PDBS

11.21.09

The Hood That Explodes For Safety

If you strike a pedestrian, this pyrotechnic-powered hood pops up to pack a softer punch
By Matthew Phenix Posted 03.10.2006 at 2:00 am 0 Comments

It sounds like something out of a Bond flick: a car with a hood that´s launched open by a pair of explosive charges. But Jaguar´s Pedestrian Deployable Bonnet System (PDBS) isn´t intended to thwart bad guys. Its purpose is to soften the impact on the unfortunate soul who gets hit by the European version of the 2007 Jaguar XK. PDBS is Jaguar´s response to new European Union legislation that requires automobiles to be gentler on pedestrians in the event of a collision (exploding hoods have not been greenlighted in the U.S.).

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