American automotive company Ford Motor has introduced a new inflatable airbag restraint design, which is set to debut in the upcoming 2015 Ford Mustang in order to increase the passenger safety
The new airbag system comes with knee airbag protection and offers inflatable restraint protection in a smaller as well as lighter package to offer more spacious room for more comfort.
Scheduled to be introduced in late 2014 as part of the standard comprehensive safety system, the new airbag will include a package of sensors, safety belt anchor pretensioners, improved exterior lighting and double the total number of airbags.
The new system includes an inflatable plastic bladder integrated into the glove box door that offers front passenger knee protection similar to a conventional knee airbag mounted under the instrument panel.
Ford restraints manager Sean West said the company provides a high level of safety, quality and design for its customers and their passengers.
"With this innovative airbag design, we have developed technology that provides protection for vehicle occupants while also reducing weight and enabling greater design flexibility," West added.
According to the company, the technology allows airbags to be placed in new locations inside the vehicle and offers more liberty to vehicle designers.
The new knee airbag, which was made using materials developed and tested by Ford engineers, consists of a pliable, injection-molded plastic bladder sandwiched between the inner and outer glove box door panels.
With the active glove box knee airbag the number of technology features on the all-new Mustang include eight airbags, additional crash sensors to control the deployment of airbags and safety belt pre-tensioners and a roll rate sensor in the restraint control module.
The new Mustang will also have tri-bar signature lighting and high-intensity-discharge headlamps and Ford MyKey, which allows parents to limit top speed and audio system volume.
Mustang safety systems manager Jeff Rupp said, "The new Mustang has increased ability to adapt safety systems to a variety of potential situations."
