69-658: The second generation of the BMW 6 Series consists of the BMW E63 (coupe version) and BMW E64 (convertible version) grand tourers . The E63/E64 generation was produced by BMW from 2003 to 2010 and is often collectively referred to as the E63. The E63 uses a shortened version of the E60 5 Series chassis and subsequently shares many features. The car initially drew criticism, due to its controversial styling and complicated iDrive system. The M6 model
138-409: A performance-based occupant-protection standard rather than one mandating a particular technical solution (which could rapidly become outdated and prove to not be a cost-effective approach). Less emphasis was placed on other designs as countries successfully mandated seat belt restrictions, however. The auto industry and research and regulatory communities have moved away from their initial view of
207-592: A 6-speed manual transmission was also available in the United States. The M6 coupé has a carbon fibre roof in order to reduce weight and for a lower centre of gravity. Additional features included: sports seats, larger front and rear brakes, an M-performance instrument cluster, a carbon-fibre roof (coupé only), and an optional M head-up Display. The car also has quad exhaust-pipes and larger, more aerodynamic air intakes. A total of 9,087 coupés and 5,065 convertibles were built; amounting to 14,152 cars. In September 2007,
276-445: A bag designed to inflate in milliseconds during a collision and then deflate afterwards. It consists of an airbag cushion, a flexible fabric bag, an inflation module, and an impact sensor. The purpose of the airbag is to provide a vehicle occupant with soft cushioning and restraint during a collision. It can reduce injuries between the flailing occupant and the vehicle's interior. The airbag provides an energy-absorbing surface between
345-421: A ball-in-tube mechanism for crash detection. Under his system, an electromechanical sensor with a steel ball attached to a tube by a magnet would inflate an airbag in under 30 milliseconds. A small explosion of sodium azide was used instead of compressed air during inflation for the first time. Breed Corporation then marketed this innovation to Chrysler . A similar "Auto-Ceptor" crash-restraint, developed by
414-591: A coupé and convertible, and a sedan variant known as the "Gran Coupé" in 2012. When the F06/F12/F13 6 Series ended production, the "Gran Coupé"/coupé/convertible models have been shifted into the more upmarket BMW 8 Series (G15) nameplate. The fourth generation 6 Series, the G32 6 Series , debuted in mid-2017 and is offered only as a fastback body style to complement the BMW 5 Series (G30) sedan/wagon. The first generation 6 Series
483-489: A driver's airbag as an option, but by 1999, even side airbags were available on several variants. Audi was late to offer airbag systems on a broader scale, since even in the 1994 model year, its popular models did not offer airbags. Instead, the German automaker until then relied solely on its proprietary cable-based procon-ten restraint system. Variable force-deployment front airbags were developed to help minimize injury from
552-661: A facelift, featuring design changes and minor performance and fuel economy improvements. In February 2017, it was confirmed that the 6 Series coupé model had ended production. The convertible ended in February 2018, and the Gran Coupé ended in October 2018. Although production ended in the Autumn of 2018, the F06 Gran Coupe are available in the 2019 model year. The F06/F12/F13 M6 is powered by
621-675: A front center airbag; it deploys from the driver's seat. Hyundai Motor Group announced its development of a center-side airbag on September 18, 2019, installed inside the driver's seat. Some Volkswagen vehicles in 2022 equipped with center airbags include the ID.3 and the Golf . The Polestar 2 also includes a center airbag. With EuroNCAP updating its testing guidelines in 2020, European and Australian market vehicles increasingly use front-center airbags, rear torso airbags, and rear seat belt pre-tensioners. The second driver-side and separate knee airbag
690-659: A knee and torso cushion while also having a dual-stage deployment dictated by force of the impact. The cars equipped with ACRS had lap belts for all seating positions, but lacked shoulder belts. Shoulder belts were already mandatory in the United States on closed cars without airbags for the driver and outer front passenger, but GM chose to market its airbags as a substitute for shoulder belts. Prices for this option on Cadillac models were US$ 225 in 1974, $ 300 in 1975, and $ 340 in 1976 (US$ 1,820 in 2023 dollars ). The early development of airbags coincided with international interest in automobile safety legislation. Some safety experts advocated
