Ford has chosen an alternative air bag. Wasn't the roll over testing done on a Bronco? I thought Ford was going to be ours. What happened?
Report: Fords To Have Side Air Bags
.c The Associated Press
NEW YORK (AP) - In a first for a major American automaker, Ford Motor Co. said it plans to offer side air bags on all models, starting as standard equipment on its luxury cars.
Concerned about rising death rates from side-impact crashes, the automaker said that within several years it plans to offer side air bags in all of its cars and Windstar minivans, The New York Times reported today. Ford was to make a formal announcement today.
The side air bags would be built into the outer side of the driver and front passenger seats, inflating on impact to protect an occupant's head and neck. The bags inflate parallel to the rider, instead of toward him or her.
Initially, the side air bags will be installed as an option on the new Mercury Cougar coupe and then will become standard equipment on luxury models, such as Lincoln sedans.
By 2000, the side bags will be added to virtually all other Ford models.
The bags will become standard equipment on less-expensive models as more buyers begin choosing them as an option, Robert Rewey, Ford's vice president for marketing, sales and service, told the Times.
Nearly 7,000 Americans die each year in side-impact crashes involving two vehicles.
General Motors Corp. announced this week that it plans to offer the bags in 15 more of its models. Six of GM's 81 models already contain the devices.
AP-NY-04-08-98 0550EDT |
