Hot kit
Britax child seat leads this week’s new products
CHILD seat specialist Britax Römer has revealed its “most premium” design yet, the Dualfix i-size. Built to the latest ECE R129 regulations, this is also the first model to be designed, developed and built at the company’s new test and production centre in Leipheim, Germany (see Issue 1,496).
The new regulations include side impact assessments in addition to the existing front and rear crash tests, and the seat is designed to work with ISOFIX mounts to reduce the risk of incorrect fitting. Britax’s side impact solution is SICT, which sees a bar mounted inside the seat; this combines with the padded side wings to form a protective cocoon in an accident, absorbing energy and deflecting it away from the child.
A five-point harness with chest pads spreads pressure, plus the design allows little ones to face rearward until they’re four years old. The new regulations – which work on a child’s height, instead of their weight as before – require babies to face the rear when carried in a car until around 15 months.
The Dualfix i-size system can also be used to help with getting the child in the seat by rotating it through 90 degrees. With an adjustable rebound bar for safety and comfort, the seat can be used from birth to four. It costs £430, and comes in nine colours.