2008 SKODA SUPERB technical data

Passive Safety153
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•lean against the dash panel,
•lie on the rear seats,
•only sit on the front area of the seat,
•sit to the side,
•lean out of the window,
•put the feet out of the window,
•put the feet on the dash panel,
•put the feet on the seat upholstery,
•occupy the footwell,
•have the seat belt not fastened,
•occupy the luggage compartment.
WARNING
•If the occupant adopts an incorrect seated position, he is exposed to life-
threatening injuries, in case he is hit by a deployed airbag.
•Before setting off, please adopt the correct seated position and do not
change this seated position while the car is moving. Also advise your occu-
pants to adopt the correct seated position and not to change this seated
position while the car is moving.
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Seat belts155
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The physical principle of a frontal collision
The physical principle of a frontal a ccident can be explained quite simply:
Motion energy, so-called kinetic energy, is produced as soon as the vehicle is
moving, both for the vehicle and its occupants. The magnitude of this kinetic energy
depends essentially on the speed at which the vehicle is travelling and on the
weight of the vehicle and the occupants. The greater the speed and weight increase, the greater the amount of energy which has to be absorbed in the event of an acci-
dent.
The speed of the vehicle is, nevertheless,
the most important factor. Doubling the
speed of the vehicle from 25 km/h up to 50 km/hour increases the kinetic energy
four times.
The common opinion that it is possible to support your body in a minor accident
with your hands, is incorrect. Even in a collision at only a low speed, the forces
acting on the body are such that it is no longer possible to support your body.
Even if you only drive at a speed within the range from 30 km/hour to 50 km/hour,
the forces which are produced on your body in the event of an accident can easily
exceed 10.000 N (Newton). This equals a weight of one tonne (1 000 kg).
In the event of a frontal collision, occupants of the car not wearing a seat belt, are
thrown forward and strike in an uncontrolle d way parts of the interior of the car,
such as steering wheel, dash panel, windscreen, ⇒fig. 148 . The occupants of a
vehicle who have not fastened their seat belts may even be thrown out of the
vehicle. This can resu lt in fatal injuries.
It is also important that rear seat occupants fasten their seat belts as they will other-
wise be thrown through the vehicle in an uncontrolled manner in the event of an
accident A rear seat passenger who has not fastened the seat belt is a danger not
only to himself but also fo r those seated at the front ⇒fig. 149 .
Important safety information regarding the use of
seat belts
The correct use of the seat belts considerably reduces the risk of
injury!
WARNING
•The belt webbing must not be jammed in-between at any point or
twisted, or chafe against any sharp edges.
•It is important that the belt webbing is properly routed if the seat belts
are to offer their maximum protection ⇒page 156, “How are seat belts
correctly fa stened?”.
Fig. 148 The driver is thrown
forward if not wearing a belt
Fig. 149 The rear seat occu-
pant is thrown forward if not
wearing a belt
NKO B6 20.book Page 155 Wednesday, March 26, 2008 3:15 PM

Seat belts157
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– Slowly pull the belt webbing at the to ngue of the lock over your chest
and pelvis ⇒.
– Insert the tongue of the lock into th e seat belt buckle belonging to the
seat until it is heard to lock in place.
– Pull on the belt to check that it has also reliably engaged in the lock.
Each three-point seat belt is equipped with an inertia reel. This inertia reel offers
you complete freedom of movement if the belt is unreeled slowly. If the brakes are
applied suddenly, the inertia reel will block. It also blocks the belts when the car
accelerates, when driving uphill and when cornering.
Expectant mothers must also wear the seat belt ⇒.
WARNING
•The shoulder part of the seat belt must never run across your neck but
must run approximately over the middl e of the shoulder and fit snugly
against the chest. The lap part of the belt must run across the hip and must
never be routed across the stomach. It must always fit snugly ⇒page 156,
fig. 150 . Adjust the belt webbing as required.
•The lap part of the belt should be positioned as low as possible at the
pelvis of an expectant mother in order to avoid exerting any pressure on the
lower abdomen ⇒page 156, fig. 151 .
•Always ensure that the webbing of the seat belts is properly routed. Seat
belts which are not correctly adjusted ca n themselves cause injuries even in
minor accidents.
•A seat belt which is hanging too loose can result in injuries as your body
is moved forward by the kinetic energy produced in an accident and is then
suddenly held firm by the belt.
•Only insert the lock tongue into the lo ck which is the correct one for your
seat. This will affect the protection whic h the belt offers and increase the risk
of an injury.
