TRW intros non-rotating airbag, mesmerizes drivers

While vehicle manufacturers are taking this "safety thing" to new heights (not that we're complaining or anything), the ole airbag sure takes a lot of heat regarding its questionable design and potentially harmful nature. The love / hate relationship with this very necessary device has been going on for years, and TRW Automotive Safety Systems is hoping to quiet the protestors a bit with its latest creation. The next-generation asymmetric airbag / steering wheel system features a "non-rotating airbag" that stays put while the wheel around it moves to meet the driver's demands. By utilizing a circumferential gear to keep the airbag stationary, the mobilized unit provides "enhanced crash protection" while allowing automotive designers to add more "convenience and aesthetic features" (read: buttons, switches, and other gadget-controlling togglers) to the steering wheel itself. Although TRW fails to point out just how much automakers will be forced to pay for its invention, it does note that it can be customized to the fit the feel, color, and style of any vehicle, and since the firm has already landed a contract with "a major European vehicle manufacturer," we could see this non-turning technology go stateside anytime.

[Kakairo @ Dec 8th 2006 5:04PM]

Um, you mean like the one Citroen already uses on its C4 in Europe?

[Gil @ Dec 8th 2006 5:05PM]

The Citroen C4 had a fixed center steering wheel. They could be talking about that.

[Dirk @ Dec 8th 2006 5:05PM]

Citro�n, the French automaker, has had a non rotating steering weel boss cum airbag in it's C4 model for a couple of years now. In fact, it looks very similar to the one on the picture. So why talk about it now?!
http://www.citroen.co.uk/c4/homepage.asp?pagetype=c4

[CharlieX @ Dec 8th 2006 5:10PM]

LOL! but what about the citroen?

[Bob Spencer @ Dec 8th 2006 5:12PM]

I have long arms and drive with my hands through the steering wheel so my wrists rest on top the air bag.

Will my hands get blown off by the air bag if I am in an accident? I always wonder how powerfull these things really are...

[wtf @ Dec 8th 2006 5:32PM]

I don't think that's safe even without an airbag. Could only be worse with one.

[syadasti @ Dec 8th 2006 5:21PM]

Welcome to 2004

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citro%C3%ABn_C4

[dextro @ Dec 8th 2006 5:43PM]

Heck even some old (60s->80s) citroen models had fixed center steering weels if I'm not mistaken, where's the news in this? LOL :lol:

[rolajos @ Dec 8th 2006 5:43PM]

I've driven the C4 as a rental car and hate that the center is not turning.
1 - can't steer while resting hand over the airbag.
2 - the controls i.e. audio, cruise they stay in the middle, so when you turn it's hard to change channel or etc.

No to this for me.

[Dan S @ Dec 8th 2006 6:47PM]

@ Bob Spencer @ Driving with your hands through the wheel is a recipe for a broken wrist or two, if you have blowout or hit a severe bump. On top of that, you don't have enough grip or torque to effectively control the car in an emergency. Plus, you have to consider that an airbag opens in less than 25 milliseconds, generally at speeds upward of 180mph -- fast enough to do some nasty things to your wrists and forearms when they're caught between the wheel and the airbag.

Personally, I don't think this fixed-hub concept is well-suited for the U.S. market, where long, gentle, sweeping turns on the interstate highway system would make reaching certain centrally-placed controls difficult and potentially dangerous. European market vehicles are targeted more towards urban environments and relatively straight town-to-town highways.

[Matt @ Dec 8th 2006 7:34PM]

Citroen have been doing this for ages!

Please keep up engadget. This has only been in mass production for like - oh - 2 or 3 years now!

[ian spain @ Dec 8th 2006 10:37PM]

I heard a Citroen has something similar to this.

[Miki @ Dec 9th 2006 1:16AM]

haha really, some CX, GSX or whatever Citroens had this in the 70's... LOL

[Alex @ Dec 9th 2006 5:17PM]

I'm sorry, Europe, land of everything straight?? that a no-no. Here where I am the place looks like you never will find a straight line, and the motorways aren't exactly straight either.
And, my dad's work car is a C4, and i confirm the core of the wheel is fixed. And the on-wheel controls don't seem to be a problem (though i hear the models with all the options added have a somewhat clogged up wheel).
Oh, and the wheel is the one in the photo with a metal citroen logo instead of the TRW one