SAFETY
 

The Fiat Panda Cross is fitted with the most sophisticated devices and technical solutions for the protection of its drivers and passengers. The new Panda 4x4 version is an offshoot of the Panda Project, a model that has undergone 15,000 hours of computer modelling, 80 crash tests, 70 simulations on a HyGe slide and 140 tests on components and subsystems. These numbers demonstrate the company's commitment to making the Fiat Panda one of the safest cars in its segment.

Part of the credit for this goes to a new chassis designed to absorb impact with maximum efficacy. The service continues with occupant protection provided by the body, bonnet, doors and facia beam. And we must not overlook the contribution to passive safety afforded by other features such as the seats or door panels. Although these parts fulfil a different function, they have also been designed with a view to their behaviour in the case of accidents. The resulting vehicle structure is rigid at the passenger compartment (to protect the occupants from damage caused by objects intruding into the vehicle) but equipped with areas capable of absorbing high amounts of energy around the passenger compartment. This protection is complemented by special dedicated passive safety devices: the Panda Cross offers up to 6 airbags (the front airbags are standard), three-point seat-belts with pretensioners and load limiters, adjustable head-restraint and FPS fire protection system.

The new version of the Panda model also offers as standard an ABS system with four active sensors, four channels, a hydraulic control unit and eight solenoids together with EBD (Electronic Brake Distribution).
 

This system ensures that any wheel at the point of locking can brake as effectively as possible. In emergency situations, it also allows full directional control of the car by means of the steering wheel. The strength of the system lies in the active sensors that process the wheel speeds themselves (without the intervention of the control unit). They can also read values close to zero (passive sensors cannot record speeds lower than 2.5 km/h) and are less sensitive to interference caused by electromagnetic fields. This cutting-edge ABS is reinforced by an electronic brakeforce distributor (EBD), that distributes braking action over all four wheels to prevent them locking and ensure full control of the car in all situations. The system also adapts system operation to wheel grip conditions and pad efficiency. It reduces front brake temperatures and the brake servo thrust requirement. The ABS also comes with MSR (Motor Schleppmoment Regelung). If the driver changes down abruptly in conditions of poor grip, the MSR cuts in to restore torque to the engine and prevent skidding as a result of wheel lock.

The Panda Cross braking system features two independent crossover hydraulic circuits to assure responsive, gradual braking and shorter stopping distances. Pedal travel is short to exploit the qualities of the 9" brake servo to the full. The front discs are 257x22 mm, ventilated, with dual cylinder callipers and automatic take-up to ensure a reduced pedal travel that remains constant in time in addition to prompter braking. The rear brakes are 240x11 mm solid discs with rear callipers.