ALL-NEW 2014 FIAT 500L NAMED IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK

October 28, 2013 , Auburn Hills, Mich. – The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety today named the all-new 2014 Fiat 500L a 2013 Top Safety Pick.

The innovative, four-door B-segment hatchback was one of two Chrysler Group vehicles to earn the designation during the latest round of IIHS evaluations. In the last 10 months, a total of 14 Chrysler Group vehicles have been so commended.

Top Safety Pick testing simulates a side impact, front moderate-overlap impact, roof-crush consistent with a rollover, and a rear collision capable of inducing whiplash.

In each of these tests, the all-new Fiat 500L recorded the highest-possible rating of “good.”

“The all-new 2014 Fiat 500L blends Italian style, a loft-like interior, great value and advanced safety features such as reactive head restraints and seven standard air bags, making it a unique proposition in the marketplace,” said Jason Stoicevich, Head of Fiat Brand for North America, Chrysler Group LLC.

The other Chrysler Group vehicle today named a 2013 Top Safety Pick is the all-new 2014 Jeep® Cherokee mid-size SUV, which is equipped with 10 standard air bags and features a 65-percent content ratio of advanced-technology steel.

The 500L and Cherokee join 12 Chrysler Group vehicles that have claimed Top Safety Pick status within the last 10 months. They include, according to IIHS segmentation:

• The 2013 Fiat 500 minicar
• 2013 Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger large family cars
• 2013 Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan minivans
• 2013 Dodge Journey, 2014 Durango and 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee mid-size SUVs
• 2014 Jeep Patriot small SUV

Three additional 2013 vehicles – the Dodge Dart in the IIHS small-car category and the Dodge Avenger and Chrysler 200 sedans among mid-size, moderately priced cars – share not only Top Safety Pick ratings, but the new IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award for superior performance in a small overlap front-crash test.

Among the more than 40 available safety and security features on the all-new 2014 Fiat 500L are technologies designed to mitigate the impact of collisions, such as:

• Advanced multistage air bags, which inflate with a force appropriate to the severity of the impact; unique to the Fiat 500L is a design that includes tethers to shape the air bag (standard)
• Full-length side-curtain air bags, which extend protection to all outboard front- and rear-seat passengers; each side air bag has its own impact sensor that triggers deployment on the side where an impact occurs (standard)
• Driver’s-side knee air bag, which deploys with the driver’s advanced multistage air bag; located below the instrument panel, it is designed to properly position the occupant during impact and offer additional lower leg protection (standard)
• Seat-mounted side pelvic-thorax air bags, which provide enhanced protection to the driver and front outboard passenger in certain impacts; each side air bag has its own impact sensor that triggers deployment on the side where an impact occurs (standard)
• Reactive head restraints, which deploy in the event of a rear collision by minimizing the gap between the heads of the driver and front passenger and their respective head restraints (standard)
• Three second-row head restraints (standard)
• Seat belt pretensioners, which remove slack from the seat belt system to reduce forward movement of the occupant’s body, thereby maximizing the system’s efficiency; activated by impact sensors (standard)
• Digressive load limited retractors, which regulate force exerted on the occupant by the seat belt and then gradually releases seat belt webbing in a controlled manner; system features a digressive load limiter for the driver and the front passenger (standard)
• Three-point seat belts for front occupants; all rear seating positions have lap and shoulder belts (standard)
• Energy management system of three front load paths designed from high-strength steel manage vehicle crush and minimize cabin intrusion
• Crumple zones designed to deform during an accident to absorb energy from an impact, which decreases transfer of that energy to occupants
• Safety cage body structure, which protects occupants by managing and controlling energy in the event of an impact (standard)
• Side guard door beams, which provide occupant protection during a side impact
• Daytime running lamps for additional forward illumination; improves vehicle awareness

About the All-new Fiat 500L
Expanding on the style, efficiency and driving enjoyment that has made the Fiat 500 an icon for more than 55 years, the all-new 2014 Fiat 500L expands the Cinquecento’s appeal by offering 42 percent extra interior space with comfortable seating for five, engaging driving dynamics, a 160-horsepower 1.4-liter MultiAir® Turbo engine and two fuel-saving, six-speed transmission offerings, all wrapped in contemporary Italian design.