Motoring

Hyundai develop centre airbag

Despite all the modern safety features in cars these days, there’s one danger that can cause serious carnage or worse. Being flung about the car is one thing but hitting your passenger via a head clash for example could be lethal.

Hyundai Motor Group has today announced a new centre side airbag, designed to separate the gap between driver and passenger.

The centre airbag deploys from the driver’s seat and will do so even if there’s no one in the front passenger seat, adding even more protection from a side intrusion for the driver. The company believes the new airbag could reduce head injuries by 80 per cent.

Euro NCAP ratings, that Australia’s crash body ANCAP largely follows is expected take side impact bags into consideration by 2020.

“The development of centre side airbag goes beyond adding an additional airbag,” said Hyock In Kwon, research engineer from Crash Safety System Engineering Design Team of Hyundai Motor Group. “We will continue striving to further improve passenger safety by being ready for all kinds of accidents”.

Chris Bowen

Chris was EFTM's Motoring Editor for many years, driving everything from your entry level hatch to the latest Luxury cars through to the Rolls Royce. He has been in the media for 20 years, produced three Olympic games broadcasts, attending Beijing 2008 & London 2012. Strangely he owns a Toyota Camry Hybrid, he defiantly rejects the knockers. Chris is married to Gillian and resides in Sydney's North West. They have Sam the English Springer Spaniel and Felix the Burmese cat to keep them company, and recently welcomed baby Henry to the family. He has now left EFTM, and writes freelance and runs his own Facebook Page "Bowen's Garage"