OVERVIEW
Advances in strength and rigidity of the unit-body structure, as well
as innovations in side-impact protection and air bag technology, make
the 3.5 RL as safe and secure as it is comfortable and gratifying to
drive. For increased driver control, standard equipment includes an
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) and a Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA)
system that incorporates traction control functions.
DUAL AIR BAGS AND AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT PRETENSIONERS
Three-point lap-and-shoulder belts are provided at all seating
positions. Front air bags help to protect the driver and front
passenger in moderate to severe frontal impacts, and automatic seat
belt pretensioners help keep front passengers firmly in position in
order to take advantage of the protection afforded by the air bag
system.
DUAL-STAGE FRONT PASSENGER'S AIR BAG
To enhance the protection of the front seat passenger during a
moderate to severe frontal impact, varying air bag deployment power
is used in the RL. The sophisticated system, which uses a dual-stage
inflator, automatically adjusts the deployment of the front
passenger's air bag to deploy at one of two rates based on the
severity of the crash. During a less severe collision, the dual-stage
inflator system for the dash-mounted air bag is triggered in
sequence, resulting in slower overall air bag deployment with less
initial force. During a more severe collision, both inflators operate
simultaneously for full immediate inflation, to correspond with the
greater impact force.
The air bag system logic also controls the operation of the seatbelt pretensioners, which automatically tighten the front seatbelts during a collision to help hold occupants in place.
SIDE AIR BAG SYSTEM
The RL features seat-mounted side air bags for the driver and front
seat passenger. The front passenger's seat is equipped with an
innovative system designed to deactivate the side air bag if a small
child (or small-statured adult) leans into the side air bag
deployment path. When the passenger returns to an upright seating
position, the side air bag reactivates so it can deploy and protect
the occupant in a side impact. The system utilizes seven sensors in
the passenger seatback to determine the height and position of the
occupant and determine if it is safe to deploy the side air bag.
SIDE IMPACT PROTECTION
Dual anti-intrusion beams in the front doors, as well as expanded
polypropylene hip and shoulder pads, built into the door structure,
help protect front- and rear-seat passengers in lateral collisions.
Anti-intrusion door beams are also used in the rear doors.
Innovative, expanded, polystyrene liners, installed above the front
doors and inside the A-pillars, help give front-seat passengers added
head protection in side-impact situations.
LATCH REAR CHILD SEAT TETHER ANCHORS
To allow a child seat to be securely positioned in any of the back
seat positions, rear child seat tether anchors are standard in the
RL. The LATCH system has also been fitted to help secure compatible
child safety seats. The LATCH system features ready-to-use lower
anchors at the bottom of the outboard rear seats in addition to the
top tether allowing compatible child safety seats to be installed
without using the vehicle's seat belt system.
FRONT AND REAR CRUMPLE ZONES
The RL's structure is designed to deform progressively in both front
and rear impacts, letting the front and rear sections absorb the
energy of a collision while helping to keep the highly rigid
center-passenger section intact. Straight frame rails, front and
rear, give the structure the strength necessary to help the RL
withstand offset collisions at either end, with reduced possibilities
for passenger injury.
EMERGENCY TRUNK OPENER
The RL is equipped with an emergency trunk opener located inside the
trunk.
XENON HIGH INTENSITY DISCHARGE (HID) HEADLIGHTS
The RL features xenon high-intensity discharge (HID) headlights with
double the total illuminating power of conventional halogen headlamps
to enhance visibility. Standard fog lamps are integrated into the
bumper fascia for improved performance in combination with the HID
headlights. The HID headlight bulbs also last twice as long as
halogen bulbs and require less energy to operate.
SECURITY/IMMOBILZER SYSTEM
A special electronic "rolling code" key prevents the car from being
started, even if a mechanical duplicate of the proper key shape is
used. A transponder, built into the key, signals the immobilizer
control unit that the key is genuine. If the car is hot-wired, or an
unauthorized key is used, the car simply will not start. This system
is a substantial deterrent to theft.