Volvo finally caught up to Depression-era technology yesterday when it debuted its pedestrian-saving airbag technology at the Geneva Auto Show. Seven sensors in the grille of the Volvo V40 hatchback determine if the car strikes a pedestrian, then raises the hood of the car 10 centimeters to deploy the airbag around the windshield in less than a second.
The airbag system works at speeds of 12 to 30 mph, the speeds at which most pedestrians are struck, and only deploys if the car's auto-breaking system fails to slow the car down. Watch a demonstration of the Pedestrian and Cyclist Detection System below.
Sadly, only Europeans and Australians will be enjoying this feature anytime soon. A Volvo spokesman explained the situation to Car Scoops:
U.S. sales data and our continued market analysis confirm that demand for a five-door hatchback like the V40 would not be strong enough to warrant bringing it to the United States. On the other hand, the V40 is highly compatible with the interests and tastes of European automotive consumers, so it's expected to be very successful in European markets.
Of course, the need for pedestrian airbags in New York City might not be as pressing if only there was an agency charged with preventing around 40% of the drivers on the street from speeding.