759-466: A new front passenger airbag technology. Developed by Autoliv and Honda R&D in Ohio, United States , this new airbag design features three inflatable chambers connected across the front by a "noninflatable sail panel." The two outer chambers are larger than the middle chamber. When the airbag deploys, the sail panel cushions the occupant's head from the impact of hitting the airbag, and the three chambers hold
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#1732905446883828-539: A side-curtain airbag deploying from the roof on the Progrés . In 1998, the Volvo S80 was given roof-mounted curtain airbags to protect both front and rear passengers. Curtain airbags were then made standard equipment on all new Volvo cars from 2000 except for the first-generation C70 , which received an enlarged side-torso airbag that also protects the head of front-seat occupants. The second-generation C70 convertible received
897-628: A spring, bumper contact, or by the driver. Later research during the 1960s showed that compressed air could not inflate the mechanical airbags fast enough to ensure maximum safety, leading to the current chemical and electrical airbags. In patent applications, manufacturers sometimes use the term "inflatable occupant restraint systems". Hetrick was an industrial engineer and member of the United States Navy . His airbag design, however, only came about when he combined his experiences working with navy torpedoes with his desire to protect his family on
966-607: A standard driver-side airbag. The first known collision between two airbag-equipped automobiles took place on 12 March 1990 in Virginia , USA. A 1989 Chrysler LeBaron crossed the center line and hit another 1989 Chrysler LeBaron in a head-on collision , causing both driver airbags to deploy. The drivers suffered only minor injuries despite extensive damage to the vehicles. The United States Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 required passenger cars and light trucks built after 1 September 1998 to have airbags for
1035-408: A supplemental restraint system for the vehicle's seat belt systems. Newer side-impact airbag modules consist of compressed-air cylinders that are triggered in the event of a side-on vehicle impact. The first commercial designs were introduced in passenger automobiles during the 1970s, with limited success and caused some fatalities. Broad commercial adoption of airbags occurred in many markets during
1104-460: A switch can disable the feature in case the driver wants to take the vehicle off-road. In 2009, Toyota developed the first production rear-seat center airbag designed to reduce the severity of secondary injuries to rear passengers in a side collision. This system deploys from the rear center seat first appearing in on the Crown Majesta . In late 2012, General Motors with supplier Takata introduced
1173-443: A unique steering wheel that contained the driver-side airbag. Two of these cars were crash tested after 20 years and the airbags deployed perfectly. An early example of the airbag cars survives as of 2009. GM's Oldsmobile Toronado was the first domestic U.S. vehicle to include a passenger airbag in 1973. General Motors marketed its first airbag modules under the "Air Cushion Restraint System" name, or ACRS. The automaker discontinued
1242-456: Is 1,490–1,930 kg (3,280–4,250 lb). Coupé models were unveiled at the 2003 Frankfurt Auto Show , and introduced on the market in middle of the 2003 model year. Convertible models were unveiled at the 2004 Detroit Auto Show , and released in mid 2004. Convertible models featured a non-conventional convertible top design with side fins and an integrated wind deflector that can be raised or lowered at any time. Top speed for all models
1311-579: Is credited independently to the American John W. Hetrick , who filed for an airbag patent on 5 August 1952, that was granted #2,649,311 by the United States Patent Office on 18 August 1953. German engineer Walter Linderer, who filed German patent #896,312 on 6 October 1951, was issued on 12 November 1953, approximately three months after American John Hetrick. The airbags proposed by Hetrick and Linderer were based on compressed air released by
