Massive Side Curtain Airbag Standard on 15-Passenger Ford Transit Wagon
By PickupTrucks Staff
June 28, 2014
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Ever see those long inflatable bananas that people ride on top of while being dragged by a speed boat through clear, blue Caribbean waters? Now imagine it inside a new Ford Transit Wagon 15-passenger van. The truth is, Ford just announced a 15-foot-long side curtain airbag will be standard on the 15-passenger Transit Wagon, which has five rows of seats, a long wheelbase and high roof. In fact, a side curtain airbag will be standard on all Transit Wagons.
This is just one of the many safety features Ford is touting on its new full-size van that's seemingly targeted at the airport shuttle industry or rapid transport companies. By comparison, a midsize sedan like a Ford Fusion has side curtain airbags that are each about 6 feet long and just 2 feet tall.
"This airbag technology is unique in its purpose, which is to help provide protection across five rows of passengers in a cabin that is more spacious than the more traditional light-duty vehicles," said Norbert Kagerer, TRW Automotive vice president. "The stringent customer and industry regulatory requirements for airbags called for developing a new system that provides appropriate occupant protection in a smart package."