Fiat 500 - Great To Look At, Safe To Look Out Of!

Fiat 500: Great To Look At, Safe To Look Out Of!

The new 2009 Fiat 500 was awarded a maximum 5-star safety rating in the gruelling Euro NCAP crash test programme, which shows Fiat’s commitment to all aspects of driver and occupant safety & protection, placing it at the very top of its category in terms of passive, active and preventative safety which is a first for vehicles in this segment. Here in Australia, NRMA tested 138 new vehicles by rotating a laser 180 degrees from the driver's seat to replicate a driver's vision. The scores were calculated by taking into account the position of the windscreen pillars (where the windscreen meets the side window) and how much each blocked the laser. The ratings show the risks posed when a driver is unable to see hazards due to the shape and design of their cars. Needless to say, NRMA has revealed that the new Fiat 500 is the safest car in its class - and the only one to get a three star rating.

The new Fiat 500 achieves this with an adjustable cockpit that adapts to drivers of any size. The combination of rake adjustable steering, with an extensive glazed area along with a height adjustable driver’s seat, allows the best possible view of the road ahead. The very user-friendly ergonomics allow drivers to operate all instruments and controls without taking their eyes off the road, and the headlamps incorporate a switchable Daylight Running facility controlled via the vehicle’s on-board computer.

The safety features continue to grow as the new Fiat 500 is the first car in its class to offer seven airbags fitted as standard throughout the range, while front seat belts with pretensioners and load limiters, three-point rear seat belts, anti-submarining seats, ISOFIX child seat attachments in the rear seats and switchable automatic door locks that can be activated on all doors as soon as the new 500 reaches 12 mph – an important safety and security feature. FPS Fire Prevention System are also all fitted as standard.

As if this was not enough, the new Fiat 500 offers the full range of braking, traction control and stability systems available today: ABS anti-lock brakes, complete with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution, ASR to limit wheel spin during acceleration, MSR to modulate brake torque while changing down, and a sophisticated ESP to control stability through bends. This is achieved by state-of-the-art chassis/platform designed to provide maximum torsional stiffness yet absorb impact with maximum efficiency.

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