OREANDA-NEWS. Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. (FHI), the manufacturer of Subaru automobiles, announced that the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS; a nonprofit organization supported by auto insurers in the US) has awarded the highest standard of safety, 2014 TOP SAFETY PICK+ (TSP+) along with the highest possible rating of superior for front crash prevention to the 2014 Subaru Legacy, Outback and Forester, equipped with Subaru's EyeSight driving assist system and currently sold in the North American region. Furthermore, the 2014 Impreza (except WRX) and Subaru XV Crosstrek have earned a 2014 TSP rating.

In all the tested vehicles, only the EyeSight-equipped Legacy, Outback and Forester have avoided a collision in the front crash prevention tests at both 12 mph and 25 mph. These three models earned 6 of 6 points for front crash prevention.

IIHS is using new criteria for the awards this year. TOP SAFETY PICK requires good performance in the Institute's moderate overlap front, side, roof strength and head restraint tests and, for the first time, good or acceptable performance in the small overlap front test introduced in 2012. The same level of performance in those tests, along with a basic, advanced or superior rating for front crash prevention, is required for the higher accolade, TOP SAFETY PICK+.

With the small overlap test now incorporated into the basic TOP SAFETY PICK criteria, IIHS is using the TOP SAFETY PICK+ designation to reward manufacturers that provide the next level of safety. This year, that means vehicles that not only protect their occupants in a crash but also have systems that can prevent or mitigate front-to-rear crashes. Front crash prevention, which includes both warning systems and automatic braking, is intended to help inattentive drivers avoid rear-ending a stopped or slower moving vehicle in front of them.

FHI aims to offer "Enjoyment and Peace of Mind" through the Subaru experience, its brand statement "Confidence in Motion" at the foundation. "Enjoyment and Peace of Mind" is not possible without the crucial element of "safety". Subaru will pursue all-around safety by continuing to advance its active, passive and pre-crash safety technologies.