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
The 2003 RL includes the Lower Anchors and Tethers for
Children
(LATCH) system on the rear seat. The LATCH system features
built-in
lower anchors and ready-to-use tether attachment points at each
of
the outboard rear seating positions allowing compatible child
safety
seats to be installed without using the vehicle's seat belt system.
The LATCH system simplifies child seat installation when an
owner
installs a LATCH-compatible child seat.
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.