Safety and Safety Technology

In addition to front, side, and front and rear side-curtain airbags, the new S-TYPE offers Jaguar's industry-leading Adaptive Restraint Technology System (A.R.T.S.) which has ultrasonic front passenger sensing coupled with dual-stage front airbags. It also features an energy-absorbing seating system, incorporating an anti-whiplash mechanism in the front seat back rests, and pyrotechnic pre-tensioners for all seat belts. The stiff and strong S-TYPE body exceeds crash legislation requirements worldwide, and it also has a decoupling brake pedal mechanism and a deformable plastic fuel tank.

A.R.T.S. is standard on all new S-TYPEs and is a major advance in passive safety systems. It introduced the world's first Ultrasonic Occupant Sensing System, to give maximum control over the deployment of airbags in any kind of impact. A.R.T.S. can even decide not to deploy airbags when that would be either unnecessary or dangerous. As part of A.R.T.S., Ultrasonic Occupant Sensing is combined with a series of other sensors which assess a passenger's weight, the position of the driver in relation to the steering wheel, whether or not seat belts are being worn and, in the event of an accident, whether or not the impact is severe enough to need the airbags.

Communicating through a central processor, A.R.T.S. controls whether the two-stage airbags are inflated fully or partially, or whether they are deployed at all. It is sophisticated enough to tailor airbag response to the needs of each front seat occupant and the severity of any impact. It greatly reduces the risk of injury caused by unnecessary airbag deployment and is particularly beneficial for smaller front seat occupants, who are more vulnerable to airbag-related injury. It also avoids the cost of airbag replacement when a deployment wasn't needed – either because the seat was unoccupied or because the impact didn't require it.

Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) is another standard-fit active safety system for the new S-TYPE, enhancing safety at the limits of grip and roadholding, which is especially valuable when road conditions are poor. If it recognises the onset of instability – either understeer or oversteer – it takes measures to counteract it. That might be by reducing engine torque (by causing the ECU to reduce throttle opening) or selectively applying gentle braking to one or more wheels, or a combination of both. The system also intervenes to prevent wheelspin in low grip conditions, automatically reducing power and, if necessary, braking individual wheels.

The new S-TYPE is fitted with Jaguar's Emergency Brake Assist (EBA) as standard. When EBA detects a rapid, hard application of the brake pedal – an emergency braking situation – it automatically applies the additional pressure that the driver has not provided, to enter the ABS zone and produce maximum braking effort. Faster-acting than any driver, it can dramatically cut braking distances, with obvious safety benefits.