Airbags; Adaptive Transmission Control (Atc) - BMW Z3 COUPE 2001 Manual

ATC
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166n
For vehicles with automatic transmis-
sion, Adaptive Transmission Control
(ATC) makes the optimum gear selection
based on a number of factors. This
system reacts to your individual driving
style and the current driving conditions.
The ATC recognizes your individual
driving style from the positions and
movements of the accelerator pedal,
delays during braking, and the vehicle's
lateral acceleration when cornering. ATC
makes the appropriate selection from
different shift characteristics which
range from comfort-oriented to perfor-
mance-oriented. In order to take driving
conditions into account, ATC registers
corners and road gradients. In order to
exploit power reserves more fully, the
transmission does not shift up until
higher engine speeds are reached if you
maintain speed through a curve.

Airbags

Deceleration sensors continuously
monitor the physical forces acting upon
the vehicle. In the event of a severe
frontal impact, the gas generators of
the driver- and passenger-side front
airbags are ignited simultaneously.
However, the passenger-side airbag is
only triggered if an additional sensor
has recognized that the passenger seat
is occupied.
If it is necessary during a side impact, a
side airbag will be triggered on the side
where the collision occurs.
The airbags located under the marked
covers inflate and unfold in a matter of
a few milliseconds. In this process they
tear through the designed breaking
points of the upholstered covers or
press them out.
Because the inflation process must be
virtually instantaneous, it is necessarily
accompanied by a certain amount of
ignition and inflation noise. The gas
required to inflate the airbags is not
dangerous, and it dissipates together
with the associated smoke.
The entire process is completed within
one twentieth of a second.
Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 155 690 - © 09/00 BMW AG