Volvo V40 introduces world’s first pedestrian airbag

The new Volvo V40 is fitted with the world's first pedestrian airbag – the Swedish maker's first step towards a target that no-one will be killed or injured in a new Volvo by 2020. The Pedestrian Airbag technology was first seen at the V40's launch, at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show. All versions of the V40 will be fitted with the new safety feature as standard. The system is only active at speeds between 20 and 50 km/h, as according to Volvo, 75 per cent of accidents involving pedestrians happen at up to 40km/h. The airbag is activated by sensors in the front bumper that can detect when the car comes into contact with what it interprets as a human leg. The rear of the bonnet releases and rises up, while the airbag is inflated within a few milliseconds. The bonnet and airbag act as damper between the pedestrian, the hard parts of the engine and the windscreen's lower edge and A-pillars, dramatically reducing injury. The Volvo V40 is now available to order, priced from £19,745 To view the full Volvo range, visit CarBuyer's Volvo reviews page.