Results 1 to 5 of 5

Thread: 2012 Ford Focus Launches Exclusive Airbag Technologies

  1. #1

    2012 Ford Focus Launches Exclusive Airbag Technologies

    ALL-NEW FORD FOCUS LAUNCHES EXCLUSIVE AIRBAG TECHNOLOGIES THAT ENHANCE CRASH PROTECTION

    * All-new 2012 Ford Focus will offer an exclusive suite of innovative airbags that help customize protection in the most common frontal and side crashes
    * Focus is launching Ford’s next-generation driver-front airbag with enhanced chest protection technology designed to help reduce chest and rib injuries
    * Innovative side airbags help enhance chest protection for front seat occupants with shoulder vents that deliver varying levels of pressure based on the size of the occupant and how much of their shoulder blocks the vent
    * Focus will be Ford’s first car ever with a front passenger airbag with adaptive venting designed to help enhance head and neck protection by better matching deployment force with occupant size
    * The next-generation airbags will debut as standard equipment on the all-new Ford Focus on sale early in 2011 in North America. The new airbags will roll out on other Ford vehicles in the next few years

    Focus is launching Ford’s next-generation driver-front airbag with enhanced chest protection technology designed to help reduce chest and rib injuries.
    Click here to download related images.

    DEARBORN, Mich., Sept. 16, 2010 – The all-new 2012 Ford Focus will launch exclusive airbag technologies that enhance protection for front seat occupants in the most common frontal and side crashes.

    The suite of new innovations includes Ford’s next-generation driver-front airbag with enhanced chest protection technology. The new airbag uses a reconfigured curve-shaped tether system that pulls in the lower section to create a “pocket” to help lessen the impact of the airbag on the driver’s chest and ribs in frontal crashes.

    Ford’s innovative side airbags feature unique shoulder vents that stay open and reduce pressure for smaller occupants who typically benefit from reduced forces. Taller occupants whose shoulders block the vent could benefit from the higher pressures.

    Focus also will be Ford’s first car ever to feature front passenger airbags with adaptive venting technology that diverts some of the gas from the airbag inflators through vents outside of the airbags. The restraints control module – the control center of Ford’s advanced safety systems – adjusts the level of venting based on seat position.

    The new passenger airbag is designed to help enhance head and neck protection by better matching deployment force with occupant size. This innovative system uses a small pyrotechnic device to force open the vent and can provide less pressure in the airbag when it’s sufficient to help protect the occupant.

    “This is our most advanced airbag system ever in a Ford car, and is designed to enhance protection for front occupants in the most common types of crashes,” said Sue Cischke, Ford group vice president, Sustainability, Environment and Safety Engineering. “Each of these airbags uses innovative technologies to help customize airbag protection to the occupant.”

    The new airbag technologies debut as standard equipment on the all-new 2012 Ford Focus, which goes on sale early next year in North America. They will be rolled out to other Ford vehicles in the next few years.

    Data drive new airbag design
    Ford’s new driver-side airbag was designed to enhance chest and rib protection based in part on Ford’s biomechanical research. In particular, Ford found this type of enhanced chest protection technology would be especially helpful in more serious crashes.

    “While seat belts and airbags provide proven protection for drivers of all ages, elderly drivers remain at higher risk of injury than younger drivers due to the nature of collision forces,” said Frank Heitplatz, Ford supervisor of occupant safety integration. “Decades of biomechanical research at Ford continue to spur refinement of the safety technologies in our vehicles to further reduce the risks of severe injuries.”

    Focus’s strength on safety
    In addition to the new airbags, the new Focus’s vehicle structure provides enhanced crash protection as well as improved vehicle dynamics.

    High-strength steels comprise 55 percent of the Focus’s body shell, and ultra-high-strength and boron steels make up more than 31 percent of its skeletal structure. These advanced materials help the structure meet crash regulations across world markets, while minimizing the vehicle’s weight to help maximize fuel economy.

    “High-strength steels were key to delivering the lighter weight and higher strength we needed for structural efficiency,” said Shawn Morgans, Ford technical leader in body engineering. “We believe the materials used on the new Focus are setting a new benchmark in the small car segment.”

    Ford was the first automaker to begin airbag research five decades ago. It fielded an airbag test fleet in 1971, offered a driver-side airbag in 1985 and standardized driver and front passenger airbags in most vehicles by 1993. In recent years, Ford has introduced a variety of crash protection systems – ranging from canopy airbags to knee bolsters – designed to improve occupant protection. Ford has the most Top Safety Picks from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety of any automaker.

    2004 Silver Birch
    300B
    Build date:9/29/2003, Adopted on 12/02/05
    Exhaust by Greg
    13.630 @ 100.49 mph (11/21/10)

    2015 Ford Focus SE Sport FWD
    2013 Lincoln MKS EcoBoost AWD (377whp/423tq).
    2010 Ford Fusion Sport FWD
    1989.5 Ford Mustang 5.0 LXsport

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    Earth
    Posts
    8,032
    But it's still a Focus.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Nov 2004
    Location
    Smithfield, Virginia
    Age
    53
    Posts
    19,088
    Quote Originally Posted by tbone View Post
    But it's still a Focus.
    I can't wait for the commercial. I hope it's a cheesy as the one where the guy is at the wrecker yard and takes his gear shifter knob as a souvenier while crying "You saved my life" to some craptastic piece of crap car. Sadly, he pulled up in THAT cars twin!! What's up with that? Some auto-erotica with twins fantasy mixed in? What are his plans for that shifter knob, hmmmmm? Hope he chokes on it.
    Oh yeah airbags, right, cool story.


    ~But, it makes it a lot easier when he is manscaped.~ Haggis
    ~Cool, I can have one of those strangulation orgasms without the strangle.
    WIN WIN!~ Zack
    ~Who needs to stop? I just wanna gooooooooooo ~ -Matt-

  4. #4
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    Illinois
    Posts
    54
    I don't get why they are putting them in the cheapest Ford that is made if they really are that safe?

    Does it say it somewhere and I missed it skimming the wall of text?

  5. #5
    Quote Originally Posted by tbone View Post
    But it's still a Focus.
    Hey hey... I'm thinking of buying one for a DD

    Quote Originally Posted by fastmerc03 View Post
    I don't get why they are putting them in the cheapest Ford that is made if they really are that safe?

    Does it say it somewhere and I missed it skimming the wall of text?
    The cheapest Ford now is a
    FRPP dealer owner of SpartaPerformance.com
    We are an authorized independent AMSOIL dealer.

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. Ford Focus 2012
    By bobsawyer7 in forum The Lounge
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: 02-15-2012, 08:03 AM
  2. 2012 Ford Police Interceptor
    By GreekGod in forum The Lounge
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 03-16-2010, 05:50 PM
  3. Widow sues Ford for Airbag Deployment
    By sailsmen in forum The Lounge
    Replies: 26
    Last Post: 01-10-2004, 07:39 PM
  4. Ford Racing Technologies 5.0L Cammer Crate Engine
    By Constable in forum The Lounge
    Replies: 8
    Last Post: 10-29-2003, 06:29 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •