New Side Head Airbag Continues 120 Years of Innovation

HOMEBUSH BAY – AUSTRALIA – July 13, 2009: Peugeot, the world’s oldest existing car manufacturer has a long and proud history in introducing new technologies to the market.

Just as it did when it introduced the world’s first-ever Coupé Cabriolet in 1934 with the 401 Eclipse, complete with an electrically retractable steel roof…

Just as it did when it launched the 607 in 2000, featuring the world’s first particulate filter (FAP) working alongside Peugeot’s HDi technology – an innovation that changed diesel engines forever…

Just as it has by launching the 308 CC, complete with the world’s first side head airbag available on all models…

The side head airbag is housed directly in the one-piece seat’s head restraint area.

It deploys laterally from the head restraint and has a capacity of 9 litres.

Combining the side head airbag and the side chest/pelvis airbag ensures that all of the 308 CC’s lateral protection is incorporated into the seat – thereby ensuring efficient deployment and protection of all vital parts of the body regardless of the seat position at the time of impact.

Richard Grant, national marketing manager, Peugeot Automobiles Australia says the introduction of such technology shows how important innovation is to Peugeot.

“The world’s first side head airbag continues a long history of being at the forefront of technology,” he said.

“This history stretches back 120 years to 1889, when Peugeot built just the second automobile ever made.

“It is history that is relevant to the 308 CC in that Peugeot invented the CC 75 years ago, and it is the first company to introduce this new safety feature.

“This innovation stretches into the future too – with Peugeot having made 961 patent applications in 2008, the largest number made by any company in France for the second year running.

“These patents were primarily related to the improvement of petrol and diesel internal combustion engines, deploying second-generation Stop & Start technology by 2010, deploying a full diesel hybrid by 2011, and stepping up the development of technologies for electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids and zeroemission vehicles.”