Seat belt height adjuster
The seat belt height adjuster makes it possible for you to adapt the
routing of the three-point seat belt in the area of the shoulder to match
your body size.
– Move the height adjuster in the desired direction up or down ⇒fig. 152 .
– Then pull firmly on the belt to ensure that the seat belt height adjuster
has correctly locked in place.
WARNING
Adjust the height of the belt in such a way that the shoulder part of the belt
is positioned approximately across the middle of your shoulder - on no
account across your neck.
Note
It is also possible to adapt the routing of the belt webbing at the front seats by
adjusting the height of the seat.
Fig. 152 Front seat: Seat belt
height adjuster
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Seat belts159
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•When disposing of vehicle or parts of the system, it is important to comply with
the national legal requirements.
NKO B6 20.book Page 159 Wednesday, March 26, 2008 3:15 PM

Airbag system161
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•When disposing of vehicle or parts of the airbag system, it is important
to comply with the national legal requirements.
When are the airbags deployed?
The airbag system is designed in such a way that the driver and front passenger
airbag are deployed in the event of a frontal collision of major severity.
In the case of a violent side crash , the front side airbag* on the side of the car at
which the collision occurs, is deployed toge ther with the rear side airbag and the
head airbag*.
In certain accident situations, the front airbags as well as the side and head airbag
may be deployed together.
The airbags are not deployed in the case of minor frontal and side collisions, in the
case of rear-end collisi ons and vehicle rollover.
Deployment factors
It is not possible to state globally which deployment conditions apply to the airbag
system in every situation as the circumstances which exist in the case of accidents
vary greatly. An important role in this case , for example, is played by factors such as
the type of object (hard, soft) against whic h the vehicle impacts or the type of object
against which the vehicle impa cts, the angle of impact, the relative vehicle speed
during the accident etc.
A decisive factor for the deployment of the airbags is the deceleration which occurs
during a collision. The control unit analyses the nature of the collision and activates
the relevant restraint system. If the vehi cle deceleration which occurs and is meas-
ured during the collision remains below the prescribed reference values specified
in the control unit, the airbags are not deployed although the vehicle may well
suffer severe damage to the bodywork as a consequence of the accident.
The airbags are not deployed if:
•ignition off,
•a minor frontal collision,
•a minor side collision,
•a rear-end collision,
•rollover of the vehicle
Note
•a grey white, non harmful gas is released when airbag is inflated. This is perfectly
normal and is not an indication of a fire in the vehicle.
•the dash panel must be replaced afte r the front passenger airbag has been
deployed.
•in the event of an accident in which the airbags are deployed:
− the interior lighting comes on (if the swit ch for the interior light is in the door
contact position),
− the hazard warning light is switched on,
− all the doors are unlocked,
− the battery in the luggage compartment* is switched off;
− the fuel supply to the engine is interrupted.
Front airbag
Description of the front airbags
The airbag system is not a substitute for the seat belt!
WARNING (continued)
Fig. 154 Driver airbag in the
steering wheel
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Airbag system163
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Important safety information regarding the front airbag system
Correct use of the airbag system considerably reduces the risk of
injury!
WARNING
•Never transport children on the front seat of a vehicle without using a
proper restraint system. If airbags are deployed in the event of an accident,
the child might suffer severe or even fatal injuries!
•For the driver and front passenger it is important to maintain a distance
of at least 25 cm from the steering wheel or dash panel ⇒fig. 157 . Not main-
taining this minimum distance will mean that the airbag system will not be
able to properly protect you - hazard! The front seats and the head restraints
must always also be correctly adjusted to match the body size of the occu-
pant.
•It is essential to always switch off ⇒page 168, “Deactivating an airbag”
the front passenger airbag when attach ing a child safety seat on the front
passenger seat where the child is seated with its back facing in direction of
travel (in some countries also when the ch ild is facing the direction of travel).
If this is not done, there is a risk of the child suffering severe or even fatal
injuries if the front passenger airbag is deployed. In certain countries
national legal provisions also requir e that the side or head passenger
airbags be deactivated. When transporting a child on the front passenger seat, please comply with the appropriate national regulations regarding the
use of child safety seats.
•There must not by any further persons, animals or objects positioned
between the front seated occupants and the deployment area of the airbag.
•The steering wheel and the surface of the airbag module in the dash
panel on the passenger side must not be stuck onto, covered or modified in
any other way. These parts should only be cleaned with a dry cloth or a cloth
moistened with water. No objects such as cup holders, mobile phone
mounts, etc. may be attached to the covers of the airbag modules or be
located within the immediate area.
