Ford Introduces Central Side Airbag in Explorer and Capri

Ford reports a central side airbag with cold-gas inflator in the electric Explorer and Capri, earning five stars from Euro NCAP. Read the safety details.

Side impacts remain one of the most dangerous crash scenarios on today’s roads. According to Euro NCAP, they account for around a quarter of all accidents, and almost half of the occupants injured in such crashes are seated on the side opposite the point of impact – the so-called far-side impact. It is precisely this risk that the fully electric Ford Explorer and Ford Capri are designed to address with a new protective solution.

At the centre of the development is a central side airbag positioned between the driver and the front passenger. In the event of a severe side or certain oblique frontal collisions, it deploys between the seats, helping to limit occupant-to-occupant contact and reduce lateral movement toward the struck side. Euro NCAP identifies such centre airbags as an effective countermeasure against far-side injuries, as they help control “excursion” – the degree of occupant displacement measured during testing.

In the Explorer and Capri, the system features a cold-gas inflator. Unlike conventional pyrotechnic inflators, which generate gas through combustion and involve high temperatures, this design relies on stored compressed gas. Safety system manufacturers describe stored-gas technology as a cooler alternative, capable of achieving rapid deployment without significant thermal load.

The effectiveness of the concept is reflected in independent crash results. Both models achieved a five-star Euro NCAP rating. In Adult Occupant Protection, the Explorer and Capri scored 89 percent. During side barrier and more demanding side pole tests, protection of critical body regions was rated good. In the far-side assessment, the presence of the countermeasure provided good head protection for both driver and passenger, while control of excursion was rated marginal – a result that underlines the complexity of this crash scenario under current protocols.

The safety innovation is part of a broader transformation. The electric Explorer and Capri are produced in Cologne and built on the MEB platform developed in cooperation with Volkswagen Group. Battery configurations of 52, 77 and 79 kWh are assembled for these vehicles, with battery pack production also established in Cologne. Enhanced passive safety therefore accompanies Ford’s transition to a new electric architecture.

With side impacts continuing to represent a major source of serious injuries, the development of central airbags is steadily becoming a defining element of modern vehicle safety. The introduction of a cold-gas system in the Explorer and Capri signals an ongoing effort to refine not only the effectiveness, but also the technical sophistication of occupant protection.