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Mitsubishi Galant Rates Five-Stars in NHTSA Side-Impact Crash Test

31 December 1998

Mitsubishi Galant Receives Five-Star Rating in NHTSA Side-Impact Test; All-New Sedan is First Mid-Size Sedan to Receive a 5-Star Rating

    CYPRESS, Calif., Dec. 30 -- In a recent test by the National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the 1999 Mitsubishi Galant with
available side air bags received a 5-star rating for the driver's position in
side impact testing, becoming the first popularly priced mid-size sedan to do
so.  According to NHTSA test results and currently published materials,
Galant's side impact protection -- 5-star for the driver, 4-star for the rear
passenger -- is better than its mid-size sedan competition, including Honda
Accord, Toyota Camry, Nissan Maxima, Chevrolet Lumina and Chrysler Cirrus.
    Since its August launch, the all-new Galant has been well received by
buyers -- sales are up over 40 percent compared to the previous model -- for
its combination of style, performance and value.  According to Mitsubishi
Motors, perhaps buyers can also add "safety" to the list of Galant attributes.
    "While Galant's exterior design is stylish and distinctive, and its engine
and sporty suspension make it fun-to-drive, our engineers ensured that safety
would be a very important aspect of Galant's performance," said Pierre Gagnon,
executive vice president and chief operating officer for Mitsubishi Motor
Sales of America, Inc. (MMSA).  "We're pleased to have NHTSA's 5-star rating
for the driver's position to confirm our belief that the all-new Galant, with
its available side air bags, provides exceptional safety in side impact
crashes."
    During the Galant's development, Mitsubishi Motors' engineers used the
acronym of RISE -- "refined impact safety evolution" -- as a description of
their goal to take safety to a high level.  High rigidity side members, roof
reinforcement, side sills, door frames and side guard door beams provide a
steel structure around the passenger compartment.  This design also allows for
improved safety in off-set crashes and side impacts.
    In addition, front safety belts with force limiters gradually release
tension on the belt once a pre-determined pressure has been reached in an
impact situation, essentially decelerating the passenger rather than stopping
them abruptly in a collision.  Special padding and energy absorbing materials
in the interior provide protection against injury, and Galant's steering
column is designed to collapse on both ends to keep it from contacting the
driver in the event of a head-on crash.
    The 1999 Galant is also Mitsubishi Motors' first vehicle sold in the
United States with available side air bags.  The side air bags are mounted in
the front seats to keep them in the proper position relative to the passenger.
    Mitsubishi Motor Sales of America, Inc. (MMSA) was established in 1982 by
Mitsubishi Motor Corporation, Tokyo, and markets a full line of vehicles,
including coupes, convertibles, sedans and sport utility vehicles.