Renault has consequently made the development of a pelvic retention system in the event of head-on impact a priority. For many years now, it has designed and produced restraint and protection systems for all the vehicles in its line-up, including pretensioners, load limiters and upright seating designs aimed at combating the phenomenon of submarining.

In the event of head-on impact in Renault Clio, for example, the car's pyrotechnic pretensioners and under-cushion hump structure hold passengers in their seats and prevent them from sliding forward. Seatbelt anchor points are also positioned with a view to ensuring that belts lie across the passenger's lap and pelvis and not against his or her stomach.

Renault is the only carmaker to equip its entire range with such high-performance safety systems. Although unobtrusive in normal conditions, pretensioners and under-cushion humps ensure excellent interaction between seat and passenger in the event of an impact. If all vehicles were equipped with this package and if all rear-seat passengers wore their seatbelts, serious and fatal rear passenger injuries in France could be cut by 30 and 39 per cent respectively.



People-inspired technologies of the future

Renault is also innovating in the realm of on-board technology with a view to improving drivers' perception of their situation and surroundings, to keep them informed and to enable them to anticipate risk situations. The Man-Machine-Interface (MMI) Demonstrator at the Paris Motor Show gives visitors a chance to sample driving at the wheel of a vehicle bristling with futuristic technology. They find themselves in situations which call for driver response and which enable them to test safety systems that compensate for their errors and misjudgements. The purpose of such systems is to facilitate driving by supplying the information drivers need, at the right time and in the right place.

The MMI Demonstrator illustrates the principal avenues of Renault's research:

-Improved navigation systems, including the display of guidance information within the drivers' field of vision so that they can calmly register information without having to take their eyes of the road.

- Optimized visibility thanks to a system that filters dazzle, day and night, through the vehicle's entire glazed surface to ensure that drivers always enjoy comfortable, unobstructed views of their environment.

-Improve the drivers' ability to perceive and anticipate risk situations thanks to audio and visual aids. This involves the availability of essential information enabling risk situations to be handled calmly the instant they arise (change in road surface, somebody or something suddenly crossing the vehicle's path, right of way for an approaching vehicle, etc.).

-Heighten drivers' awareness and caution: warn them that they are approaching sensitive areas such as schools or zones of heavy traffic so that they can exercise added caution and vigilance.


Renault pursues its environmental drive

As part of "Renault Commitment 2009", the company is pursuing an ambitious environmental plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This plan is based on three commitments: to be one of the world's top three carmakers for low level emissions of CO2, to offer a range of models powered by biofuels such as bioethanol and biodiesel and to develop a wide range of alternative technologies.

The first applications of this process are already operational. Thanks to its range of high-efficiency engines, Renault figures amongst the top three brands in terms of CO2 emissions.

previous page | go to page 22