HERNDON, VA -  The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) chose three Audi models - the Audi A3, Audi A4 and Audi Q5 - as 2011 TOP SAFETY PICK winners.

With its TOP SAFETY PICK list, IIHS recognizes vehicles that do the best job of protecting people in front, side, rollover, and rear crashes based on good ratings in Institute tests. Winners also must have available electronic stability control, a crash avoidance feature that significantly reduces crash risk. The ratings help consumers pick vehicles that offer a higher level of protection than federal safety standards require.

Last year the Institute toughened criteria for TOP SAFETY PICK by adding a requirement that all qualifiers must earn a good rating for performance in a roof strength test to assess protection in a rollover crash.

Overall, the Institute selected 66 vehicles for its highest honor. This marks the third year in a row that these three Audi models have earned the Institute's top recognition.

"Safety stands at the forefront of Audi vehicle development, so it's rewarding when an evaluator with the credibility of IIHS recognizes this work," said Johan de Nysschen, President, Audi of America.

"Safety is a priority among this crop of winners," said Adrian Lund, IIHS President. "From the start these manufacturers set out to design vehicles that would earn TOP SAFETY PICK, even though we've made it harder to win."