1380-712: Is electronically limited to 250 km/h (155 mph). The available transmissions are: Unlike the related E60 5 Series , the E63/E64 was not available with all-wheel drive ( xDrive ). Features available included adaptive headlights , parking sensors (Park Distance Control), voice control , variable rate steering (Active Steering), active anti-roll bars (Active Roll Stabilisation), radar cruise control (Active Cruise Control with Stop and Go), head-up display , lane departure warning , night vision , keyless entry and starting (Comfort Access), heated steering wheel, universal remote control, and soft-close doors. The M6 version
1449-403: Is not related to active and passive safety , which are, respectively, systems designed to prevent collisions in the first place, and systems designed to minimize the effects of collisions once they occur. In this use, a car Anti-lock braking system qualifies as an active-safety device, while both its seat belts and airbags qualify as passive-safety devices. Terminological confusion can arise from
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#17329054468831518-659: Is powered by the S85 V10 engine and most cars were sold with a 7-speed automated manual transmission ("SMG III"). Customers who wanted a fast four-door M6 Gran Coupe had to wait until November 2013 to get an M6 Gran Coupé, whereas the F12 convertible and F13 coupé M6 models were unveiled in May 2013 for the F12 M6 convertible, and July 2013 for the F13 M6 Coupé. An Alpina version of the four-door Gran Coupé
1587-573: Is the successor to the E9 Coupé and is currently in its fourth generation. The first generation BMW E24 6 Series was available solely as a two-door coupé and produced from 1976 to 1989, when it was supplanted by the larger BMW 8 Series (E31) . When the 6 Series nameplate was revived in 2004 for the second generation, the BMW E63/E64 6 Series , the coupé was joined by a convertible body style. The third generation F06/F12/F13 6 Series debuted in 2011 as
1656-553: The Chevrolet Onix , are often sold without airbags, as neither airbags nor automatic braking systems in new cars are compulsory in many Latin American countries. Some require the installation of a minimum of only two airbags in new cars which many in this market have. The Citroën C4 provided the first "shaped" driver airbag, made possible by this car's unusual fixed-hub steering wheel. In 2019, Honda announced it would introduce
1725-539: The Eaton, Yale & Towne company for Ford, was soon also offered as an automatic safety system in the United States, while the Italian Eaton-Livia company offered a variant with localized air cushions. In the early 1970s, General Motors began offering cars equipped with airbags, initially in government fleet-purchased 1973 Chevrolet Impala sedans. These cars came with a 1974-style Oldsmobile instrument panel and
1794-476: The Honda Legend . In 1988, Chrysler became the first United States automaker to fit a driver-side airbag as standard equipment, which was offered in six different models. The following year, Chrysler became the first US auto manufacturer to offer driver-side airbags in all its new passenger models. Chrysler also began featuring the airbags in advertisements showing how the devices had saved lives that helped
1863-515: The S63 twin-turbo V8 engine with a 7-speed dual clutch transmission. It is the first M6 to use a turbocharged engine. The BMW G32 is the fourth generation 6 Series, which went on sale in 2017. The body style of the G32 is a 5-door fastback and it is marketed as "6 Series Gran Turismo" (replacing the previous generation 5 Series Gran Turismo ). The G32 was first introduced online on 14 June 2017 and launched at
1932-505: The facelift (LCI) was introduced for the 2008 model year . Major changes include: Models feature BMW's Advanced Safety System, enabling the car to decide the most effective deployment of the airbags in a crash. Safety equipment includes active anti-roll bars , dynamic stability control , front knee airbags (in accordance with US regulation), BMW roadside assistance , and an SOS emergency system. Convertible models also feature an automatic rollover protection system, where roll-bars behind
2001-467: The 2011 Shanghai Auto Show and New York Auto Show . A new four-door coupé version of the 6 Series was introduced in 2012, at the Geneva Motor Show ; and is based on the 2007 CS Concept . Initial models included a 3.0-litre inline six engine, a 4.4-litre V8 , and a 3.0-litre inline six diesel engine, with all-wheel drive variants later added to the lineup. In 2015, the 6 Series underwent
