36 — Friday, September 18, 1998 — North Shore News erth shore news _____ & AUTO Wiercedes to offer Curtain side airbag WHEN its 1999 E-Class sedans went on sale last month, Mercedes- Benz became the first automaker to offer standard curtain-like side airbags which span the entire sides of the passenger compartment. Working in conjunction with existing door- mounted side airbags (first introduced on Mercedes E-Class and SL models in 1996), the new curtain airbag is the only system thar can prevent both front and rear occupants from hitting their heads on the side window or roof pillars in a severe side collision. In addition, the air-filled cushion can block glass splinters or other objects which could cause injury in a side impact or rollover. Over 180 cm tong, 35 em in height anc about 5 cm thick, each curtain bag deploys from the ceiling from directly. above the side’ windows in about 25 milliseconds and extends across the front and rear windows. There is a curtain windowband on each side of the car. The development of the new curtain bag is based on the latest findings from Mercedes Accident Research, whose experts have been . conducting detailed analysis of lateral impacts. According to their conclusions, many of the severe and often fatal head injuries in’side col- lisions are duc cither to objects intruding into the intetior a whiplash movement of the. head toward the window. By comparison, chest injuries are generally less severe in side impacts, a fact attributed to the door-mounted side airbags introdu across the Mercedes-Benz passenger ve line between 1996-1998. Preliminary crash tests by Mercedes with the new curtain side g indicate about a 90% reduction in the forces likely to cause head injuries. Long an automotive Mercedes-Benz pionecred the development and introduction of such safety features as crumple-zone body construction, anti-lock brakes, front airbags, door-mounted side airbags and traction control. In addition, all 1999 Mercedes-Benz pas- senger vehicles will be equipped with Brake Assist, which is the only system that can actual- ly reduce braking distance in a panic stop. In other company news, Mercedes-Benz Canada and its 53 dealers across Canada con- tinued their 1998 record-breaking momentum with July sales of 564 units which represent an increase of 86.1 % over the same month last year with 303 units. Year-to-date sales have now reached an all- time high of 4,758 units for the first seven months, a 38.6% increase vis-a-vis the 3.432 safety leader, vehicles sold through July 1997. A total of 409 passenger cars were delivered in July, up 106 units or 35% over last year’s results; ENT Repairs by factory trained technician IMPEX AUTOMOTIVE 1335 Pemberton Ave. Tel: 985-6237 Suspension lift Kits Sales & installations, All models. Visit our web site: . ” mtvlen Ew 2 of | FF Summer Tay ae { frse-222 DELUXE 22D PACKAGE AIR! AM/FM! S14 A498" f Selt-OPt 96 GRAND -\ CHEROKEE LTD. am V8! power leather heated seats, Y p/sunroof, trailer tow prep packoge BPP nero $36,984 * net of RDA DUAL DOORS! V6 ENGINE! AM/FM CASSETTE! MUCH MORE! ik 988" 29 GMC JIMMY axe Stk BNR remete tees 9& SONTIAC TRAHS SPORT 4 BGOAR Brava neee 2 3 kee 76 186 HP engine, ween tea Glass, poner windows locks, t E CORGECHING Hlaggsse xk arnt cassette, 4 eed, meric Gansmission, 7 pass van & much ore. Was $28,51% 98 GMC SIKRRA This full size truck even comes equipped with our lowest rate of th: year, other features include 4 speed automatic tansmasion, AMFM stereo cassette, 900 HF vortec V6 engine, Gaal a bags, wheel ABS, chrome gnile, and wheels, pass tock thet octerrent system + much more, was $24,376 Now $ i DB no. «$21,248 beard ew, 4 Goor, ar Condition, 406 Ve ote: VE anaire, : Power windows 1ocks, tlt wheel, speed consol, cseai, ss erty, AM FM CD & inuch more Was $32,055 Now $315 ino. or SIE vSOO ; GRARD RIN CTP GTP performance package, ¢ cow, 2000°46 engine, leather menor, powe Sexo, a Condon, devin sao cae aise changer, high polshed F tilt, speed COneras, loaded! wrth atl cpuons. Was $35,650 Now $371 imo. ur $58, 5OO Great cou on GVO Cadillac pemos!! we Regency Gh PONTIAC 2 BUICK © CADILLAC ¢ GHC 1169 Marine Orive at Lloyd, North Vancouver 885-6333 — a Open Mon - Thurs 9am - 9pm, Fri - Sat 9am - 6pm, closed Sunday ; Feet: 36 so low hm tense $2500 DR + 181 pom + br228, WO secHENY depos OAC; Sanex;: 05 avs, low hm lease $4089 D0 ¢ 121 pan + tunes, Oe cocurity dees OAK; Hevvas 62687 B2. + 120 pent + tomes, RO OAC; Bentpert 34 me. sow hen base $3487 B.A + 198 pas + wanes, nn socurlty Sepesit GAZ; Grant dagnat Prins 36 me tor tom trav $3500 BR + tot pent + “2328, ne security Gepect OAL; Segal 5% $3596 OLA + tet pret + tanes, ne Cocerity depen? OAL.