AboutEuro NCAP

Euro NCAP provides motoring consumers with a realistic andindependent assessment of the safety performance of some of the most popularcars sold in Europe.

For more information, please visit www.euroncap.com.

Main Safety Features of FIAT vehicles

EBD (Electronic BrakeDistribution)

EBDdistributes braking action over all four wheels to prevent them locking, andensures full control of the car in all situations. To reduce brake padoverheating, the system also adapts its operation to both grip availability andbrake pad efficiency.

HBA (Hydraulic BrakeAssistance)

HBAautomatically increases brake force when insufficient brake pedal loading hasbeen applied during an emergency stopping procedure.  HBA can even help experienced drivers whohave applied the correct amount of pedal pressure, by reducing brakingattenuation time in all cases (the time between initial pedal loading andmaximum brake circuit pressure).

ASR-T (Anti Slip Regulation+ Traction)

ASRprevents loss of traction of the driven road wheels, and therefore the controlof the vehicle, when excessive throttle is applied by the driver, and thecondition of the road surface (due to varying factors) is unable to cope withthe torque applied. 

This sophisticatedsystem works at any speed and prevents the driven wheels from spinning byadjusting torque according to the grip coefficient detected at the time ofslip.

Thesystem recognises loss of traction via the ABS sensors, and activates twodifferent control systems to restore grip: in the case of both driven wheelsspinning it reduces engine power via the throttle.

ASR notonly optimises vehicle safety in conditions of minimal or constantly varyingdegrees of grip, but also greatly reduces mechanical stress to the differentialand gearbox through effective control of low speed take-off and traction.

Thesystem is activated automatically whenever the engine is started, but may bedeactivated via a switch on the centre console. A flashing warning lightindicates ASR operation, whilst a second light illuminates to indicate systemfaults or irregularities. ASR deactivation is required when snow chains arefitted to allow for their effective use.

ESP (Electronic StabilityProgram)

Duringnormal driving, ESP works in the background, continuously monitoring steeringand vehicle direction. The ESP system compares the driver's intended direction(by measuring steering angle) to the vehicle's actual direction (by measuringlateral acceleration, vehicle rotation (yaw), and individual road wheelspeeds).

ESP onlyintervenes when it detects loss of steering control, i.e. when the vehicle isnot going where the driver is steering. This may happen, for example, whenskidding during emergency evasive swerves, understeer or oversteer duringpoorly judged turns on slippery roads, or hydroplaning. ESP estimates thedirection of the skid, and then applies the brakes to individual wheelsasymmetrically in order to create torque about the vehicle's vertical axis,opposing the skid and bringing the vehicle back in line with the driver'scommanded direction. Additionally, the system may reduce engine power oroperate the transmission to slow the vehicle down.  ESP reacts to and corrects skidding much fasterand more effectively than the typical human driver, often before the driver iseven aware of any imminent loss of control

MSR (Motor Slip Regulation)

MSRmodulates braking torque when changing down through the gears.  The system cuts in when a gear is shifteddown abruptly under conditions of low grip, restoring torque to the engine toprevent skidding as a result of wheel lock-up.

Hill-Holder Assist

Fiat’sHill Holder system helps drivers pull smoothly away from an upwards-facing hillstart. Operating via the ESP longitudinal acceleration sensor when first gearis engaged and both clutch and brake pedals are pressed, the control unitmaintains front calliper pressure for about 1.5 seconds after the brake pedalis released to eliminate the risk of rolling backwards and ensure a smooth pullaway. Hill Holder does not operate when setting off downhill in first gear, butdoes so when reverse is engaged and the driver wishes to back uphill.

Fire Prevention System(FPS)

TheFPS includes a cut-off valve and an inertia switch which immediately locks theelectric fuel pump. This prevents fuel loss in the case of impact, roll-over ordamage to the fuel lines. The fuel tank is formed in a plastic resistant tomechanical stress and fire.