2070-530: The 2017 Frankfurt Auto Show in September. The range of engines consist of turbocharged 4-cylinder petrol, 6-cylinder petrol and 6-cylinder diesel engines. Most models are rear-wheel drive , with all-wheel drive (called "xDrive" by BMW) available as an option for some models. The following are production figures for the BMW 6 Series since 2004. Airbag An airbag is a vehicle occupant-restraint system using
2139-466: The 2021 model year) for the Mercedes-Benz S-Class (W223) . The W223 S-Class is the first car equipped with rear seat airbags that use gas to inflate supporting structures that unfold and extend a bag that fills with ambient air, instead of conventional fully gas-inflated airbags that are widely used in automotive airbag systems. Essentially, two types of side airbags are commonly used today -
BMW 6 Series (E63) - Misplaced Pages Continue
2208-538: The E63 coupé re-introduced the 6 Series range, 14 years after the E24 6 Series ended production. A few months later, the E64 convertible was released. The E63/E64 uses a shortened version of the E60 5 Series chassis and shares many features with the 5 Series. The car initially drew criticism, due to its controversial styling and complicated iDrive system. The M6 model was released in 2005 in coupé and convertible body styles. It
2277-565: The United States in the 1970s. When seat-belt usage rates in the country were quite low compared to modern-day, Ford built experimental cars with airbags in 1971. Allstate operated a fleet of 200 Mercury Montereys and showed the reliability of airbags as well as their operation in crash testing, which also was promoted by the insurance company in popular magazine advertisements. General Motors followed in 1973 using full-sized Chevrolet vehicles. The early fleet of experimental GM vehicles equipped with airbags experienced seven fatalities, one of which
2346-525: The airbag as a seat-belt replacement, and the bags are now nominally designated as supplemental restraint systems ( SRS ) or supplemental inflatable restraints. In 1981, Mercedes-Benz introduced the airbag in West Germany as an option on its flagship saloon model, S-Class (W126) . In the Mercedes system, the sensors automatically tensioned the seat belts to reduce occupants' motion on impact and then deployed
2415-416: The airbag electronic controller unit (ECU), including collision type, angle, and severity of impact. Using this information, the airbag ECU's crash algorithm determines if the crash event meets the criteria for deployment and triggers various firing circuits to deploy one or more airbag modules within the vehicle. Airbag module deployments are activated through a pyrotechnic process designed to be used once as
2484-573: The airbag itself. The emergence of the airbag has contributed to a sharp decline in the number of deaths and serious injuries on the roads of Europe since 1990, and by 2010, the number of cars on European roads lacking an airbag represented a very small percentage of cars, mostly the remaining cars dating from the mid-1990s or earlier. Many new cars in Latin America, including the Kia Rio , Kia Picanto , Hyundai Grand i10 , Mazda 2 , Chevrolet Spark and
2553-448: The airbag on impact. This integrated the seat belts and the airbag into a restraint system, rather than the airbag being considered an alternative to the seat belt. In 1987, the Porsche 944 Turbo became the first car to have driver and passenger airbags as standard equipment. The Porsche 944 and 944S had this as an available option. The same year also had the first airbag in a Japanese car,
2622-604: The airbag to its model ranges in 1992. Citroën , Fiat , Nissan , Hyundai , Peugeot , Renault , and Volkswagen followed shortly afterwards. By 1999, finding a new mass-market car without an airbag at least as optional equipment was difficult, and some late 1990s products, such as the Volkswagen Golf Mk4 , also featured side airbags. The Peugeot 306 is one example of the European automotive mass-market evolution: starting in early 1993, most of these models did not even offer
2691-469: The airbag was installed in a few experimental Ford cars. In 1964, a Japanese automobile engineer, Yasuzaburou Kobori (小堀保三郎), started developing an airbag "safety net" system. His design harnessed an explosive to inflate an airbag, for which he was later awarded patents in 14 countries. He died in 1975, before seeing the widespread adoption of airbag systems. In 1967, a breakthrough in developing airbag crash sensors came when Allen K. Breed invented
