The New Fiat 500 C Safety Features
Published: 3rd July 2009
The Fiat 500 C Interior
Structurally derived from the Fiat 500 hatchback (the first car under four metres to receive a five-star Euro NCAP crash safety rating), the Fiat 500 C retains all the safety components and features (active and passive) that justifiably place it among the market's best-in-class.
For example, with seven airbags offered as standard equipment, (two front, two window, two side and one knee bag) the Fiat 500 C is unrivalled in its segment in terms of passive safety. Furthermore, the new car's stable and efficient braking system combined with its responsive acceleration and reliable handling allows it to emerge unscathed from emergency situations.
The Fiat 500 C uses sophisticated technical solutions to ensure that the driver is in control of the car (active safety): such as ABS anti-lock braking with electronic brake distribution (EBD); an advanced electronic stability program (ESP); anti-slip regulation (ASR), a Hill Holder system - which helps the driver with hill starts - and hydraulic brake assistance (HBA) to help with emergency stops.
Moreover, to ensure the safety of the driver and passengers, the Fiat 500 C has a body designed according to the latest crash resistance criteria. This is the first super-compact car equipped with a front-end structure specifically designed to improve inter-vehicle compatibility in head-on collisions, with a rigid cabin to protect the occupants and high-absorption zones on the outside.
All four seat belts are three-point type - while both front belts have dual pretensioners and load limiters. The front and rear seats are equipped with an anti-submarining system that stops the wearer from sliding underneath the seatbelt during an impact. Isofix attachments for child car seats are fitted as standard across the range.
The Fiat 500 C also boasts modern and sophisticated components for preventive safety, especially when visibility is reduced; for example, at night or when in a tunnel. Thus, the Fiat 500 C is the first in its segment to offer, as an option, Xenon headlights with dipping and full-beam functions for better visibility and excellent light output in all weather conditions. The filaments of conventional gas-discharge bulbs have been replaced in Xenon units by two electrodes - just a few millimetres apart - that generate an electro-voltaic discharge in an atmosphere of low-pressure Xenon. Made by Magneti Marelli Automotive Lighting, these bulbs give three times the light intensity and duration of standard halogen bulbs.
The Fiat 500 C has all the dynamic and comfort features that allow users to embark comfortably and safely on any journey. The suspension system plays a fundamental role in this: front suspension is provided by independent MacPherson struts, while the rear suspension is semi-independent with a torsion beam axle. The semi-independent torsion-axle rear suspension system also features an anti-roll bar derived from the Abarth 500 to improve handling and comfort.
Fiat 500
Our Fiat 500 Guide lists the full specification of the current UK 500 range, including car prices, fuel consumption, dimensions and other vital data.
Price Range: £9,300 - £13,605
Body Style:
Fuel:
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Models in the range: 10
We have road tested the Fiat 500, to read our in-depth car review:
Fiat 500 Review - Feb 2008
Our Car Buyer’s Guide covers all of the UK’s major new cars and includes CO2 ratings and car insurance groups. Data updated on the 30th Jan 2010
