Citroen Nemo fails elk test


The Nemo has been left floundering after being subjected to the famous elk test. The swerve manoeuvre was carried out by the ADAC, the German equivalent of the AA, and Which? Magazine as part of a group test of the mechanically identical Fiat Qubo, Citroen Nemo Multispace and Peugeot Bipper Tepee.

The Qubo was tested first, and was driven towards a chicane at 50mph, and then swerved left and right, as if dodging a stray wild animal, hence the test’s name. The Fiat passed thanks to its optional ESP system.

However, at the same speed, the non-ESP equipped Nemo flipped onto its roof when subjected to the manoeuvre. As the Bipper Tepee didn’t feature ESP, it was not tested.

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE TEST VIDEO OF THE FIAT AND CITROEN IN ACTION

Peugeot and Citroen don’t offer ESP on the Bipper Tepee and Nemo Multispace respectively, while it costs £310 extra on diesel-powered Qubos and is not available on the petrol version.

As a result, Citroen has confirmed that ESP will be fitted as standard on oil burners from September, while petrol models will get it later as it will have to be developed from scratch. Expect Fiat and Peugeot to follow suit.

The test demonstrates the benefit of ESP systems that has led to it becoming mandatory for all new vehicles sold here from 2012.

A Citroen spokesman added that despite the notoriety of the elk test, it’s not something the company tests its vehicles for. “The elk test is extremely severe, so our normal procedures don’t include it. Instead, they reflect more real-life conditions.”



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Submited at Friday, April 30th, 2010 at 4:00 pm on Uncategorized by ethan
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