Airbags, in combination with safety belts, have proven to be the most effective type of safety restraint. We equip our cars with up to six airbags to prepare for a range of potential accidents. Front airbags for the driver and front passenger absorb the impact of the head and torso in a head-on collision. The outer seats have side airbags which also protect the head and torso in a lateral collision. In the event of a lateral collision, head airbags expand over almost the entire area of the side windows to systematically protect occupants’ heads from injury. The driver airbag is integrated into the steering wheel, and the passenger airbag is located in a panel on the dashboard. When triggered, the panel breaks along seams intended for this purpose. In a collision, a crash sensor pyrotechnically triggers the gas generator, which fills the air bags with nitrogen in less than 50 milliseconds. The envelope is fitted with valves which permit the gas to escape in a controlled manner so that the inflated airbag can absorb the upper body's impact and prevent the body from bouncing back again. Following the crash, the air bag is completely deflated by the time the body comes to a rest in the seat. The full-size version of the driver airbag holds up to 80 litres; the passenger airbag has a volume of up to 150l. The passenger airbag can be deactivated by a key-operated switch using the ignition key, so that a rear-facing child seat can be safely placed in the front seat, for example. We equip all models with a control unit to closely monitor the proper functioning of the airbag system.
