Technical So the 500 is only a 3 star crash test car!
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Technical So the 500 is only a 3 star crash test car!
http://www.euroncap.com/tests/fiat_500_2007/298.aspx
I agree with RUI, buy the European version then
!
I agree with RUI, buy the European version then
!ahmett
Prominent member
Guys they are the same car basically. Apparently the only reason this was because the seats were more prone to side impact damage, and this had been resolved months ago. (Supposedly early American models had the seats that were involved in the test.)
Dont listen to that bureaucratic rubbish, although Fiat would be wise to 'sort that out' before entering production in the first place if this is the case because people are easily brainwashed.
Dont listen to that bureaucratic rubbish, although Fiat would be wise to 'sort that out' before entering production in the first place if this is the case because people are easily brainwashed.
ukmike2010
New member
A more complete explanation, from Italiaspeed.com
The Fiat 500's stateside relaunch has been dealt another blow this week - literally - as the supermini was only given 3 out of a possible 5 stars by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in its crash tests, garnering 4 stars from frontal and rollover tests and just 2 stars for side impact. The new, tightened up system of testing cars by the NHTSA has made it much harder for cars to achieve the top ranked 5 star rating, but to only score 3 stars is below expectations and will give Fiat more work to do in terms of customer perceptions already damaged by the product endorsement of actress/singer Jennifer Lopez.
While the 500 scored the top level of 5 stars in Europe in the tough Euro NCAP crash test programme this new result caps a difficult period for Fiat in terms of vehicle safety perceptions as the Lancia Voyager (Chrysler Town & Country) as well as the new Jeep Grand Cherokee both scored 4 stars in the Euro NCAP tests late last month with the latter, an all-new vehicle, being singled out for criticism and with a request for urgent rectification to unsafe seat rails.
The Model Year 2012 Fiat 500 tested by the NHTSA received 4 stars (out of a possible 5 stars available) for the frontal crash test, just 2 stars for the side impact test and 4 stars for the rollover test. In the frontal impact test, the driver safety rating was 4 stars for a male (again out of a possible 5) while the passenger (female) was rated at 3 stars. In the side impact test the front seat (male) occupant collected the maximum 5 stars while the rear seat (female) picked up just two. In terms of the rollover test, the 500 earned 4 stars with a 14.5 percent risk rating of rolling over.
The 500 gets the thumbs up from the NHTSA for having one of the three safety features the organisation is focusing on this year, Electronic Stability Control (ESC). However the 500 misses out on a ticked box for not featuring either Lane Departure Warning (LDW) or Forward Collision Warning (FCW).
NHTSA, established in 1970, directs highway safety and consumer programs and is dedicated to achieving the highest standards of excellence in motor vehicle and highway safety. And for more than 30 years the agency has set the standard for safety, helping consumers find safer cars with its 5-Star Safety Ratings.
The program's crash tests for this session will eventually provide consumer safety information on approximately 81 percent of model year 2012 passenger vehicles sold in the United States, while rollover tests will provide information on 92 percent of the 2012 fleet.
NHTSA is rating 74 vehicles for the 2012 model year, including 42 passenger cars, 22 sport utility vehicles, two vans, and eight pickups. The testing is being conducted under NHTSA's enhanced program, which was revamped last year to include tougher crash tests and provide consumers with a single overall safety score for each vehicle. A number of model year 2012 vehicles had carry-over designs from the previous year or have already been tested, and these ratings are already posted online.
"Our 5-star ratings program is a critical resource to help consumers make the best possible decisions about the cars they want to buy," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. "By revamping the tests and creating a more rigorous program last year, we raised the bar on safety for all vehicle manufacturers. People should remember: More stars, safer cars."
In addition to overall safety ratings, NHTSA's revamped testing program also provides recommendations to consumers on the most effective "crash avoidance" technologies available in new model year vehicles. For the 2012 model year, NHTSA has identified 68 vehicle models equipped with either lane departure warning (LDW), forward collision warning (FCW), or both features, which can help drivers avoid a collision. Of these equipped vehicles, 12 have LDW, 18 vehicles have FCW, and 38 vehicles have both features. Since NHTSA began identifying vehicles equipped with these crash avoidance technologies in 2011, availability of these features has risen, up from the 45 vehicles offering these technologies as optional equipment last model year.
