Euro NCAP has announced crash test results for the Renault Scenic and VW's Touran, both cars achieving five stars for occupant protection in Europe's leading independent crash tests.

Other crashworthiness results for family cars, small family cars, super-minis, 4X4's, large MPV's, and small MPV's were launched at a press conference in Athens co-hosted by Euro NCAP, ELPA and the FIA Foundation.

Also announced are the results for the first eight cars tested to the new child protection rating. The Ford C-MAX is the first car to be awarded four stars for protecting child passengers. It is fitted with Britax child seats and ISOfix fixings.

Apart from Audi and Mazda, all of the manufacturers have met the requirements of Euro NCAP's new seat belt reminder protocol. Euro NCAP's star rating is based on occupants being 'belted', thus seat belt reminder systems are vitally important to Euro NCAP, which says all the safety gains achieved by Euro NCAP over recent years would be completely wasted if car occupants don't buckle up before every journey.

Max Mosley, Euro NCAP Chairman and FIA President said, "The latest cars tested by Euro NCAP demonstrate very high levels of occupant safety, giving Europe's car buyers a wider range of safer models than ever before. Unfortunately, whilst occupant protection continues to improve the number of manufactures scoring only one or two stars for pedestrian protection is still very disappointing. Euro NCAP urges all manufacturers to redouble their efforts in addressing pedestrian safety.”