Jaguar has revealed the world’s first vehicle safety system designed to protect pedestrians during a collision.

The pyrotechnic pedestrian deployable bonnet system (PDBS) was unveiled on the all-new XK at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The XK goes on sale in the UK in early 2006.

In the event of a pedestrian impact, the deployable bonnet on the new XK automatically ‘pops’ up a few inches, to create a cushioning effect between the engine and the bonnet. This helps to isolate the pedestrian from hard points in the engine compartment – and takes place in less than a tenth of the time it takes to blink an eye.

Jaguar is one of the first manufacturers to meet phase one of new European safety legislation using an active deployable bonnet system. The new standards are designed to help minimize the risk of injury to pedestrians.

Legislation in the European market requires manufacturers to commit to a two-phase introduction of a range of active and passive safety improvements on all new cars to improve the protection of pedestrians in case of accident.

“The Jaguar design team embraced the idea of using a deployable bonnet when it was first considered during early concept discussions on the new XK. This clever feature saves between 50 and 65mm in height off the bonnet surface and a similar amount off the roofline, allowing the design team to maintain a very low, sleek Jaguar sports car profile on the new XK,” said Ian Callum, Jaguar Cars’ design director.