Genesis proves safety success again
Following the golf emperor, we also saved Jeong Tae-woo.
Highest grade in IIHS evaluation, recognition of ability
Genesis GV80 Coupe [사진출처=현대차그룹]
“Our safety is not an accident”
Hyundai Motor Group’s luxury brand Genesis has once again been recognized for its ability to save the ‘Emperor of Golf’ Tiger Woods.
In Korea, it has built a reputation as a ‘car to drive if you are successful’ as a CEO’s car and an executive car, and has also succeeded as a ‘life-saving car’.
The humiliation of Hyundai Motors, which was considered a ‘cheap car with many problems and instability’ until 20 years ago, has been completely washed away.
Jeong Tae-woo posted a photo on social media saying he was in an accident but luckily his life was saved. [사진출처=SNS]
On the 15th, actor Jeong Tae-woo posted a photo of a heavily damaged car on his social media account with the message, “I was in a car accident a few days ago, and the car was badly damaged, but I’m really fine.”
The photo shows a semi-destroyed vehicle, which suggests that the occupants may have been seriously injured in the accident. The passenger door was gone and the windshield was broken and cracked. The A-pillar (the slanted pillar between the windshield and the front door) was also torn off.
Prior to this, on the 12th, Jeong Tae-woo posted a picture of a damaged car with the message, “Genesis saved Tiger Woods, but it also saved me.”
Woods, what would I have done without Genesis?
GV80 became more famous after saving Tiger Woods. [사진출처=현대차그룹]
The Tiger Woods accident mentioned by Jeong Tae-woo occurred two years ago, in February 2021. Woods was taken to the hospital after a rollover accident while driving a GV80 in Los Angeles (LA) County, California, USA.
Woods suffered multiple injuries to his legs, but was reportedly conscious enough to reveal his name.
Photos taken of the accident scene show that the GV80 rolled more than 6 meters off the road and was lying on its side on a slope next to the road. The front part of the vehicle was severely damaged by the impact of the accident. ‘
In a briefing at the time of the accident, the LA police said, “There was no collision with another vehicle,” and “The vehicle’s airbags worked properly and the interior of the vehicle was basically undamaged.”
The LA County Sheriff also said, “The front part and bumper of the car were completely damaged, but the interior of the car was almost intact, so Woods was able to survive,” adding, “Otherwise, it would have been a fatal accident.”
Chairman Chung Eui-sun and Tiger Woods [사진출처=연합뉴스]
David Hockey, president of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), also said, “What saved Woods was the airbags installed in the GV80. A total of 10 airbags exceeding safety standards and a knee airbag that stabilizes the driver’s body and cushions the impact played a decisive role.” He mentioned.
Woods later devoted himself to rehabilitation treatment, and 9 months after the accident, he posted a 3-second video of himself swinging a golf club and garnering attention on social media.
It is also known that Woods had a meal with Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Eui-sun and expressed his gratitude.
GV80 proves Volvo-level life-saving ability
GV80 crash test [사진출처=IIHS 캡처]
The GV80 received attention as a safe car while saving Woods. Genesis brand awareness also increased. A month after saving Woods, the GV80 proved its safety by receiving an ‘Excellent’ score in the famously difficult IIHS crash test.
IIHS is a non-profit organization established in 1959. Every year, the crash safety performance and crash prevention performance of vehicles released in the United States are comprehensively evaluated.
Vehicles with the highest level of safety are given a Top Safety Pick Plus (TSP+) rating, and vehicles with a good level of safety are given a Top Safety Pick (TSP) rating.
At the time, in order to receive a TSP rating, it was necessary to receive the highest grade of ‘good’ in all six crash safety items: ▲ small overlap on the driver’s seat ▲ small overlap on the passenger seat ▲ frontal collision ▲ side collision ▲ roof rigidity ▲ head restraint.
It must obtain a rating of ‘Excellent’ or higher in the forward collision avoidance system test (vehicle-to-vehicle, vehicle-pedestrian), and a rating of ‘Good’ or higher in the headlight evaluation.
In addition to the TSP+ rating, all trims must have a good or better rating in the headlight evaluation as a standard feature.
New GV80 [사진촬영=최기성 매경닷컴 기자]
GV80 received TSP+ and proved its life-guarding skills. It also beat all premium SUVs that were considered superior.
In the mid-sized luxury SUV segment, which the GV80 belongs to, competitors such as the BMW X5, Mercedes-Benz GLC, and Lexus RX only received a TSP rating, which is one level lower. In the same car class, the Volvo XC90 received TSP+.
