Besides extraordinary looks and lots of promise the brand new Volvo V40 also offers various safety features, including a pedestrian air bag. Among the mainstream cars which were revealed at the Geneva Motor Show last week, the Volvo V40 has acquired more comments compared to others. A computer-generated advertisement for the Volvo V40 features the hi-tech motor colliding with a pedestrian. And as the car knocks the figure’s legs out from under him, he flies up and collapses on the bonnet. But as his head lands on the windscreen, an airbag cushions the impact and saves the pedestrian him from further harm. The figure slides off on to the ground and is saved from serious injury.

The Volvo V40 Pedestrian Airbag Technology is triggered when sensors in the front bumper register contact between the car and the pedestrian. Whenever the car hits a pedestrian, the trailing edge of the bonnet lifts and a U-shaped airbag is deployed, designed to cushion impact against the side of the windscreen and pillars.

“The safety systems are intelligent and work together to make driving more pleasant and safe. They are designed to warn about threats. If necessary, they can also step in and intervene in critical situations,” said Thomas Broberg, Senior Safety Advisor at Volvo Car Corporation. He added that in some situations where the collision is unavoidable, there are safety features to help mitigate the consequences. “Yet another important step toward our vision that nobody should die or suffer serious injuries in a new Volvo car by the year 2020,” he concluded.

via Carsuk