3315513 - Introduction - FRONT SEATS

GLOSSARY

Pre-tensioners

These are safety devices fitted to the front seat belts replacing normal reels.If a frontal impact of a sizeable force occurs the device, activated by a small explosive charge, intervenes, preventing the sliding of the belt and thereby securing the occupant to the seat, overcoming the inertia force which would tend to project them forwards.

Passive safety

This is the collection of measures which interact to reduce the consequences to the occupants of the vehicle following an accident.This category includes the stratified windscreen, the collapsible steering colum, the door opening cables, the material from which the steering is made, the absence of dangerous projections and corners on the dashboard, the structure of the pedals, the conformation and resistance of the seats, the head restratings, the seat belts (also with pre-tensioners), the air bags and the bodyshell with differentiated resistance, in other words with a passenger survival chamber which is as rigid as possible and with front and rear sections, on the other hand, with crumple zone which are designed to gradually absorb the energy of the impact.

Submarining

This phenomenon can occur in the case of a frontal impact.Even with the seat belt fastened, the body of the occupant of the seat tends to slide under the belt.
1, LOWER CUSHION 2, LONGITUDINAL ADJUSTMENT SWITCH 3, SEAT RAISING SWITCH 4, GUIDE 5, ANGLE ADJUSTMENT SWITCH 6, LUMBAR ADJUSTMENT KNOB 7, SEAT SLIDING MOTOR 8, FRONT CUSHION RAISING MOTOR 9, REAR CUSHION RAISING MOTOR 10, BACKREST ANGLE MOTOR 11, SEAT HEATING SWITCH 12, HEAD RESTRAINT 13, SEAT BELT 14, PRE-TENSIONER

STRUCTURE

The front seats have been designed to optimize comfort and safety and, thanks to the wraparound design, guarantee a safe driving position even on tortuous routes.The frames of both the backrest and the cushion are made from a welded metal structure secured by hinges.Near the point where the backrest frame is hinged, it is designed to yield structurally in the case of a rear impact at speeds above 50 kph.In this case it is capable of absorbing part of the energy from the impact.

ADJUSTMENTS

The shape of the seat and the extensive adjustment possibilities, coupled with the possibility of adjusting the steering wheel, allow the optimum driving position for different "sized" drivers with diverse driving styles.

This is the range of possible adjustments:

  • Longitudinal adjustment.The sliding guides offer a wide range of travel.
  • Height adjustment
  • Adjustment of the backrest angle.
The adjustments described above can be implemented by means of mechanical systems or, on request, with electrical controls.Lumbar adjustment (driver's seat on some versions).This is achieved by operating a knob on the backrest which controls a butterfly mechanism which varies the lumbar carrying capacity of the backrest.

SEAT BELTS

The front seat belts, fitted with pre-tensioners, have a double mounting on the seat.In this way the belt follows the seat in the various positions it can assume, adapting to them to guarantee maximum safety in all situations.In addition, the shape of the seat cushion and the seat belt profile greatly limit the phenomenon of body sliding below the belt in the case of a frontal impact (submarining).

HEAD RESTRAINT

The head restraints are fitted with a height adjustment device which is fixed in such a way as to allow an optimum, stable position in the various intermediate positions.

SIDE AIR BAGS

In the case of side impacts, the side Air Bag module contributes to iincreasing the level of protection afforded by the vehicle.The sidebag module is fitted by means of brackets to the outside of the front seat backrests.Compared with fitting on a pillar or door, this solution means that the bag is always in an optimum position in relation to the occupant, irrespective of the seat adjustment or the size of the occupant.

PASSENGER SENSOR

The passenger sensor is a device capable of identifying whether there is a weight on the front seat cushion.The sensor is fitted in the seat, between the upholstery and the cover, without altering the practical, aesthetic or ergonomic properties, and covers the entire area of the seat with the exception of the side panels.