WASHINGTON - The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on July 29 announced the lineup of MY 2011 passenger vehicles that will receive new safety ratings under the agency's revamped and updated 5-star safety ratings program. 

In all, 24 passenger cars, 20 sport utility vehicles, two vans, and nine MY 2011 pickups will be rated under the new system that not only includes tougher crash tests, but, for the first time, provides consumers with a single overall safety score per vehicle. The new testing program will also provide consumers with information about new advanced crash avoidance technologies, such as lane departure and forward collision warning systems. 

"The vehicles we are announcing today will be the first ones tested under the department's tougher, more rigorous 5-star ratings program," Secretary Ray LaHood explained. "This new testing program significantly raises the safety bar for all vehicle manufacturers and will provide consumers with a great deal more safety information about the cars and trucks they want to buy."  

Test results for the 55 vehicles being tested under NHTSA's new 5-star safety ratings system will be posted on the agency's website, www.safercar.gov. When the new safety ratings become available, consumers will not be able to compare them to old ones since the testing criteria have changed. It will also be more difficult to achieve a high safety rating in this new program, NHTSA said. 

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The list of 2011 makes and models selected for testing is provided below.

Passenger Cars

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Vans

Sport Utility Vehicles

Pickup Trucks