2760-550: The backrest of the front seats and protect the head and the torso. In 1997, the BMW 7 Series and 5 Series were fitted with tubular-shaped head side airbags (inflatable tubular structure), the "Head Protection System (HPS)" as standard equipment. This airbag was designed to offer head protection in side impact collisions and also maintained inflation for up to seven seconds for rollover protection. However, this tubular-shaped airbag design has been quickly replaced by an inflatable 'curtain' airbag. In May 1998, Toyota began offering
2829-631: The curtain airbags are programmed to deploy during some/all frontal impacts to manage passenger kinetics (e.g. head hitting B-pillar on the rebound), especially in offset crashes such as the IIHS's small overlap crash test. Roll-sensing curtain airbags are designed to stay inflated for a longer duration of time, cover a larger proportion of the window, and be deployed in a roll-over crash. They offer protection to occupants' heads and help to prevent ejection. SUVs and pickups are more likely to be equipped with RSCAs due to their higher probability of rolling over and often
BMW 6 Series (E63) - Misplaced Pages Continue
2898-433: The door. These airbags are designed to reduce the risk of injury to the pelvic and lower abdomen regions. Most vehicles are now being equipped with different types of designs, to help reduce injury and ejection from the vehicle in rollover crashes. More recent side-airbag designs include a two-chamber system; a firmer lower chamber for the pelvic region and softer upper chamber for the ribcage. Swedish company Autoliv AB
2967-581: The driver and the front passenger. In the United States, NHTSA estimated that airbags had saved over 4,600 lives by 1 September 1999; however, the crash deployment experience of the early 1990s installations indicated that some fatalities and serious injuries were in fact caused by airbags. In 1998, NHTSA initiated new rules for advanced airbags that gave automakers more flexibility in devising effective technological solutions. The revised rules also required improved protection for occupants of different sizes regardless of whether they use seat belts, while minimizing
3036-412: The driver's knees and legs and a knee airbag worked well." Since then certain models have also included front-passenger knee airbags, which deploy near or over the glove compartment in a crash. Knee airbags are designed to reduce leg injury. The knee airbag has become increasingly common since 2000. In 2008, the new Toyota iQ microcar featured the first production rear-curtain shield airbag to protect
3105-426: The fact that passive devices and systems—those requiring no input or action by the vehicle occupant—can operate independently in an active manner; an airbag is one such device. Vehicle safety professionals are generally careful in their use of language to avoid this sort of confusion. However, advertising principles sometimes prevent such semantic caution in the consumer marketing of safety features. Further confusing
3174-450: The first SUV to offer a driver-side airbag when it was launched in 1992. Driver and passenger airbags became standard equipment in all Dodge Intrepid , Eagle Vision , and Chrysler Concorde sedans ahead of any safety regulations. Early 1993 saw the 4-millionth airbag-equipped Chrysler vehicle roll off the assembly line. In October 1993, the Dodge Ram became the first pickup truck with
3243-450: The late 1980s and early 1990s. Many modern vehicles now include six or more units. Airbags are considered "passive" restraints and act as a supplement to "active" restraints. Because no action by a vehicle occupant is required to activate or use the airbag, it is considered a "passive" device. This is in contrast to seat belts , which are considered "active" devices because the vehicle occupant must act to enable them. This terminology
3312-577: The occupant's head in place, like a catcher's mitt. The goal of the tri-chamber airbag is to help "arrest high-speed movement" of the head, thereby reducing the likelihood of concussion injuries in a collision. The first vehicle to come with the tri-chamber airbag installed from the factory was in 2020 (for the 2021 model year) for the Acura TLX . Honda hopes that the new technology will soon make its way to all vehicles. Mercedes began offering rear passengers protection in frontal collisions in September 2020 (for
