GM Introduces Worlds First Dual Depth Frontal Airbag

New Airbag Technology Keeps Front-Seat Passengers Safer

Today, during the first press day of the Chicago Auto Show, General Motors unveiled the industrys first passenger-side frontal airbag that has the ability to deploy in two different sizes and at different pressures, depending on front passenger seat position, safety belt usage and the severity of the crash.

GMs innovative dual depth airbag technology will be part of the all-new 2006 Buick Lucerne and 2006 Cadillac DTS, which were both introduced at the same event. The dual depth airbag is one of six airbags that make up a critical element to the two vehicles standard passive safety systems.

So how does it work? The dual depth airbag has the potential to restrain front-seat passengers in a greater variety of seating and crash situations, at least when compared to a conventional dual-stage airbag which may inflate to a variety of different pressures, but only to one single shape.

"We cannot control where our customers will sit in our vehicles or every crash scenario they could encounter," stated Robert C. Lange, GM executive director, Structure and Safety Integration. "The dual depth airbag helps us tailor front passenger restraint based on the location of the passenger seat and the force of the crash."

"In addition," Lange added, "people should always wear safety belts because they help to keep them in the proper position if the airbag does inflate. And children under 12 should always be properly restrained in a rear seat."

The new dual depth airbag is situated behind the dashboard just like the conventional passenger-side airbag, and when required takes only milliseconds to determine the airbag shape needed to be deployed via GMs Sensing Diagnostic Module (SDM). If a smaller airbag is needed, a tether within holds the entire airbag back when gas is vented into the bag from the module housing, reducing the impact on the passenger. The tether would be released for a larger airbag to deploy, and the module-housing vent is shut off allowing the airbag to expand to its full size.

Dual depth airbag technology is GMs latest advancement in occupant safety, following a recent announcement that stated electronic stability control and the OnStar safety and security system would become standard on every retail vehicle sold in North America - a move that only excludes some commercial trucks.

"Only GM offers a full range of cars, trucks and SUVs that provide safety features that operate before, during and, thanks to OnStar, after a crash," commented Lange. "Early indicators show that the dual depth passenger frontal airbag may help us achieve improved scores in frontal crash tests."