Airbag technology hits the roof

Airbags save lives, and side-curtain and other specialized airbags impress safety-conscious car buyers. Now airbag technology has hit the roof; auto-parts supply company TRW Automotive will roll out a roof airbag in a mini-compact European car in 2014. Airbags deployed from the roof replace dashboard airbags, allowing car designers to free up space in the instrument panel for more creative uses. The bag-in-roof technology works with larger vehicles as well as small, eliminating the need for a door that opens when the airbag deploys.