Identification label (page 3 of 3)

In this way the model not only conforms to the EEC regulations in force at present but also with the severer ECE norms which are already in force in some states and which have been recently introduced in Italy but not as yet implemented.

To give an example, regulation ECE12 specifies that during a collision with a barrier at a speed of 48.3 kph, the steering wheel must not move towards the driver more than 12.7 cm. This vehicle offers a higher level of performance than that specified by the law with a horizontal, vertical and lateral movement of the steering wheel limited to less than 10 cm.

During a 55 kph frontal crash tests against a barrier with a 15° slope, special biomechanical crash-test dummies simulating the human body were used. These dummies are able to detect the shocks to which the organs of the human body are subject during collision in order to accurately establish the consequences of an impact.

The tests carried out on this model have made it possible to establish that under these impact conditions the survival of the driver and any passengers is guaranteed.

Also during lateral impact at 50 kph the crumple values and those relative to the deceleration of the dummy are within the limits proposed by the EEVC regulation (collision with a 950 kg barrier which hits the vehicle at a speed of 50 kph exactly where the driver is sitting).

The table below gives the torsional and flectional rigidity values.

(1) Turbodiesel engines
(2) Boxer engines

These higher rigidity values can be translated into advantages, for example:

• lesser vibration;
• lower noise levels;
• improved handling;
• greater resistance to breakage caused by uneven road surfaces;
• sensation of compactness of the vehicle;
• longer life of the vehicle in terms of overall quality.