Volvo V70

The Volvo V70 is a luxury wagon produced by Swedish automaker Volvo Cars since 1996. The V70 is a five-door station wagon closely related to the S70, S60 and S80 saloons. Stylized four-wheel drive versions of the V70 have been sold as the Cross Country (XC) trim line and as the XC70 model. Over 80% [...]

Autonomous cruise control system

Some modern vehicles have autonomous or adaptative cruise control (ACC) systems. The system also goes under the names of active cruise control (ACC) , adaptive cruise control (ACC) or intelligent cruise control (ICC). These systems use either a radar or laser setup to allow the vehicle to slow when approaching another vehicle and accelerate again [...]

Lane departure warning system

A lane departure warning system (LDW) is a mechanism designed to warn a driver when the vehicle begins to move out of its lane (unless a turn signal is on in that direction) on freeways and arterial roads.
The first production LDW system in Europe was the system developed by Iteris for Mercedes Actros commercial trucks. [...]

Electronic Stability Control

Electronic Stability Control (ESC) is a computerized system designed to improve a vehicle’s handling by intervening at the limits of traction and helping the driver maintain control of the vehicle.
Robert Bosch GmbH and Mercedes Benz co-developed the first ESC system called Elektronisches Stabilitätsprogramm (ger.”electronic stability programme” trademarked as ESP) for the flagship Mercedes-Benz S-Class sedan. [...]

Four-wheel drive

Four-wheel drive, 4WD, or 4×4 (“four by four”) is a four-wheeled vehicle with a drivetrain that allows all four wheels to receive torque from the engine simultaneously. In the United States, these cars are often, but not always, included in the broader sport utility vehicle category. While many people associate the term with off-road vehicles, [...]

Traction control system

A traction control system (TCS), on current production vehicles, are typically (but not necessarily) electro-hydraulic systems designed to prevent loss of traction (and therefore the control of the vehicle) when excessive throttle or steering is applied by the driver. Although similar to Electronic Stability Control systems, Traction Control systems do not have the same goal.
The [...]

Dynamic steering response

Dynamic steering response (DSR) is a car safety technique that corrects the rate of hydraulic or electric power steering system to adapt it to vehicle’s speed and road conditions. Similar to DIRAVI, this system was first featured in the SEAT Leon Cupra R and has since been used in a wide range of models including [...]

Crumple zone

The crumple zone of a vehicle such as a train or an automobile is a structural feature designed to compress during an accident to absorb energy from an impact. Typically, crumple zones are located in the front part of the vehicle, in order to absorb the impact of a head-on collision, though they may be [...]

Air bag

An air bag, A.K.A. a Supplementary Restraint System (SRS), an Air Cushion Restraint System (ACRS), or the Supplemental Inflatable Restraint (SIR) (reflecting the air bag system’s intended role as a supplement to conventional restraints such as seatbelts) is a flexible membrane or envelope. Air bags are most commonly used for cushioning, in particular for rapid [...]

Seat belt

A seat belt, sometimes called a safety belt, is a safety harness designed to secure the occupant of a vehicle against harmful movement that may result from a collision or a sudden stop. As part of an overall occupant restraint system, seat belts are intended to reduce injuries by stopping the wearer from hitting hard [...]