GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
127
SIDE AIR BAGS
(SIDE BAG - WINDOW BAG)
Purpose of the side airbags is to in-
crease passenger protection in the
event of a side impact of medium to
high severity.
They consist of two instantly inflat-
able bag types:
– side bags are housed in the back
rest of the front seats; this solution
makes it possible to always have the
cushion in the optimum position with
respect to the passenger, regardless of
the seat position;
– window bags, being a “curtain” sys-
tem, are housed in the side roof lin-
ing and are covered by a special trim
that enables bag deflation downwards.
This solution, designed to protect the
head, offers the occupants the highest
degree of protection in the case of aside crash due to the wide deflation
surface of the bags.
In the event of a side collision the
electronic control unit processes the
signals coming from a deceleration
sensor and, if required, triggers the in-
flation of the bags.
The bags inflate immediately, setting
as a protective barrier between the
passengers and the car door. The bags
deflate immediately afterwards.
In minor side crashes (for which the
restraining action of the seat belts is
sufficient), the air bags are not de-
ployed.Therefore the side air bags are not
a replacement of but complementary
to the belts, which you are recom-
mended to always wear, as specified
by law in Europe and most non-Euro-
pean countries.
Operation of the side air bags is not
disabled by the passenger’s front air
bag deactivation switch, as described
in the previous paragraph.
IMPORTANTThe front and/or
side air bags may be deployed if the car
is subject to heavy knocks or accidents
involving the underbody area, such as
for example violent shocks against
steps, kerbs or low obstacles, falling of
the car in big holes or sags in the road.
