Badged in the US as...
Badged in the US as the Acura RL, our sources within Honda say that the model will revive the Legend name when it arrives in Europe next year. As we revealed last week, the car is powered by a new 3.5-litre V6 engine developing 300bhp, a unit first seen in the Dual Note concept vehicle from the 2001 Tokyo Motor Show.
That stops the head...
That stops the head whipping back-wards - a movement which can cause painful and lengthy neck injuries. The fast reaction is possible as the headrests are wired to the collision sensors which trigger the car"s airbags.
The sensors fire a small explosive charge to force gas into the restraint like air into a balloon, making it pop out almost instantly. Inventor Johnson Controls - a US car seat maker which supplies GM, Toyota and Ford - has also perfected a non-explosive version which activates when the occupant"s hips are thrown against the seatback by the impact of a rear end shunt. "A lever is moved inside the seat to release the head restraint," said a spokesman. British insurers pay about í‚á£800million a year to treat whiplash victims.