Volvo XC90 to have world first new safety features

The all-new Volvo XC90 – which will be revealed in August – will offer the most comprehensive and technologically sophisticated standard safety package available in the automotive industry. Volvo has always been pro-active when it comes to safety and the Swedish automaker was the first one to invent seat belts. The new technologies that the company is developing will take it a significant step closer to its vision that no one will be killed or seriously injured in a new Volvo car by 2020.

The standard safety package on the all-wheel drive, seven-seat premium SUV will include two world first safety technologies: a run-off road protection package and auto brake at intersection capability.

World first number 1: Run-off road protection

Run-off road is a common accident type with different causes, such as driver distraction, fatigue or poor weather conditions. Even though there are currently no regulatory or rating tests to examine a car’s ability to handle run-off road accidents, the company has decided to develop the technology to protect occupants should these situations occur.

The Safe Positioning capability means that in a run-off road scenario, the Volvo XC90 detects what is happening and the front safety belts are tightened to keep the occupants in position. The belts are firmly tightened as long as the car is in motion.

To help prevent spine injuries, energy-absorbing functionality between the seat and seat frame cushions the vertical forces that can arise when the car encounters a hard landing in the terrain. The solution is capable of reducing the vertical occupant forces by up to one third. This counteracts spine injuries, which are serious and relatively frequent consequences of these situations.

The Lane Keeping Aid applies extra steering torque if the car is about to leave the lane unintentionally, while Driver Alert Control, which is also standard, detects and warns tired or inattentive drivers. It even has Rest Stop Guidance, which directs the driver to the nearest rest area.

World first number 2: Auto brake at intersections

The XC90 is the first car in the world with technology that features automatic braking if the driver turns in front of an oncoming car. This is a common scenario at busy city crossings as well as on highways, where the speed limits are higher. The all-new Volvo XC90 detects a potential crash and brakes automatically in order to avoid a collision or mitigate the consequences of a crash.

The Volvo XC90 has been one of the best-sellers in developed markets and the Swedish car manufacturer expects to exceed its current expectation with the new generation. The new XC90 will be revealed in August this year and everyone is now waiting for this SUV to be showcased.

Source : CarDekho