Starting with 2011 models, NHTSA has introduced tougher tests and rigorous new 5-Star Safety Ratings that provide more information about vehicle safety and crash avoidance technologies. Because of the more stringent tests, ratings for 2011 and newer vehicles should not be compared to ratings for 1990-2010 models. Overall vehicle score and frontal crash ratings should ONLY be compared to other vehicles of similar size and weight.
The Fiat 500's stateside relaunch has been dealt another blow this week - literally - as the supermini was only given 3 out of a possible 5 stars by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in its crash tests, garnering 4 stars from frontal and rollover tests and just 2 stars for side impact. The new, tightened up system of testing cars by the NHTSA has made it much harder for cars to achieve the top ranked 5 star rating, but to only score 3 stars is below expectations and will give Fiat more work to do in terms of customer perceptions already damaged by the product endorsement of actress/singer Jennifer Lopez.
While the 500 scored the top level of 5 stars in Europe in the tough Euro NCAP crash test programme this new result caps a difficult period for Fiat in terms of vehicle safety perceptions as the Lancia Voyager (Chrysler Town & Country) as well as the new Jeep Grand Cherokee both scored 4 stars in the Euro NCAP tests late last month with the latter, an all-new vehicle, being singled out for criticism and with a request for urgent rectification to unsafe seat rails.
The Model Year 2012 Fiat 500 tested by the NHTSA received 4 stars (out of a possible 5 stars available) for the frontal crash test, just 2 stars for the side impact test and 4 stars for the rollover test. In the frontal impact test, the driver safety rating was 4 stars for a male (again out of a possible 5) while the passenger (female) was rated at 3 stars. In the side impact test the front seat (male) occupant collected the maximum 5 stars while the rear seat (female) picked up just two. In terms of the rollover test, the 500 earned 4 stars with a 14.5 percent risk rating of rolling over.
The 500 gets the thumbs up from the NHTSA for having one of the three safety features the organisation is focusing on this year, Electronic Stability Control (ESC). However the 500 misses out on a ticked box for not featuring either Lane Departure Warning (LDW) or Forward Collision Warning (FCW).
NHTSA, established in 1970, directs highway safety and consumer programs and is dedicated to achieving the highest standards of excellence in motor vehicle and highway safety. And for more than 30 years the agency has set the standard for safety, helping consumers find safer cars with its 5-Star Safety Ratings.
The program's crash tests for this session will eventually provide consumer safety information on approximately 81 percent of model year 2012 passenger vehicles sold in the United States, while rollover tests will provide information on 92 percent of the 2012 fleet.
NHTSA is rating 74 vehicles for the 2012 model year, including 42 passenger cars, 22 sport utility vehicles, two vans, and eight pickups. The testing is being conducted under NHTSA's enhanced program, which was revamped last year to include tougher crash tests and provide consumers with a single overall safety score for each vehicle. A number of model year 2012 vehicles had carry-over designs from the previous year or have already been tested, and these ratings are already posted online.
"Our 5-star ratings program is a critical resource to help consumers make the best possible decisions about the cars they want to buy," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. "By revamping the tests and creating a more rigorous program last year, we raised the bar on safety for all vehicle manufacturers. People should remember: More stars, safer cars."
In addition to overall safety ratings, NHTSA's revamped testing program also provides recommendations to consumers on the most effective "crash avoidance" technologies available in new model year vehicles. For the 2012 model year, NHTSA has identified 68 vehicle models equipped with either lane departure warning (LDW), forward collision warning (FCW), or both features, which can help drivers avoid a collision. Of these equipped vehicles, 12 have LDW, 18 vehicles have FCW, and 38 vehicles have both features. Since NHTSA began identifying vehicles equipped with these crash avoidance technologies in 2011, availability of these features has risen, up from the 45 vehicles offering these technologies as optional equipment last model year.