•No modifications of any kind may be made to parts of the airbag system.
Any work on the airbag system includ ing installing and removing system
components because of other repair work (e.g. removing the steering
wheel) must only be carried out by a specialist garage.
•Never carry out changes on the front bumper or on the body.
•Never place any objects on the surface of the front passenger airbag in
the dash panel.
Fig. 157 Safe distance to
steering wheel
WARNING (continued)
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Airbag system165
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Side airbags*
Description of side airbags
The side airbag together with the head airbag offers enhanced occu-
pant protection in the event of a side collision.
The front side airbags are housed in the upholstery of the backrests of the front
seats ⇒fig. 159 .
The rear side airbags* are located between the entrance area and the seat backrest.
The side airbag system in combination with the three-point seat belts, offers addi-
tional protection for the upper area of th e body (chest, stomach and pelvis) of the
occupants of the car in the event of a side collision of major severity.
Apart from their normal protective function, a further task of the seat belts is to
also hold the occupents of the front or rear exterior seats in a correct seated posi-
tion in the event of a side collision so as to enable the side airbag to offer the
maximum protection.
You should therefore always fasten the seat belts, not only because this is required
by law, but also for safety reasons and for your own protection.
Each time the side airbags are deployed , the head airbag* and the front belt
tensioner on the side of the car at whic h the collision occures, are automatically
deployed at the same time in order to provide the occupant with enhanced
protection.
Function of the side airbags
Risk of injury to the upper part of the body is reduced by fully inflated
side airbags.
When the side airbags are deployed, the head airbag and the belt tensioner are also
automatically deployed on the relevant side ⇒fig. 160 .
If an airbag is deployed, the airbag is fill ed with propellant gas. The airbags inflate
in fractions of a second and at a high spee d in order to be able to offer that addi-
tional protection in the event of an accident.
A grey white, non harmful gas is released when airbag is inflated. This is perfectly
normal and is not an indication of a fire in the vehicle.
The load of the occupants is cushioned when plunging into the fully inflated airbag
and the risk of injury to the entire up per body (chest, stomach and pelvis) is
reduced on the side facing the door.Fig. 159 Installation position
of side airbag in driver seat
Fig. 160 Inflated side airbag
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Airbag system167
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•Any work on the side airbag system including removing and installing
system components because of other repair work (e.g. removing seats) must
only be carried out by a specialist garage.
Head airbags*
Description of the head airbags
The head airbag together with the side airbag offers enhanced occu-
pant protection in the event of a side collision.
The head airbags are positioned above the doors on both sides in the interior of the
car ⇒fig. 161 . The installation positions are each marked with the “AIRBAG” logo.
The head airbag together with the three-poin t seat belts and the side airbags, offers
additional protection for the head and neck area of the occupants in the event of a
side collision of major severity ⇒page 168, “Important safety information on the
head airbag”.
Apart from their normal protective function, a further task of the seat belts is to
also hold the driver and the occupants in a correct seated position in the event of a
side collision so as to enable the head airbags to offer the maximum protection. You should therefore always fasten the seat
belts, not only because this is required
by law, but also for safety reas ons and for your own protection ⇒ page 154, “Why
seat belts?”.
Together with other elements (such as cros s bars in the seats, stable vehicle struc-
ture) the head airbags are the conseque nt further development of occupant
protection in the case of side collisions.
Function of the head airbags
The risk of injury to the head and neck area is reduced in the event of
a side collision by fully inflated head airbags.
In the case of a side collision the head airbag is deploy ed together with the rele-
vant side airbag and the belt tensioner on the side of the car on which the accident
occurs ⇒ fig. 162.
If the system is deployed, the airbag is filled with propellant gas and extends over
the entire area of the side window including the door pillars ⇒fig. 162 .
The protection offered by the head airbags is thus available simultaneously both to
the front occupants of the car seated on th e side on which the accident occurs, as
well as to the rear occupants. Any impact of the head against parts of the interior or
objects outside of the car, is cushioned by the inflated head airbag. The reduction
in any impact to the head and the result ant minimizing of any movements of the
head additionally reduce the risk of injuries to the neck area. The head airbag also
WARNING (continued)
Fig. 161 Installation position
of the head airbagsFig. 162 Inflated head airbag
NKO B6 20.book Page 167 Wednesday, March 26, 2008 3:15 PM