Geely’s new LC mini car (named Panda in China) has attracted a great deal of attention since it was first launched. What immediately sets this A-class car apart from its rivals is its unique appearance, strongly reminiscent of the giant panda, the national treasure of China. It is only the second car after the Volkswagen Beetle ever to take its design cues from a living creature.

But there’s a lot more to the Geely LC than its pleasing and thoroughly modern design and shape. It’s strong on safety features and is the first Chinese car to boast a five-star Chinese NCAP crash test rating.

Five-Star Safety
In October 2010, the Geely LC won the prestigious five-star C-NCAP (China-New Car Assessment Programme) safety rating for impact collisions with an impressive 45,3 points out of a possible 51. In the front impact test, Geely scored 14,29 points, which is higher than Honda Jazz and Toyota Yaris.

Cross Class Safety Designs for 5-Star Safety
While LC is an A-class mini car it boasts more safety features than many mid-size cars. In passive safety, Geely LC features an integrated cage body structure with high-strength steel and seamless welding. The engine compartment can effectively reduce the force of frontal impact, while the side body is made from a single steel panel that can effectively resist a side impact. There are also two front safety air bags and pretensioned seat belts in the GL model and lateral airbags and side curtain airbags in the GT. Active safety features include ABS, EBD and ventilated front disc brakes on all models.

Intelligent Safety Equipment for More Active Protection
An alarm sounds when the seat belts are not used and the alarm will also remind you that a rear door is open or when the speed exceeds 120 km/h. When the car is locked the rear doors cannot be opened from the inside. Childproof locks are fitted inside the rear doors. The ignition key, which has the distinctive shape of a panda’s head, has a two-stage action: the first press opens the driver’s door and the second press opens the passenger door.