Buick’s latest rebranded European import is not a car or SUV, but rather a new safety system meant to protect pedestrians in case of an accident.
It’s called the Active-Hood system and it will make its debut in the U.S. this fall with the all-new Regal Sportback and TourX.
Using a set of sensors hidden behind the Regal’s grille, the system detects pedestrians walking in front of the car. If the Regal makes contact with the person while traveling between 16 and 30 mph, a pair of actuators positioned a few inches ahead of the windshield lifts the back of the hood up about four inches to help mitigate the impact.
Sensors hidden behind the Regal’s grille can sense when an accident is unavoidable.
(Kyle Campbell)
Essentially, the slight boost is meant to make the angle a little less drastic and, theoretically, reduce the potential for injury. Like the Regal itself, which is a rebadged Insignia with a softer, Americanized suspension, the Active-Hood system comes from General Motors’ now-former European arm, Opel.
While it might seem like an odd, dubiously effective method for preventing injury, some people would beg to differ in Europe, where the technology is catching on. Mercedes-Benz has an Active bonnet system that functions similarly, as does Tesla. Even Hyundai has begun including the technology in some of its vehicles.
It’s no secret that much of Buick’s recent success has been derived from its European counterpart. In fact, only the brand’s two flagship vehicles, the full-size LaCrosse sedan and the mid-size Enclave SUV, are still made in the U.S. However, products such as the Encore and Cascada have been popular and the new Regal seems promising, so it seems Buick has found a fountain of youth flowing from the old country.
Don’t be surprised if this technology also catches on and becomes a standard offering that all the major automakers race to implement. Such was the case for electronic stability control, anti-lock brake systems and now, ostensibly, automatic emergency braking.
