought their cars because 1) they were affordable 2) they looked good and 3) they were good on petrol, safety was way down on the list of priorities. People buying cheap run a round were more likely to include bling packages like mag wheels than an extra airbag. So far this (unsafe car according to the media) Korean Barina have proven to be the most successful Holden Barina.

The commodores have been the most successful large car in the Australian market - since 1997 as the VT commodore. Imports whilst they have their advantages do lack in many areas. The commodore have been successful because of its sized (fit for large aussie families), its long distance capabilities (Australia is after all a large country), its towing abilities (majority of Australian live near the water), its excellent price (imagine a 5 or 7 series BMW for $25kUS), its comfort, part availabilities/price and its stunning performance. The cars you listed are good cars but simply would not be suitable for the typical Australian lifestyle. FWD in Australia is a big no no, especially when out in the country!!!!!!! Australians love their muscle cars, their torque, their V8 and their RWD………………NOTHING CAN CHANGE THAT.

[LAMRONH]

Originally Posted by jbernie

As much as adding addtional safety features standard is very commendable, having lived in both Aus & US, it would be great to see goverments stepping up to the plate and requiring drivers to have a higher ability. It is way too easy to get a license in either country and the finger of blame falls on the manufacturers for not doing enough.

Sounds like the VE is getting better and better as we get more information. Definately the increase in standard features will put the Commodore in a good position.

Requiring higher skill levels in drivers is a noble goal. I have preached it for years but it seems many folks are more interested in eating, drinking, doing nails/hair/eyes/nose, being utterly distracted by 110 dB of earfeces they consider music, scratching their butts, reading a book or newspaper, towkkin on th fone, etc. than paying attention to an activity that can change your life in one second.
Improved driver skill appears an issue that legislatures are unwilling to tackle, other than the expensive and bad joke of the current Driver Ed that keeps some folks gainfully employed, perhaps above their level of incompetence.
Please don't suggest a federal requirement, it would be 2500 pages long, filled with pork, costly beyond belief, add a cabinet post of Driver Security along with thousands of unaccountable uncontrollable nosy incompetent bureaucrats, and the code would be utterly undecipherable by anyone including former IRS careerists.
I think a carrot approach is the only hope. Some state certification of vehicle-control/skid school programs such as currently exist independently around the country.
Perhaps an insurance break, a discount at some stores or on car registration, free custom license plate Vehicle Control School Graduate or somesuch, maybe a gold star on the driver's license...
I think the writing is on the wall for ESP eventually to be standard across the board. It will probably cause a spike in single-vehicle crashes as ABS has in some cases, because the moron behind the wheel will believe his vehicle to be moron-proof. No such animal.

[01cavalier]

Good move! Though I agree that drivers skills need work, I don't see that happening, at least not here in the US.