Integrated seatbelts

The integrated seatbelt system, also known as the BMW restraint system, can reduce the force of an impact on a car's occupants by up to 50 per cent compared with conventional protection systems. Through the interaction of the seatbelt, belt latch tensioner, belt force limiter and anti-submarining protection on the seat itself, the BMW restraint system guarantees optimum protection in the event of a collision.

The belt latch tensioner, for example, incorporates a pyrotechnical actuator which retracts the belt latch within fractions of a second in the event of a collision, while at the same time tightening the shoulder and lap belts. Greater speed is a further advantage of this pyrotechnics-based control system, enhancing the efficiency of this safety system.

The anti-submarining protection, in turn, is a wedge-shaped component at the front end of the seat that helps to ensure that the driver and front passenger don't slip beneath the lap belt.