Volvo is building on its already strong reputation for safety by introducing the first airbag aimed at protecting pedestrians.
Available in the 2013 V40 model, the device is located under the hood and automatically inflates in a few hundredths of a second to cover about a third of the windshield when activated. It can only be launched at the relatively low speeds of 20 to 50 km per hour (12.4 to 31 mph) and has been tested on crash test dummies.
The goal is to protect pedestrians during accidents, especially in situations in which they are thrown onto the hood or windshield upon impact.
The system's seven sensors are located at the front of the vehicle and send signals to the control unit. If the sensors think they've spotted a human leg, the airbag is immediately activated.
The new Volvo V40 was displayed earlier this year at the Geneva Auto Show.
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