3381-399: The option for its 1977 model year , citing a lack of consumer interest. Ford and GM then spent years lobbying against air-bag requirements, claiming that the devices were unfeasible and inappropriate. Chrysler made driver-side airbags standard on 1988 and 1989 models, but airbags did not become widespread in American cars until the early 1990s. Airbags for passenger cars were introduced in
3450-451: The public know the value of them and safety became a selling advantage in the late 1980s. All versions of the Chrysler minivans came with airbags starting for the 1991 model year. In 1993, The Lincoln Motor Company boasted that all vehicles in their model line were equipped with dual airbags, one for the driver's side and another for the passenger's side. The 1993 Jeep Grand Cherokee became
3519-504: The rear occupants' heads in the event of a rear-end impact. Another feature of the Toyota iQ was a seat-cushion airbag in the passenger seat to prevent the pelvis from diving below the lap belt during a frontal impact or submarining. Later Toyota models such as the Yaris added the feature to the driver's seat, as well. The seat-belt airbag is designed to better distribute the forces experienced by
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#17329054468833588-499: The rear seats are automatically deployed in a rollover. From 2008, active head restraints became a standard feature on all seat options, reducing the risk of neck injuries in a rear-end collision . The E63/E64 was produced at the Dingolfing BMW plant . The following are production figures for the E63/E64, excluding M6 models: BMW 6 Series The BMW 6 Series is a range of grand tourers produced by BMW since 1976. It
3657-420: The risk to infants, children, and other occupants caused by airbags. In Europe , airbags were almost unheard of until the early 1990s. By 1991, four manufacturers – BMW , Honda , Mercedes-Benz, and Volvo – offered the airbag on some of their higher-end models, but shortly afterward, airbags became a common feature on more mainstream cars, with Ford and Vauxhall / Opel among the manufacturers to introduce
3726-423: The road. Despite working with the major automobile manufacturers of his time, Hetrick was unable to attract investment. Although airbags are now required in every automobile sold in the United States, Hetrick's 1951 patent filing serves as an example of a "valuable" invention with little economic value to its inventor. Its first commercial use was not implemented until after the patent expired in 1971, at which point
3795-534: The side-torso airbag and the side-curtain airbag. More recently, center airbags are becoming more common in the European market. Most vehicles equipped with side-curtain airbags also include side-torso airbags. However, some, such as the Chevrolet Cobalt , 2007–09 model Chevrolet Silverado/GMC Sierra , and 2009–12 Dodge Ram do not feature the side-torso airbag. From around 2000, side-impact airbags became commonplace on even low- to mid-range vehicles, such as
3864-515: The smaller-engined versions of the Ford Fiesta and Peugeot 206 , and curtain airbags were also becoming regular features on mass-market cars. The Toyota Avensis , launched in 2003, was the first mass-market car to be sold in Europe with nine airbags. Side-impact airbags or side-torso airbags are a category of airbags usually located in the seat or door panel, and inflate between the seat occupant and
3933-586: The start of the M6 model line. In most markets, the M635CSi is powered by the M88 straight-6 engine. In North America and Japan, the M6 is powered by the less powerful S38 straight-6 engine. The E63/E64 is the second generation of 6 Series and was sold from 2003 to 2010. The body styles of the range are the coupé (E63 model code) and convertible (E64 model code). In January 2003,
4002-472: The terminology, the aviation safety community uses the terms "active" and "passive" in the opposite sense from the automotive industry. The airbag "for the covering of aeroplane and other vehicle parts" traces its origins to a United States patent, submitted in 1919 by two dentists from Birmingham , Arthur Parrott and Harold Round. The patent was approved in 1920. Air-filled bladders were in use as early as 1951. The airbag specifically for automobile use
4071-465: The then BMW Design Chief Chris Bangle . The controversial rear styling, first seen on the E65 7 Series , was nicknamed "Bangle Butt" by critics. BMW described the styling philosophy as "flame surfacing", where concave and convex shapes meet to create sharp edges. To reduce weight, the doors and bonnet are made of aluminium, and the boot and front wings are made of carbon-reinforced plastic . The kerb weight
