DETROIT -- Buick's all-new 2000 LeSabre is the first domestic brand to feature the Catcher's Mitt, a special front seat designed to reduce the potential for "whiplash" injuries in some rear-impact collisions.
The Catcher's Mitt, described as a high-retention seat with an active head restraint, is designed to absorb energy and retain a properly positioned passenger's pelvis and lower back in the seat "pocket."
In addition, as the force of a rear-impact collision forces the occupant's body backward, that energy causes the seat's built-in Pro-tech self-aligning head restraint to move up and forward, closer to the occupant's head. This simple mechanical device can reduce head motion in certain rear impact collisions, potentially reducing the likelihood of neck injuries.
Initially introduced in 1998 on cars produced by GM's Swedish partner Saab, the 2000 LeSabre is the first domestic car to offer this special type of seat. The seat is supplied by Lear Corp.
Four air bags also help cushion front-seat occupants. In addition to supplemental restraints mounted in the steering wheel and atop the instrument panel on the passenger's side, side air bags are built into the outside edge of each front seat backrest bolster. Attaching the air bag to the seat helps keep the air bag aligned with the occupant regardless of the seat position.
Also, all front safety belts are now attached directly to the seat structure so that they move with the seat as it is adjusted, and shoulder and lap safety belts are now provided for all three rear passengers.
"With all the improvements we've made to this vehicle, we're at the head of the pack in terms of comfort, reliability, and especially safety," said Byron A. Kearney, 2000 LeSabre vehicle chief engineer. "We went all out to ensure that this car is one of the safest on the road, bar none."
Although no restraint system can protect occupants in every accident situation, the addition of the Catcher's Mitt seat shows Buick's commitment to constant improvements in safety, said Joseph J. Fitzsimmons, LeSabre brand manager.
"The Catcher's Mitt seat is one more feature that helps us keep LeSabre's promise of providing safety and security," Fitzsimmons said.
Bob Lange, General Motors' director of safety engineering, said although the medical basis of whiplash injuries is not understood, proper head restraint adjustment and position is believed to reduce the likelihood of injury in a rear-impact collision.
"GM research indicates that the energy absorption and self-aligning head restraint feature of the Catcher's Mitt seat may offer additional incremental improvement," said Lange.
LeSabre, America's best-selling full-size sedan for the past seven years, has posted more than one million sales in the past eight years. The 2000 LeSabre features the roomy comfort of a six-passenger premium sedan, smooth power provided by a 3.8-liter 3800 Series II V-6 engine, a stronger body structure and classic styling.
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