The Evolution of a Safety Icon

ROCKLEIGH, NJ -- Nowhere is Volvo's philosophy of continual evolution more apparent than in the passive and dynamic safety improvements made for 1999. Despite the advancements made in those areas for 1998, the first year of the new S70 and V70, Volvo has continued to evolve these cars in several areas, not the least of which, is safety.

Those improvements include: System and performance up-grades made to its world-famous Side Impact Protection System (SIPS). Two trigger settings for front air bags deployment. Automatic door unlocking feature with front air bag, deployment. Stability and Traction Control (STC) to provide sure acceleration from a stand still and at speed on slippery roads (T5 turbocharged front-wheel-drive only). Volvo Traction Control System (TRACS) available on all non-turbocharged front-wheel-drive models. Antilock brakes with Electronic Brake Distribution to maximize brake 0 Performance under all conditions and all loads. Fender mounted turn indicators. Clutch interlock system (manual gearbox only). Cruise Control "On" in-dash indicator light

For 1999, the SIPS system has been extensively re-designed to provide enhanced head protection in side impacts. While the lower section of the bag continues to protect the chest and thorax by limiting the rapid lateral acceleration which is the primary cause of injury, an upper section has been added to protect the head. This addition helps protect the driver or passenger's head from impacting the vehicle structure. Deployment of this larger bag takes place in less than 25 milliseconds. The deployment mechanism has also been modified. The side impact sensor is now of an electrical type and has been relocated to the "B" pillar. The sensor, once activated, sends a signal to the central Supplementary Restraint System (SRS) control module which in turn activates the appropriate air bags. The sensor itself consists of a microprocessor and an acceleration sensor mounted on a circuit board. The front seatbelt buckles have new Hall-type switches to sense seat belt usage.

New for 1999 is a two triggering system for front air bags. The first trigger condition, is for lowspeed crashes utilizes only the pyrotechnic pretensioners if the occupants are belted and the airbag if they are not. At the second trigger setting, for higher speeds, the pyrotechnic pretensioners and the airbag are utilized if the occupants are belted.

In addition to the above, all Volvo S70 and V70 models are equipped with the following 'passive' safety features:

· Seat belt pretensioners. -

· The steering column is equipped with three split points and, as a result, collapses further away from the driver in the event of certain types of collisions.

· Eye-level Light Emitting Diode (LED) brake light on the rear window which lights faster than the typical halogen bulb units, thus cutting driver reaction time.

· Four airbags (two front and two side) to help protect front-seat occupants during both front and side impact.

· Three point seat belts in all five seating positions.

· Head restraints at all five seating positions, even on the V70 wagons.

· Daytime Running Lights (DRLs) which allow the car to be seen from a greater distance in low-light and poor visibility as well as during bright daylight.

· Child-proof rear door locks which help prevent children from opening the rear doors and rear hatch on wagons from inside the car.

· Electrically heated outside rear view mirrors.

· Comfortable, fatigue-reducing seat design.

· Seat belt availability for securing child restraint systems in every seating position except the driver's seat. Child safety seats and booster cushions[backrests should be used only in the back seats. Volvo also recommends that children and small adults under 4 feet 7 inches should sit in the rear seat properly restrained by the seat belt.

Stability and Traction Control builds on Volvo's TRACS low-speed traction control system by operating at all road speeds. If the STC unit detects slippage in one drive wheel upon start up, it applies that wheel's brake in stages until the slippage stops. The system defines "low speed" as up to about 25 mph. Above that speed, the STC unit slows a slipping drive wheel by reducing engine torque by limiting fuel supply. This function maintains drive-wheel traction while accelerating at speeds, such as while passing, or while driving on a slippery road. Reaction time of the STC system is about 15 milliseconds, which translates to about two feet of travel at 60 mph.

The S70 and V70, like all Volvos, are fitted with four-wheel disc brakes with antilock. In addition to ABS, these Volvos boast Electronic Brake Force Distribution, EBD, for maximum braking performance under all conditions. The system is produced by ITT-Teves and is designated as ABS Mark 20.

All four brakes feature sliding calipers. In addition, the ABS wheel sensors have been newly designed and are considered active sensors in that each sensor has its own built-in electronic circuit. There is a sensor at each wheel and each wheel can be controlled individually, making this a fourchannel ABS.

The newly designed brake master cylinder features a new diagonal split of the brake circuits and has equal-size reservoirs and brake-fluid volumes for both brake circuits. However, since most brake applications do not require the benefits of antilock technology, Volvo has fit the S70 and V70 with an electronic system to maximize braking under all conditions and all loads. EBD controls brake force to the rear wheels by regulating the valves at those wheels. The EBD unit monitors the speed differential between the front and rear wheels under braking and ensures that the rear wheels are spinning at the same speed as the front wheels or up to 2 percent more quickly than the front wheels. This ensures that the rear wheels are not losing braking ability as the vehicle weight shifts forward, unloading the rear wheels.

Also included as part of the overall system up-grade are:

· A new ABS hydraulic modulator assembly.

· Improved active wheel speed sensors.

· A 48-tooth magnetic mechanical pulse wheel at each of the four brakes.

· A new, improved system control module for enhanced performance.

PERSONAL SECURITY

A key aspect of Volvo's overall safety philosophy involves personal security. For 1999 the S70 and V70 are equipped with a "Home-Safe" lighting function and an ignition immobilizer anti-theft system.

The "Home Safe" function provides for thirty seconds of additional headlight function to give the) occupants light to safely open doors, walk to side entrances, etc. To activate the function, once the ignition has been turned off, the driver merely flashes the hi-beam beams.

IMMOBILIZER - ANTI THEFT

Each time the ignition is switched on, the Engine Control Module (ECM) generates a random code (this code is changed every time the ignition is turned on.) That code and the VIN number are sent to the Immobilizer Control Module which compares the two with a pre-programmed sequenced number. Once done, the car will start. If the codes do not match the engine starts and then shuts down.