Whilst Volvo is known to herald new safety techniques each time a new car is launched, this time around, they have outdone themselves. Their 2013 V40 hatchback, apart from the plethora of safety features, now carries external air bags to protect the pedestrians.
In the event of an unavoidable collision with a pedestrian, sensors in the front of the car will recognize the pedestrian contact, then deploy an airbag from between where the dash and the hood meet. The airbag will span the lower third of the windshield, and higher along the A column, designed to reduce the severity of the injury the pedestrian would experience.
Park Assist Pilot was designed to assist drivers with parallel parking, leaving the driver to deal with the speed as it controls the steering. Working with ultrasonic sensors, the system uses a minimum of 1.2 car lengths in space to park the car, and gives the driver a series of alerts to get the vehicle safely in the spot.
Lane Keeping Aid is another new technology that concentrates on aiding the distracted driver with cameras that monitor left and right lane markings and takes over if the vehicle begins to drift. The steering wheel will either move or vibrate to alert the driver of any danger.
Radar based system called the Enhanced Blind Spot Information System watches driver’s blind spots for them, and alerts when another vehicle is there with a glowing light. The Volvo’s cruise control will also alert drivers when in dangerous proximity to another, and paces the car accordingly. Additional systems include Driver Alert Control, City Safety, Collision Warning with Auto Brake, and a new knee airbag.
Refresher – The 2013 Volvo V40 will be available with the company first diesel engine and a turbocharged T5 gasoline engine making 254 Bhp allowing it to go from 0 to 100 kph in 6.7 seconds. All models feature start-stop and braking energy regeneration, whether or not they have a manual or automatic gearbox.
Also see – New 2013 Volvo V40 officially revealed, company aims to sell 90,000 units annually
Video of the Volvo V40 features life-saving pedestrian Airbag technology –
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