2006 Ford Freestyle Earns IIHS 'Best Pick' Rating for Frontal Crash Test Performance

-- The 2006 Ford Freestyle crossover has earned the highest available rating and a "best pick" designation in frontal offset crash test performance by the IIHS. -- Freestyle recently was recognized as the top performer in its category in the government's 2005 NCAP rollover stability test. -- IIHS also recognized Ford's Five Hundred family sedan, F-150 pickup and Freestar minivan as other recent "best pick" performers in its frontal offset crash test.

DEARBORN, Mich., Oct. 13 -- The 2006 Ford Freestyle has earned the highest available rating of Good, and a "best pick" designation in frontal offset crash test performance by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

Following its recent 40-m.p.h. offset frontal barrier crash test, IIHS noted that Freestyle's occupant compartment experienced minimal intrusion by maintaining its integrity very well -- an essential factor in helping to protect vehicle occupants in a frontal crash.

According to IIHS chief operating officer Adrian Lund, the driver's side of the vehicle needs to absorb the energy of a crash and keep the occupant compartment intact. "The Freestyle's performance is what we like to see," Lund said. "Ford has done a good job of designing its newest vehicles to better protect occupants in frontal crashes."

IIHS also noted other recent good performers from the Ford stable including the Five Hundred family sedan, F-150 pickup, and Freestar minivan. All three vehicles -- as well as the Mercury Montego sedan and Mercury Monterey minivan -- previously earned the Institute's "Good-best pick" rating for frontal crash safety performance.

Freestyle and Five Hundred -- as well as Mercury Montego -- recently were recognized as top performers in their respective categories in the government's 2005 rollover stability test, and earned five star performance ratings in NHTSA's front and side impact crash tests.

"Creating safe, high-quality, affordable vehicles for our customers is part of our ongoing commitment to safety innovation," said Sue Cischke, vice president of Environmental and Safety Engineering, Ford Motor Company. "We are very pleased to see this recognition of Freestyle and our other vehicles."

Freestyle sets an impressive benchmark for safety with its available innovative Safety Canopy(TM) system, an industry-exclusive safety feature that offers enhanced head protection for all three rows of outboard occupants, should side impact collisions or rollover accidents occur.

Freestyle's side-impact protection raises the industry bar by using laser- welding techniques for side pillars that redirect crash forces underneath the vehicle's seats. This energy is further channeled through a cross-car tube.

Ford also breaks new safety ground with Freestyle's innovative adaptive steering column that collapses horizontally at two different load levels based on safety belt usage and seat position. Driver air-bag deployment level is tailored to the occupant, based on the position of the driver's seat track.

Its many accolades during its first year include being among Parents magazine's and AAA's best cars for families, as well as being named the Official Winter Vehicle by the New England Motor Press Association.