Three of General Motors’ midsize crossovers will have a front-center airbag for the 2013 model year.
The Buick Enclave, the GMC Acadia and the Chevrolet Traverse have been selected to have the new inflatable restraint, designed to create a cushion between the driver and a front-seat passenger.
The front-center airbag will be standard on all Enclave models and on all Acadia and Traverse models that have automated power seats; the manual lumbar control does not allow space for the airbags on models without power seats.
In the event of a collision, the front-center airbag deploys from the right side of the driver’s seat between the front seats, touching the driver’s shoulder and extending up past the head position. If triggered, it takes about 30 milliseconds to deploy.
It is also expected to provide stability for occupants in rollover situations.
Scott Thomas, senior staff engineer in GM’s advanced restraint systems, said the crossovers are an “appropriate starting point” for the new airbag given their main role as family vehicles.
GM used data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Fatality Analysis Reporting System that finds that side-impact crashes on the opposite side of the passenger in the front can account for 11 percent of fatalities.
“We believe that the front-center airbag has the potential to reduce these fatalities,” Thomas said.