MUSTANG HAS GOOD NEWS FOR LEGGY PASSENGERS AND IT’S HIDDEN IN THE GLOVEBOX
When the Ford Mustang is launched locally this year it will be the first vehicle available with a passenger knee bag that’s integrated into the glovebox lid.
This is in contrast to current designs that are built into the instrument panel. Ford says the new knee bag will give the front seat passenger more leg room.
The airbag itself is an injection moulded plastic bladder (rather than a nylon or polyester bag) that’s sandwiched between the inner and outer surfaces of the glovebox lid. When the car senses a collision, a gas inflator hidden inside the glovebox lid is able to expand the moulded plastic sac to full capacity in 20 milliseconds.
According to Ford, this design has 23 patents, is up to 65 per cent lighter and takes up 75 per cent less space than existing passenger knee bag designs but provides “comparable protection”.
Sean West, Ford’s restraints manager, says: “Our glovebox airbag opens up a whole new world of possibilities for injection-moulded plastic airbags.
The new Ford Mustang goes on sale in New Zealand later this year, from $56,990 for the six-speed automatic transmission Fastback, which features a high performance 2.3-litre EcoBoost engine. The range topper is the six-speed automatic GT 5.0-litre V8 Convertible, priced at $76,990.
-CarAdvice.com.au