The Brilliance BS6, the first Chinese limousine aimed at the European market, received a catastrophic rating in the EuroNCAP crash test.

In the head-on collision test the entire front section with A- pillar was pushed 20 cm into the interior on the driver's side. The door bent in such a way that it could only be opened with heavy equipment, Germany's automobile association ADAC said in a press release.

The steering wheel was pushed to the side making the airbag ineffective, causing a driver to hit hard against the dashboard, according to the crash test results.

The passenger side fared a little better but severe injury would have resulted to the chest and legs of an occupant, the ADAC said.

In the side collision test the driver was given little chance of survival because of the high impact in the chest and stomach area.

Of five possible stars on interior passenger safety the BS6 was given only one star conducted by five automobile associations.

Meanwhile the German importer of the Brilliance, Hans-Ulrich Sachs from the HSO firm, was quoted in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung newspaper as saying that the Brilliance would be improved and a new version would be made available for a crash test in July.

Buyers of 350 Brilliance cars delivered in Germany would have the right to exchange their cars for the improved version.