GM Introduces Industry`s First Front Center Air Bag

[David Fermani]

General Motors will introduce the industry’s first front center air bag, an inflatable restraint designed to help protect drivers and front passengers in far-side impact crashes where the affected occupant is on the opposite, non-struck side of the vehicle.



The front center air bag will be introduced on the Buick Enclave, GMC Acadia, and Chevrolet Traverse midsize crossovers in the 2013 model year. This new safety feature will be standard on Acadia and Traverse with power seats and all Enclaves.



The front center air bag deploys from the right side of the driver’s seat and positions itself between the front row seats near the center of the vehicle. This tethered, tubular air bag is designed to provide restraint during passenger-side crashes when the driver is the only front occupant, and also acts as an energy absorbing cushion between driver and front passenger in both driver- and passenger-side crashes. The air bag also is expected to provide benefit in rollovers.

[C. Charles Hahn]

I heard about that; just too bad it has to debut on one of the ugliest GMCs built to date.

[Paul Sparks]

Wonder is special care is called for in the care and cleaning of such a seat ?

[David Fermani]

Maybe that`s a plus? Because it`s so ugly, people might want to start hitting it more? :laser::car::boom:

[Ch96067]

I am guessing that there can never be enough airbag protection in a car. So this is a move in the right direction for sure. What I think is missing (if this is of course the case) is actually the far side airbag inflating during a crash.



What do I mean? If there is a side crash, then the far side occupant (driver or passenger alike) will at first move towards the impact direction and then away from it, hitting the window probably with their head sustaining serious injury.



Wouldn`t it make sense for their proximity side airbag to inflate to protect them? I may be ignorant and this might be the case.

[David Fermani]

Many vehicles are already equipped with side air bags. Some (like Lexus) even have them for the rear occupants too. They also have smart SRS that can determine which air bags to deploy based on the severity of the impact and where the occupant is in the vehicle. Very advanced for sure.

[C. Charles Hahn]

Wonder is special care is called for in the care and cleaning of such a seat ?

Wouldn`t think so, at least nothing more than any other side impact air bag equipped vehicle.

Maybe that`s a plus? Because it`s so ugly, people might want to start hitting it more? :laser::car::boom:

Could be!

Many vehicles are already equipped with side air bags. Some (like Lexus) even have them for the rear occupants too. They also have smart SRS that can determine which air bags to deploy based on the severity of the impact and where the occupant is in the vehicle. Very advanced for sure.

Exactly -- there are probably at least a dozen sensors around the car that specifically determine what is being affected by an impact and which bags it needs to deploy to keep occupants safe.

[Ben@3D]

When we have this, air bags wont be needed anymore.