Providing all the passengers with the best possible protection in an accident is one of the cornerstones of the Volvo Cars and Ford Motor Company safety philosophy. In this context, the Volvo Safety Concept Car (SCC) has several new features that may find their way into forthcoming car models.
Key new features:
To help hold the occupants of the car in place even more securely in the event of a rollover accident or other multi-sequential crash scenarios, different types of innovative safety belt design are being tested. Since the three-point safety belt is already the single most important safety-enhancing feature in a car, it is important to assess whether other types of restraining device, such as the four-point harness, would provide an even higher safety level.
The Volvo SCC is therefore fitted with two different prototype four-point safety harnesses that engineers at the Ford Research Laboratory, Volvo Cars and TRW are currently evaluating and developing jointly: a crossover harness (CrissCross - X4) and a brace-type system (Center Buckle - V4). Both promote even better belt geometry for improved occupant protection.
Vertically adjustable rear seat for children
Child comfort in the rear seat is a matter of vital safety. One precondition, which dictates whether child safety equipment is actually used, is that it must be comfortable and convenient - for children and parents alike. The child-safety equipment in the Volvo SCC focuses as much on comfort and ease of use as it does on providing crash safety.
Today's generation of Volvo rear seats are designed for adults and modified to suit children. In the SCC, Volvo Cars approaches the matter from the opposite direction and presents a rear seat that is designed first and foremost for children.
Both the seats in the rear of the SCC have seat cushions that can be varied vertically. This is done so that the rear seat can be altered to suit all the children who have outgrown rearward-facing child seats. The seat cushion height is adjusted steplessly to match the child's height exactly and with due attention to belt geometry, comfort and forward visibility.
Protection system for vulnerable road users
The design of a car has a crucial effect on the severity of injuries that a pedestrian or cyclist might suffer in a collision.
An external airbag at the joint between the hood and windshield helps prevent the victim's head from striking the windshield glass and the A-pillars. A sensor at the front of the hood activates the airbag and it remains inflated for a few seconds to extend the protective effect.
The front of the Volvo SCC has a rounded design without any sharp edges. This is done to reduce the force of impact. The hood itself has a crumple zone featuring a large empty space between engine and hood panel - so that the pedestrian has less likelihood of hitting any solid components just beneath the hood.
Contact:
Daniel Johnston
Volvo Cars of North America
1 800 970 0888
Maria Sheler-Edwards
Ford Motor Company
1 313 248 4979