"Deploying Trim"?

[rmoore]

A post by Ron Moore, University of Extrication Forum Moderator

The "Deploying Door-Trim System"

I received a request from Chief J.T.Whidby of the Circle Five(GA) Volunteer Fire Department. Chief Whidby asked me to explain a new term being used by Ford Motor Company in some of their safety brochures.

A team of Ford research and safety engineers have developed a "deploying door-trim system" that improves protection in side-impact accidents. It's now in place on six Ford vehicles and will be added to others in coming years.

It works by adding foam bolsters between the vehicle door outer panel and the interior trim panel. The energy-absorbing foam moves inward toward the passenger compartment when a side-impact crash occurs. The interior door trim panel releases and pushes the occupant away from the door, effectively creating more crush space and absorbing some crash force, thereby increasing occupant protection.

[billy]

Can you advise as to which Ford vehicles this applies to?

[rmoore]

While Ford promotional literature states that six of their 1999 vehicles have the 'Deploying Trim' feature, at this point, I can only pinpoint it to being in four.

I've identified the following;

'99 Ford Contour

'99 Mercury Mystique front doors,

'99 Ford Escort rear door,

'99 Windstar sliding side door

Two models in Europe, the Ford Mondeo (sister to the Contour) and the smaller B-class car, Ford Fiesta are most likely the remaining two
models although I've been unable to verify my information.

As added info, 'deploying trim' isn't actually brand new. The Contour/Mystique got the foam in 1994, and so did the Windstar. The Escort got it in 1997.

[Note: This message has been edited by rmoore]