August 13, 2013

FORD EXPANDS AVAILABILITY OF REAR INFLATABLE SAFETY BELT TO 2014 FUSION



* The 2014 Ford Fusion becomes the only vehicle in its class to offer rear inflatable safety belts, which combine the attributes of safety belts and airbags

* Rear inflatable safety belts provide additional protection for rear-seat passengers, who often are children or older adults more vulnerable to head, neck and chest injuries

* Ford introduced the industry’s first inflatable safety belts on the 2011 Ford Explorer; it is now available on six Ford and Lincoln models: Ford Explorer, Fusion, Flex, Taurus and Lincoln MKT and Lincoln MKZ

* Ford Fusion owners benefit from a number of available driver-assist technologies, with 72 percent of Fusions sold equipped with Ford’s cross-traffic alert rear sensing technology and 58 percent equipped with a rear-view camera

The new 2014 Ford Fusion is the only car in the popular midsize segment to offer rear inflatable safety belts, adding to the sedan’s suite of available safety and driver-assist technologies. This option is also available in the Fusion Hybrid and Fusion Energi.

Rear inflatable safety belts combine the attributes of safety belts and airbags. The shoulder belt developed for the outboard rear seats contains an airbag. During a crash, sensors determine when the inflatable belt should deploy and signal the belt’s tubular airbag to rapidly inflate with compressed gas.