As of January 2016 Euro NCAP has implemented a new protocol that examines the occupant protection in the rear seats of the car and in particular the protection available for child population using booster seats. In this case the belt restraint system of the car plays an important role as it is used to secure the booster and the child to the vehicle. New dummies, Q6 and Q10 and performance criteria are part of this new protocol. The Q6 dummy is to be restrained in a high back booster while the Q10 is secured in a booster cushion. The choice of the later was aimed at encouraging car manufacturers to introduce innovative restraint systems that protect not only adults but also children. In order to meet the new requirements an increased effort in the OEM/CRS Manufacturer collaboration had to be thought thru in terms of the booster CRS performance and its approval.

To achieve these new requirements a high-back booster was developed based on existing platform, i.e. the KIDFIX XP that is part of the Euro NCAP top pick list. The newly developed seat comprises a detachable cushion that can be used for older children and that is equipped with a belt guide for the vehicle shoulder belt routing. The validation of the seat included CAE modeling, sled and crash tests.

This paper highlights the key aspects of this new Euro NCAP protocol, its rational and the technical and approval challenges associated with it.