The Blue Oval is presenting the new airbag technologies that will debut on the 2012 Ford Focus.
Thanks to a number of innovations, like the reconfigured curve-shaped tether system, the 2012 Ford Focus drive-front airbag will offer enhanced chest protection. This system pulls in the lower section during frontal crash, and creates a ‘poket’ that minimizes the impact between the airbag and the driver’s chest and ribs.
The 2012 Ford Focus will introduce the front passenger airbags with adaptive venting technology as a world’s first, and what this means is that pressure inside the airbag is reduced by the restraints control module based on seat position.
The chest and neck should also suffer less injury in case of impact, as the new airbag technologies win the 2012 Ford Focus will better match airbag deployment force with occupant size.
Ford press release :
DEARBORN, Mich., Sept. 16, 2010 – The all-new 2012
Ford Focus will launch exclusive airbag technologies that enhance
protection for front seat occupants in the most common frontal and side
crashes.
The suite of new innovations includes Ford’s next-generation
driver-front airbag with enhanced chest protection technology. The new
airbag uses a reconfigured curve-shaped tether system that pulls in the
lower section to create a “pocket” to help lessen the impact of the
airbag on the driver’s chest and ribs in frontal crashes.
Ford’s innovative side airbags feature unique shoulder vents that
stay open and reduce pressure for smaller occupants who typically
benefit from reduced forces. Taller occupants whose shoulders block the
vent could benefit from the higher pressures.
Focus also will be Ford’s first car ever to feature front passenger
airbags with adaptive venting technology that diverts some of the gas
from the airbag inflators through vents outside of the airbags. The
restraints control module – the control center of Ford’s advanced safety
systems – adjusts the level of venting based on seat position.
The new passenger airbag is designed to help enhance head and neck
protection by better matching deployment force with occupant size. This
innovative system uses a small pyrotechnic device to force open the vent
and can provide less pressure in the airbag when it’s sufficient to
help protect the occupant.
“This is our most advanced airbag system ever in a Ford car, and is
designed to enhance protection for front occupants in the most common
types of crashes,” said Sue Cischke, Ford group vice president,
Sustainability, Environment and Safety Engineering. “Each of these
airbags uses innovative technologies to help customize airbag protection
to the occupant.”
The new airbag technologies debut as standard equipment on the
all-new 2012 Ford Focus, which goes on sale early next year in North
America. They will be rolled out to other Ford vehicles in the next few
years.
Data drive new airbag design
Ford’s new driver-side airbag was designed to enhance chest and rib
protection based in part on Ford’s biomechanical research. In
particular, Ford found this type of enhanced chest protection technology
would be especially helpful in more serious crashes.
“While seat belts and airbags provide proven protection for drivers
of all ages, elderly drivers remain at higher risk of injury than
younger drivers due to the nature of collision forces,” said Frank
Heitplatz, Ford supervisor of occupant safety integration. “Decades of
biomechanical research at Ford continue to spur refinement of the safety
technologies in our vehicles to further reduce the risks of severe
injuries.”
Focus’s strength on safety
In addition to the new airbags, the new Focus’s vehicle structure
provides enhanced crash protection as well as improved vehicle dynamics.
High-strength steels comprise 55 percent of the Focus’s body shell,
and ultra-high-strength and boron steels make up more than 31 percent
of its skeletal structure. These advanced materials help the structure
meet crash regulations across world markets, while minimizing the
vehicle’s weight to help maximize fuel economy.
“High-strength steels were key to delivering the lighter weight and
higher strength we needed for structural efficiency,” said Shawn
Morgans, Ford technical leader in body engineering. “We believe the
materials used on the new Focus are setting a new benchmark in the small
car segment.”
Ford was the first automaker to begin airbag research five decades
ago. It fielded an airbag test fleet in 1971, offered a driver-side
airbag in 1985 and standardized driver and front passenger airbags in
most vehicles by 1993. In recent years, Ford has introduced a variety of
crash protection systems – ranging from canopy airbags to knee bolsters
– designed to improve occupant protection. Ford has the most Top Safety
Picks from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety of any automaker.
