Ford’s not sitting on their laurels. After introducing a slew of new models this year, they’ve apparently got a couple more aces up their sleeves. Car buyers looking for safer vehicles may want to look at the upcoming 2012 Ford Focus when it goes on sale early next year. The new airbags will feature internal tethers and vents to better shape and distribute forces, which will protect drivers and passengers better than existing airbag technology.
The internal tethering system shapes the airbag to increase chest protection, while the vents will protect smaller drivers, who benefit from lesser forces. The new airbags will be standard on the 2012 Focus, and should make their way through the Blue Oval’s product lineup as each vehicle gets a mid-cycle refresh or full redesign.
As a bonus, the pictures released by Ford showing off the new airbag also show a rendered view of the new Focus’ interior.
Once Ford releases actual photos and specifications of the 2012 Focus, you can bet we’ll have them here on Road Reality.
Show Press Release
ALL-NEW FORD FOCUS LAUNCHES EXCLUSIVE AIRBAG TECHNOLOGIES THAT ENHANCE CRASH PROTECTION
- All-new 2012 Ford Focus will offer an exclusive suite of innovative airbags that help customize protection in the most common frontal and side crashes
- Focus is launching Ford’s next-generation driver-front airbag with enhanced chest protection technology designed to help reduce chest and rib injuries
- Innovative side airbags help enhance chest protection for front seat occupants with shoulder vents that deliver varying levels of pressure based on the size of the occupant and how much of their shoulder blocks the vent
- Focus will be Ford’s first car ever with a front passenger airbag with adaptive venting designed to help enhance head and neck protection by better matching deployment force with occupant size
- The next-generation airbags will debut as standard equipment on the all-new Ford Focus on sale early in 2011 in North America. The new airbags will roll out on other Ford vehicles in the next few years
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.
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About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 159,000 employees and about 70 plants worldwide, the company’s automotive brands include Ford, Lincoln and Mercury, production of which has been announced by the company to be ending in the fourth quarter of 2010. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford’s products, please visit www.ford.com.
by John Suit
Source: Ford
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Ford’s not sitting on their laurels. After introducing a slew of new models this year, they’ve apparently got a couple more aces up their sleeves. Car buyers looking for safer vehicles may want to look at the upcoming 2012 Ford Focus when it goes on sale early next year. The new airbags will feature internal tethers and vents to better shape and distribute forces, which will protect drivers and passengers better than existing airbag technology.
The internal tethering system shapes the airbag to increase chest protection, while the vents will protect smaller drivers, who benefit from lesser forces. The new airbags will be standard on the 2012 Focus, and should make their way through the Blue Oval’s product lineup as each vehicle gets a mid-cycle refresh or full redesign.
