Hyundai Motor Group has revealed its plans to design a different kind of safety airbag that would help victims of car accidents to avoid head injuries. The airbag has been designed to expand between the front seats.
The company hopes it will improve its Euro NCAP ratings with the introduction of this innovative tech in its production models. The European vehicle safety tester begins testing for head injuries caused by side-on impacts starting next year, so the timing seems perfect.
The new center airbag lies inside the driver’s seat and inflates upon collision. The manufacturer claims it is sufficiently durable, despite the small size and weight (half a kilo / 1.1 lbs below most other airbag types). Later on, it will be available for most Hyundai and Kia models.
In an earlier news, ZF presented an experimental safety system based on external airbags that inflate milliseconds before a side-on collision. Watch the video for details.