Toyota develops world's first rear-collision airbag

Yesterday Toyota Japan announced [JP] it produced the world’s first airbag specifically designed for rear-end collisions. The company said it will use the new airbag in its hyper-compact iQ to be released in Japan by the end of the year.

The new airbag, which is placed above the iQ’s rear window, is supposed to protect passengers sitting in the backseat in the case of an accident. The company claims the so-called “Supplemental Restraint System” technology is able to cut force to a person’s head in half.

The iQ is a 3+1 passenger (three adults and a child) car and is just 2.99 meters long, 40cm shorter than a minicar.