I bet the tiny Daimler Smart does better...

:-)
DAS
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To reply directly replace 'nospam' with 'schmetterling'
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"Rob" > wrote in message
ng.com...
> -- December 9, 2011 - 10:19 am ET
> UPDATED: 12/9/11 2:59 pm ET
> DETROIT -- The slow-selling 2012 Fiat 500 now has another obstacle in its
> sales path: It has been tagged by the National Highway Traffic Safety
> Administration with a three-star safety rating, the lowest of any new
> model tested so far.
>
> The two-door subcompact received four stars from NHTSA for frontal crash
> and rollover accidents but received just two stars for side-impact crash
> safety, the agency announced on its Web site, safercar.gov.
>
> The tests gave the car a combined overall safety rating of three stars,
> NHTSA reported. The outgoing Dodge Caliber and Ford Escape SUV were the
> only other 2012 model vehicles whose test results have been completed and
> released so far by the agency with three-star ratings.
>
> The crash test results and star ratings have yet to be released for the
> 500's primary competitor, the Mini Cooper, as well as such other 2012
> subcompacts as the Honda Fit, Chevy Sonic and Toyota Yaris. The Ford
> Fiesta subcompact received a combined four-star rating, the agency
> reported.
>
> NHTSA's side-impact crash tests involve both an impact with a side barrier
> at a simulated 38.5 mph crash and a second simulated stationary pole
> crash. Though the vehicles tested had curtain airbags and torso/pelvis
> airbags, the rear-seat passenger position was rated at just two of five
> possible stars for safety in the side-barrier crash test, while the
> driver's seat position achieved a five-star safety rating in the same
> crash test.
>
> In the side-pole crash, which simulates an impact at 20 mph with a narrow,
> fixed object, the driver's position achieved a three-star rating out of a
> possible five stars, NHSTA reported.
>
> "Development of the Fiat 500, like all Chrysler Group vehicles, makes
> safety and security a priority," Chrysler said in a statement, which cited
> the model's advanced safety features. "The company strives to continuously
> improve vehicle performance for third-party tests."
>
> IIHS results differ
>
> While the Fiat 500 received only a three-star rating from NHTSA, it was
> named a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety,
> which also conducts rigorous crash testing.
>
> Russ Rader, a spokesman for the insurance institute, said the physical
> barrier in his agency's side-impact test, which simulates a crash with a
> truck or SUV, is physically higher than NHTSA's, which simulates a
> broadside crash with a car. The rear-seat crash test dummy in NHTSA's test
> suffered damage in its pelvis and torso.
>
> "That's why consumers should always look at both sets of test results,"
> Rader said.
>
> Through November, Chrysler sold 17,444 units of the Fiat 500 in the United
> States. The automaker reported 11,200 units in inventory on Dec. 1, a
> 173-day supply. Chrysler Group reported sales of 1,618 units of the Fiat
> 500 in November, the third straight month that sales had fallen from the
> previous month.
>
> CHRYSLER'S STATEMENT IN RESPONSE TO NHTSA RATING:
>
> Development of the Fiat 500, like all Chrysler Group LLC vehicles, makes
> safety and security a priority. In fact, the Fiat 500 features more than
> 35 safety and security features including: driver and front-passenger
> advanced multi-stage air bags, driver's knee air bag, full-length
> side-curtain air bags and standard seat-mounted side pelvic-thorax air
> bags, all to offer enhanced occupant protection to all occupants in the
> event of a collision.
>
> In addition, the company strives to continuously improve vehicle
> performance for third-party tests. We do know that the 2012 Fiat 500 has
> been named a "Top Safety Pick" for 2011 by the Insurance Institute for
> Highway Safety (IIHS). The IIHS recognizes vehicles that demonstrate
> "good" performance in front, side, rollover and rear crash test
> evaluations performed at its Vehicle Research Center.
>
>