2012 Fiat 500 named Top Safety Pick by IIHS

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has named the 2012 Fiat 500 a Top Safety Pick for 2011. The new Fiat 500 joins eight Chrysler Group models that are Top Safety Picks by the IIHS for 2011.

The IIHS recognizes vehicles that demonstrate “good” performance in front, side, rollover and rear crash test evaluations performed at its Vehicle Research Center.

Click here for more news on the Fiat 500.

“Introduced earlier this year, the Fiat 500 has seven standard airbags for enhanced passenger protection,” Fiat said. “These include 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 for enhanced passenger protection. Reactive head restraints that deploy in the event of a rear collision to minimize the space between the driver and passenger’s head and the front head restraints also are standard. High strength steel door beams offer additional protection in the event of a side impact.”

Refresher: The 2012 Fiat 500C is powered by a 1.4L 16-valve MultiAir engine making 101-hp at 6,500 rpm and 98 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 rpm. Mated a to a 5-speed manual transmission, the Fiat 500C will deliver an estimated fuel-economy of 30/38 mpg (city/highway). Prices start at $19,500.

– By: Omar Rana