Jaguar XK outside favorite, wins top safety award
Plowing into pedestrians is best avoided altogether, but if there's no way around it
them, ambulatory targets will appreciate it those thoughtful enough to be driving a new Jaguar XK.
That's the word, as the World Traffic Safety Symposium (WTSS) has just granted Jaguar's revitalized coupe its highest award for pedestrian safety. How'd it manage that? With a little help from an explosive hood. As with the Citroen C6 sedan, after an impact is sensed, small pyrotechnic charges push the trailing edge of the hood (near the base of the windshield) upwards, creating an impact-absorbing zone for the unfortunate victims.
[Sources: WhatCar?; Jaguar]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Carmine 10:05AM (4/30/2006)
so they don't die if they get hit by a jaguar going at 90 mph?
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David Fabian 10:19AM (4/30/2006)
Nice, a Jaguar time-bomb. Greatest idea, ever.
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David Thompson 10:24AM (4/30/2006)
If you really want to make the front hood pedestrian- friendly, you should just put the engine in the back of the car. Traction and stability control are so common these days that rear-engine handling quirks wouldn't be a concern.
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Pat Gilmore 10:42AM (4/30/2006)
Does this mean that Jaguar drivers can get drivers licensee points back without going to trafic school?
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That One Person 10:47AM (4/30/2006)
Thats kind of nifty.
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Scott 11:02AM (4/30/2006)
And we wonder why cars are bloated pigs now. I'm all for added safety but this seems a bit ridiculous.
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Bob-o 11:12AM (4/30/2006)
So you have to get those explosives recharged everytime you hit a pedestrian? That sucks.
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Jesse 11:15AM (4/30/2006)
Nice, unless it accidently goes off when you're doing about 80 Mph down the freeway.
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Jason in Boston 11:27AM (4/30/2006)
On a student budget, it may be the only ride I get on a Jag! Glad they made it more "comfortable."
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Tom W 11:48AM (4/30/2006)
Damn.
I had my money on this car:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v615/natural_selection/blob.jpg
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Daniel 12:47PM (4/30/2006)
What is with all of the hooplah about pedestrian safety these days? My s60 has a blunt nose because of it, as do many other cars.
When will this nonsense end and car companies won't have to worry about every potential way that their cars can hurt people.
I'm all for safety too, but how often do you hear about people getting hit by cars? Should we desgin cars so that they scoop up animals and deposit them on side-mounted safety nets?
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Jim P. 12:56PM (4/30/2006)
"Should we desgin[sic] cars so that they scoop up animals and deposit them on side-mounted safety nets?"
Too funny!...
Interesting concept. I would hate to hit the front of a curb block pulling in a space and have this thing go off. Also, very nice looking car, except the front fascia looks a little too Ford Taurus circa 1997.
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Donald Hindle 9:20PM (4/30/2006)
Sure would suck to hit a deer. In addition to whatever the deer bent you have to replace the bomb and the hood.
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blurger293 2:44AM (5/01/2006)
Do the Taurus grille and Cavalier headlights contribute to the pedestrian safety?
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EquinsuOcha 9:15AM (5/01/2006)
"And we wonder why cars are bloated pigs now. I'm all for added safety but this seems a bit ridiculous."
Except that this car is made completely out of aluminum and weighs 600 lbs less than the SL500, and 200lbs less than it's predecessor with more safety features.
Besides, this is going to be a new requirement for a lot of European cars in the future, so get used to complaining. You won't see these "safety" features on the US versions of this car anytime soon.
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tim balding 10:43AM (6/04/2006)
who cares, if it is a nice car people will buy it anyway
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