4140-440: The vehicle's occupants and a steering wheel, instrument panel, body pillar , headliner, and windshield . Modern vehicles may contain up to ten airbag modules in various configurations, including driver, passenger, side-curtain, seat-mounted, door-mounted, B and C-pillar mounted side-impact, knee bolster, inflatable seat belt, and pedestrian airbag modules. During a crash, the vehicle's crash sensors provide crucial information to
4209-428: The world's first door-mounted, side-curtain airbags that deployed upwards. Curtain airbags have been said to reduce brain injury or fatalities by up to 45% in a side impact with an SUV. These airbags come in various forms (e.g., tubular, curtain, door-mounted) depending on the needs of the application. Many recent SUVs and MPVs have a long inflatable curtain airbag that protects all rows of seats. In many vehicles,
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#17329054468834278-468: Was derived from the BMW E23 7 Series , and was powered by a range of naturally aspirated inline-six gasoline engines. Following generations have been powered by inline-four , V8 , and V10 engines with both natural aspiration and turbocharging . Since 2008, diesel engines have been included in the 6 Series range, with four-wheel drive models on offer since 2012. A BMW M6 high performance model
4347-448: Was granted a patent on side-impact airbags, and they were first offered as an option in 1994 on the 1995 Volvo 850 , and as standard equipment on all Volvo cars made after 1995. In 1997, Saab introduced the first combined head and torso airbags with the launch of the Saab 9-5 . Some cars, such as the 2010 Volkswagen Polo Mk.5 have combined head- and torso-side airbags. These are fitted in
4416-580: Was initially introduced as a coupé at the 2005 Geneva International Motor Show , and later in convertible form at the British International Motor Show in 2006. The M6 is powered by the 5.0-litre naturally aspirated S85 V10 shared with the E60 M5, generating 373 kW (500 hp) at 7,750 rpm and 520 N⋅m (384 lb⋅ft) at 6,100 rpm. The majority of the cars were produced with a 7-speed automated manual transmission ("SMG III"), however
4485-458: Was introduced in 2005 in coupé and convertible body styles. It is powered by the S85 V10 engine shared with the E60 M5 , and most M6s were produced with a 7-speed automated manual transmission ("SMG III"). In March 2011, the BMW 6 Series (F06/F12/F13) began production as the successor to the E63. The exterior was designed by Adrian van Hooydonk , based on the 1999 BMW Z9 concept car designed by
4554-485: Was later suspected to have been caused by the airbag. In 1974, GM made its ACRS system (which consisted of a padded lower dashboard and a passenger-side air bag) available as a regular production option (RPO code AR3) in full-sized Cadillac, Buick and Oldsmobile models. The GM cars from the 1970s equipped with ACRS had a driver-side airbag, and a driver-side knee restraint. The passenger-side airbag protected both front passengers, and unlike most modern systems, integrated
4623-603: Was produced for the first three generations of the 6 Series. The BMW E24 is the first generation of 6 Series and was produced from 1976 to 1989. It replaced the E9 coupés and was solely produced in the 2-door coupé body style. Aside from the M635CSi/M6 models, the E24 was powered by a range of M30 straight-6 engines. The E24 M635CSi (called the M6 in North America and Japan) is considered
4692-458: Was unveiled prior to the announcement of the M6 Gran Coupé at the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show , and has been in production since 2011. The BMW F06/F12/F13 is the third generation 6 Series and was sold from 2011 to 2018. The body styles of the range are a 4-door sedan (F06 model code, marketed as "Gran Coupé"), 2-door convertible (F12 model code) and 2-door coupé (F13 model code). It was introduced at
4761-525: Was used in the Kia Sportage SUV and has been standard equipment since then. The airbag is located beneath the steering wheel. The Toyota Caldina introduced the first driver-side SRS knee airbag on the Japanese market in 2002. Toyota Avensis became the first vehicle sold in Europe equipped with a driver's knee airbag. The EuroNCAP reported on the 2003 Avensis, "There has been much effort to protect
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