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158:. The engine displacement is 1300 cc instead of 1100 cc, because the car weighs 360 kg (794 lb) more than the standard model. For the styling of this car, Fiat Centro Stile is asked to make the proposals. While the original Fiat 128 is not marketed with five doors Fiat decides to add a tailgate for the ESV 2000 to provide an additional emergency exit.
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moved from the engine bay to the trunk and the fuel tank is moved forward from below the trunk to right behind the passenger compartment. In testing, the concessions to the styling of the car that the Centro Stile wanted, turn out to have negative consequences for the crash test results. Twenty examples of the ESV 2000 are built.
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The extra reinforcements mean that the eventual prototype weighs 780 kg (1,720 lb). This means it is above the target of 1,500 lb (680 kg). Because of its weight, it is fitted with an enlarged engine: 600 cc instead of 500 cc. One of the safety features that Fiat also tests in the
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Also, the windshield is deeply curved so it sits further from the front occupants' heads than in the 128, without any change in the position and rake of the original A-pillars. The roof is slightly raised from the B-pillar aft, to allow for an extra strong roll-over bar. Finally, the spare wheel is
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In Spring 1971, Fiat starts a project to research passive safety of small (up to 1,200 lb, 540 kg) and middle class cars (up to 1,800 lb, 820 kg). In that year, the Fiat 500 has a 23.3% market share in Italy, and thus is an important factor in the safety on the
Italian roads. In
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In all, Fiat produces 47 ESV vehicles between 1972 and 1974, at a total cost of 4.5 billion Lire (40-50 million euros). None of the experimental models designed by Fiat (or the other companies participating in this automotive safety experiment) makes it to mass production, but many elements can be
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with air chambers, the other filled with foam) at both ends with matching side protection strips, and a padded interior. The weight increase varies between 43% for the largest model and 50% for the smallest model. Also the production cost goes up, between 37% and 43%. Due to the higher weight, the
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Fiat is the only manufacturer in the NHSB project to present one model each in three different weight categories. They stand out with very visible black protection of the front and rear of the cars, and have the ESV logo and a number indicating the weight of the vehicle in pounds, as prescribed in
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At the end of 1971, only two
American manufacturers, which do not even produce automobiles, have applied to the NHSB competition. Given the lack of interest, it is decided to extend the offer to all global manufacturers. In 1972, the American manufacturers Ford and General Motors as well as Fiat,
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and has a front engine with rear wheel drive. In terms of weight, it is almost twice the 124, and it would also cost much more, thus making it unviable on the market. Although the shape of the car remains that of a three box sedan, the ESV 2500 gets a tailgate like the ESV 2000. Also here the
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ESV 1500, is the use of airbags, among other restraint systems. The conclusion is that at that time, there is no satisfactory restraint system for speeds of 50 mph (80 km/h) for a car of this size, including airbags. In total, thirteen ESV 1500 prototypes are built.
130:, with rear engine and rear-wheel drive, and is presented at the 1972 convention in Washington DC. Originally, it weighs no more than the targeted 680 kg (1,500 lb), with styling done by the engineers, who borrow certain elements from the yet-to-be-released
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seen on production models in the years to follow. Examples of the Fiat ESVs are the shock absorbing bumpers, fuel tank behind the rear seat and reinforced passenger cell with side impact protection bars in the doors of the
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As main differences with the standard cars they are based on, the three Fiat ESVs have in common: a reinforced inner skeleton, big polyurethane bumpers (in two versions: one developed by
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cars all need a larger engine than standard, and the fuel consumption increases. Also the suspension is enforced and the wheels and tires are a size bigger than standard.
134:. After the presentation, Fiat updates the experimental model for the 1973 presentation in Kyoto as the first versions would not pass the frontal pole collision test.
39:, NHTSA) launches a competition reserved for American manufacturers, for the construction of an entirely new vehicle, intended to guarantee maximum passive safety.
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These ESV cars are designed on the basis of the specifications established during the various conferences held around the world: January 1971 in
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windshield is curved compared to the original, and the fuel tank is moved to a safer position right behind the passenger compartment.
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207:. Sindelfingen, Germany: Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. pp. 2/157–2/184.
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Bernabò, Ferruccio (1973-03-10). "Vetture – sicurezza
Conferenza a Kyoto" [Vehicles – safety conference in Kyoto].
26:) are a small series of prototypes built by Fiat in the early 1970s, intended for research on passive safety features.
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297:. Kyoto, Japan: Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. pp. 2/443–2/475.
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The ESV 2000 is first presented in 1973, in Kyoto. It has five doors and front wheel drive; it is derived from the
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The ESV 1500 project commences before the NHSB invitation to join the program. It is derived from the
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Most of the Fiat ESVs are scrapped, but three are kept and are on display at the
Heritage HUB in
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the same year, the
American organization NHSB - National Highway Safety Bureau (later known as
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339:. Collana Historica (in Italian). Vol. 12. Società Editrice Il Cammello. p. 14.
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Report on the Fourth
International Technical Conference on Experimental Safety Vehicles
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Report on the Second
International Technical Conference on Experimental Safety Vehicles
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The main safety test requirements of this project are protection of the passengers in:
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a collision against a pole, frontal or at the rear, at 80 km/h (50 mph)
269:]. Grote Alken (in Dutch). Vol. 650. Uitgeverij De Alk bv. p. 70.
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a lateral collision against a pole at a speed of 24 km/h (15 mph)
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a frontal or rear collision against a barrier at 80 km/h (50 mph)
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Daimler-Benz, Volkswagen, Nissan and Honda join this initiative.
312:[Fiat, the ESV prototypes and the safe car challenge].
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103:, introduced in 1974 for Europe and in 1975 for the USA.
310:"Fiat, I prototipi ESV e la scommessa dell'auto sicura"
250:(in Italian). Vol. 107, no. 59. p. 17.
37:National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
221:[History of the ESVs]. Archived from
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293:Montanari, Vittorio (March 13–16, 1973).
203:Montabone, Oscar (October 26–29, 1971).
16:1970s series of safety research vehicles
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427:. EditorialeDomus. 1996. p. 552.
363:. EditorialeDomus. 1996. p. 528.
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308:Simoni, Mario (March 13, 2019).
314:ruoteclassiche.quattroruote.it
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178:The ESV 2500 is based on the
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50:, France; September 1971 in
335:Sannia, Alessandro (2013).
24:Experimental Safety Vehicle
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62:, Japan and June 1974, in
404:www.archivioprototipi.it
54:, Germany; July 1972 in
261:Kuipers, Hans (1973).
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470:Experimental vehicles
460:Fiat concept vehicles
379:www.smallcarsclub.com
219:"Storia degli E.S.V."
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400:"1972 Fiat ESV 2000"
187:Notes and references
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86:case of a rollover
346:978-88-96796-21-4
316:. EditorialeDomus
263:Veiligheidsauto's
225:on 11 August 2012
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425:All the Fiats
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361:All the Fiats
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174:Fiat ESV 2500
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150:Fiat ESV 2000
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267:Safety cars
66:, England.
465:Prototypes
450:1970s cars
439:Categories
247:La Stampa
110:, Italy.
20:Fiat ESVs
337:Fiat 131
180:Fiat 124
132:Fiat 126
128:Fiat 500
101:Fiat 131
92:Pirelli
30:History
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320:May 8,
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64:London
409:8 May
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229:8 May
108:Turin
60:Kyoto
48:Paris
411:2024
386:2024
341:ISBN
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271:ISBN
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