Mazda Begins Public Road Trials of Advanced Safety Vehicle

	
Tokyo, Japan, Dec. 16, 2002 - (JCN Newswire) - Mazda Motor Corporation
will begin public road trials of its advanced safety vehicle. Based on
the Mazda MPV, the test vehicle obtained approval from the Land,
Infrastructure and Transport Minister and is registered for use on
public roads. Through these trials, Mazda will collect and analyze data
for the development of future products. Testing will be conducted on
public roads near Mazda's Hiroshima headquarters, as well as in the
Tokyo metropolitan and Kansai areas.


Mazda advanced safety vehicle (MPV test vehicle for public road use)

The test vehicle is equipped with the following safety technologies:

1) Safety technologies to prevent accidents
- Full speed range adaptive cruise control system with brake control
- Advanced front-lighting system
- Forward obstacle information/warning system (pedestrian warning)

2) Safety technologies to reduce injury in the case of an accident
- Neck injury mitigation system for rear-end collision 

Mazda has been participating in the Transport Ministry's (now the
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport) ASV project since 1991.
During this time the automaker has developed a number of advanced safety
technologies designed to prevent accidents as well as to reduce injury
in the event of an accident. In 1995 Mazda developed its first test
vehicle 'Mazda ASV', and in November 2000 exhibited 'Mazda ASV-2' at
'Smart Cruise 21 Demo 2000', a public demonstration hosted by the
Transport and Construction Ministries. Developed from the viewpoint of
'pedestrian protection' and 'whiplash injury mitigation', the vehicle
incorporated many safety features unique to Mazda with a focus on
reducing injury to pedestrians and minimizing whiplash injury in
frequently occurring rear-end collisions. In these ways Mazda continues
to promote the development of advanced safety technologies.

Outline of the safety technologies

1) Full speed range adaptive cruise control system with brake control:
With this feature, the distance between two vehicles is maintained by
adjusting the speed within the range set by the driver based on
information from a laser radar. This enables control in all speed
ranges, including high speed driving on motorways, and mid-low range
daily driving, and even when stopping. This releases the driver from
frequent speed adjustments helping to alleviate driver fatigue. 

2) Advanced front-lighting system:
This safety feature controls distribution of luminous intensity emitted
from headlamps during the night according to driving conditions, road
conditions, and steering angle. The distribution area has been enlarged
to improve driver visibility and recognition of traffic signs and
pedestrians. 

3) Forward obstacle information/warning system (pedestrian warning):
This safety feature judges the degree of danger based on the distance
between the vehicle and an object in front measured by a laser radar,
and the vehicle's speed/braking status. In accordance with the degree of
danger, appropriate warning is given to the driver using visual and
sound information to reduce the number of collisions with vehicles ahead
and pedestrians who are in the vehicle's path. 

4) Neck injury mitigation system for rear-end collision:
With this system, the seatbelt restrains passengers in an appropriate
posture just before a rear-end collision. It can predict a rear-end
collision by detecting the distance from and the speed of a following
vehicle using a laser radar mounted at the rear of the vehicle. When the
system predicts a rear-end collision, the seatbelt is wound up by a
motor to pull passengers back into the seatback. As a result, it reduces
the distance between the passengers' head and headrest, minimizing the
severity of whiplash injuries.

About Mazda Motor Corporation

Mazda Motor Corporation was established in 1920 and is one
of Japan's leading automobile manufacturers. With its headquarters
in Hiroshima, Mazda has two plants in Japan and manufacturing and
assembly operations in sixteen other countries. Mazda cars and trucks
are sold in more than one hundred and thirty countries. Ford Motor and
Mazda agreed to collaborate in 1979, Ford Motor Company started
investing in Mazda and increased its shareholding to 33.39% as of March
31, 1999. For further information, please visit the Mazda Motor
Corporation home page at: www.mazda.com/flash.html
<http://www.mazda.com/flash.html>