Starting with 2011 models, NHTSA has introduced tougher tests and rigorous new 5-Star Safety Ratings that provide more information about vehicle safety and crash avoidance technologies. Because of the more stringent tests, ratings for 2011 and newer vehicles should not be compared to ratings for 1990-2010 models. Overall vehicle score and frontal crash ratings should ONLY be compared to other vehicles of similar size and weight.
So they have gone the way of EuroNCAP and moved the goal posts?
looking at the frontal test its like going back to the UK crash tests 30 or so years ago
looking at the frontal test its like going back to the UK crash tests 30 or so years ago
ahmett
Prominent member
Again its sorted so then it would be a 4 star car with the new tests. The only thing i feel that would not make it 5 stars in america is its lack of mass, to which nothing can be made out of that no matter how safe it becomes as it is a small car.
I think that it wouldnt pass the hitting a moose up in maine test very well. For that you would need a truck = )
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However the 500 misses out on a ticked box for not featuring either Lane Departure Warning (LDW) or Forward Collision Warning (FCW).
..................
I would never want that in my car you shouldnt be on the roads if you cant figure out your lane = ), and for a forward collision warning i would assume looking straight ahead is a good idea, not texting! And if you are about to fall asleep on the wheel and are woken up and saved because you are swerving you shouldnt be driving either! Common sense wins the day!
I think that it wouldnt pass the hitting a moose up in maine test very well. For that you would need a truck = )
...........
However the 500 misses out on a ticked box for not featuring either Lane Departure Warning (LDW) or Forward Collision Warning (FCW).
..................
I would never want that in my car you shouldnt be on the roads if you cant figure out your lane = ), and for a forward collision warning i would assume looking straight ahead is a good idea, not texting! And if you are about to fall asleep on the wheel and are woken up and saved because you are swerving you shouldnt be driving either! Common sense wins the day!
OP
OP
Forward collision warning....I thought that was the airbags going off
Tbh their tests don't seem to be as good as euroNCAP's from what I've seen. I mean wtf was spinning the car on its roof all about?
Tbh their tests don't seem to be as good as euroNCAP's from what I've seen. I mean wtf was spinning the car on its roof all about?
I was wondering the same thing....Forward collision warning....I thought that was the airbags going off
Tbh their tests don't seem to be as good as euroNCAP's from what I've seen. I mean wtf was spinning the car on its roof all about?
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I'd say their biggest mistake was testing it in a car painted "metallic turd".
Incidentally, if you go to 3 mins 14 in the first video you can actually see the female crash test dummy in the passenger seat having a go at her husband for causing the crash.
Incidentally, if you go to 3 mins 14 in the first video you can actually see the female crash test dummy in the passenger seat having a go at her husband for causing the crash.
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There was a discussion before on here and the EuroNCAP rating that we were expecting to get on the US model when it arrives here in 2012 was supposedly to be able to meet a 6 star rating if it existed. If you take the 'beauty link' on the posting you can see all the re-enforcing and weight gain that resulted from it. FiatUSA500 did refer to the NHTSA test and I reckon they were bracing themselves for the result of it.
From having driven the east coast of the States in a hired 'it could have been anything' car - my experience was soulless. It was primarily on 4-8+ laned motorways with few turn offs (if you missed your turn you were goosed). I used cruise control and a hard to operate Sat Nav. On the 'roads' into NY they had no 'pull over' lane. Given the rigour of speed controls, etc and monotony of getting from A to B isn't it any wonder that they look for LDW and FCW. I have a clear memory of coming into NY in heavy rains and a car was broken down in the middle lane (a bit like a sitting duck) with cars swerving to avoid it at the last second. The only way that downsizing is really going to success is if all the cars start downsizing. It might take another fuel crisis to bring about sales. Armouring a small car and by US standards a little car brings to mind the 'law of diminishing returns'.
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Charley says
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No lock on the fuel cap, I wonder why?
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It looks like it has a hoop in the outer flap for a remote locking pin. Not sure why we don't have this set-up in Euroland?
