[Autoweek 7 Feb. 1994]
A British Ford dealer set out to impress potential purchasers with the
burglar-proof features of the new Ford Mondeo by staging a break-in in his
showroom.
As a room full of potential customers watched, the hired thief walked up to
the front of the car and gave it a swift kick in the bumper, near the airbag
sensor. The bag inflated, AND the central locking system disengaged. The
thief then opened the door, quickly broke the steering column lock, hot-wired
the ignition and started the car.
News spread quickly, and copycat incidents have followed.
Autoweek says "Sales of The Club should increase."
Historical Anecdote:
Word from friends in MoTown, was that when Ford was testing the very first
airbags in Police cars, the fuel cut-off relay would also be triggered by
the same impact sensing circuit. Street-wise evaders found this out and
they would tap the bumper to trigger the airbag if the cops were too close
in pursuit, disabling the vehicle. (This also may have been how Ford was
able to guarantee the ability to inspect the vehicle after the bags were
deployed, as it was a testing situation.)
--Bill caloccia@Team.Net caloccia@Stratus.Com
[The first item was also noted by Chip Olson. PGN] [William Caloccia via risks-digest Volume 15, Issue 57]
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