GM’s New Advanced Air Bags Bolster Top Safety Picks

Front center and flexible venting air bags debut on 2013 Chevrolet, GMC, Buick models

General Motors continues to make advances in passive safety technology with the introduction of two new industry-first air bags on four of its best-selling 2013 cars and crossovers.

The 2013 Chevrolet Traverse equipped with power seats and all 2013 Buick Enclave midsize crossovers available at Crotty Chevrolet Buick in Corry, PA come with GM’s front center air bag. Developed in collaboration with safety restraint supplier Takata, this air bag is designed to help provide an energy-absorbing cushion between drivers and front passengers in side impact crashes and rollover events, as well as added protection to the driver in far-side impacts.

Traverse and Enclave are among the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s 2013 Top Safety Picks.

Cruze Debuts Industry-First Flexible Venting Driver Air Bag

‘Smart’ system helps compact sedan keep 5-Star Overall Vehicle Score in crash-testing

 

The 2013 Chevrolet Cruze introduces an industry-first driver-side air bag that uses a flexible venting technology designed to deploy more efficiently while providing equivalent crash protection to more expensive and complex air bag systems.

The 2013 Chevrolet Cruze introduces an industry-first driver-side air bag that uses a flexible venting technology designed to deploy more efficiently while providing equivalent crash protection to more expensive and complex air bag systems.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recently tested the 2013 Cruze with the new air bag technology under its New Car Assessment Program. The Cruze received NHTSA’s maximum 5-Star Overall Vehicle Score, the same rating it received in 2011 and 2012 when the small car used a dual-stage air bag system.

“Our customers are looking for state-of-the-art safety when buying a vehicle,” said Robert Crotty, VP for Crotty Chevrolet Buick. “With the Chevrolet Cruze’s unmatched combination of safety systems, we’re confident that it will meet the expectations of Corry, Erie, Warren and Jamestown, NY drivers.”

Unlike more complex dual-stage air bags that use one inflator for low-speed crashes and another for high-speed crashes, the Cruze’s new single-stage “smart air bag” uses one lower output inflator to manage both low-speed and high-speed crash forces. The more compact, lighter weight system’s flexible vent reduces the risk of inflation-induced injury by allowing the driver’s forward momentum to effectively push the air out and away.

2013 Verano Continues Buick Five-Star Safety Streak

Compact luxury sedan achieves highest possible ratings in NHTSA and IIHS crash tests

The 2013 Buick Verano is shown in a NHTSA frontal collision test, one of three tests required to gain a 5-star Overall Vehicle Score rating.

 The Buick Verano compact luxury sedan recently received a 5-star Overall Vehicle Score for safety from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Earlier this year, Verano was named a 2012 Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Since the beginning of the 2012 model year, every Buick passenger car tested has received these highest possible ratings from both the NHTSA and IIHS.

“Our customers are looking for state-of-the-art safety when buying a vehicle,” said Robert Crotty, VP for Crotty Chevrolet Buick. “With Buick’s unmatched combination of safety systems, we’re confident that any Buick model we offer will meet the needs of Corry, Erie, Warren and Jamestown, NY drivers.”

“New car customers leaving a Buick dealership can drive away knowing they are in a vehicle with superior crash protection,” said Gay Kent, GM General Director of Vehicle Safety. “The brand’s long-running record of five-star overall vehicle scores and Top Safety Picks is a testament to our commitment to exceptional vehicle crash performance.”

2014 Impala Focuses on Crash Avoidance From All Angles

All-new large sedan will feature several Chevrolet-first safety technologies

2014 Chevrolet Impala 360 Degrees of Safety

The all-new 2014 Chevrolet Impala is the latest addition to Chevrolet’s passenger car lineup and provides first-ever safety technologies for the global brand.

Unveiled earlier this year at the New York Auto Show, the Impala leads the full-size segment with 10 standard air bags and boasts numerous active safety systems. While passive safety systems, such as air bags and seat belts, protect occupants in the event of a crash, active safety systems are designed to prevent a crash in the first place through the use of sounds, visual warnings and automated actions.

“Our customers are looking for state-of-the-art safety when buying a vehicle,” said Robert Crotty, VP for Crotty Chevrolet Buick. “With 2014 Impala’s unmatched combination of safety systems, we’re confident that the 2014 Impala will meet the needs of Northwestern Pennsylavania and Southwestern New York area drivers.”