Bench seating for front

[Trace26]

That's normally automatic, every newer car I've been in has a weight sensor, and pass. airbag on/off lights. It may be a legal requirement at this point.

I'm hoping they have both, but it's probably just a sensor.

 

[Luxrage]

That's normally automatic, every newer car I've been in has a weight sensor, and pass. airbag on/off lights. It may be a legal requirement at this point.

Might part of why Slate was hiring specifically for seat engineering/design people in one of their job listings. Probably have to get all of those requirements properly integrated into whatever seat they go with.

 

[GaRailroader]

That's normally automatic, every newer car I've been in has a weight sensor, and pass. airbag on/off lights. It may be a legal requirement at this point.

I think the child seat would fake out the sensor and have the airbags be activated. The key switch turns the airbag off so even if it senses the seat is occupied the airbag doesn’t deploy. When you install the child seat you need to secure it really tight with the belt or latch anchors so you end up compressing the seat cushion like a 200 pound man is sitting there. I think the sensor you are talking about is to prevent airbags deploying in unoccupied seats not to protect kids in child seats.

 

[KevinRS]

It looks like there are a variety of different types of sensors used, I'm sure there is a setup to work with child carseats properly. Enabling the end user to easily manually turn off the airbags means they can forget to turn them back on, or just turn them off because they don't believe in airbags, which might prevent good safety ratings, or even make a vehicle illegal to sell.

 

[Doctors Do Little]

It looks like there are a variety of different types of sensors used, I'm sure there is a setup to work with child carseats properly. Enabling the end user to easily manually turn off the airbags means they can forget to turn them back on, or just turn them off because they don't believe in airbags, which might prevent good safety ratings, or even make a vehicle illegal to sell.

A lot of vehicles have a switch to turn them off at each start of engine/driving session. That would work, which defaulting to "on".

 

[woodio]

A bench seat would be a good option

 

[sodamo]

A bench seat would be a good option

Novel idea

 

[SparkYellow]

Bench seat would make it easier for me to take a nap in the cab. Otherwise I can set something up between the seats and in the foot well. Or hang a child hammock if it fits. Not too big a deal. Also, bench seats go well with crank windows. 😁

 

[Driven5]

Bench seat would make it easier for me to take a nap in the cab.

Are you a hobbit?

 

[SparkYellow]

Are you a hobbit?

Size L hobbit at 5-3. 😁 I sit comfortably in Japanese sports cars. For my 1999 Suburban, I hang a child size hammock diagonally in the 2nd row. One end is anchored to the base of one cross bar, the other end to the other one. The seats were removed.

 

[enigma9o7]

Another vote for bench seat. I have 2 kids. I'm kinda surprised this isn't already an option (or default!).

I had a '93 Ranger with bench seat when I was a univeristy student, worked just fine for three young adults, and the Slate is even wider. In fact my Ranger was the "supercab" version with sideways fold up jump seats in the extended cab, but a third person would always prefer to sit up front than in the back, even with me having to reach between their legs to shift (mtx).

Currents laws do not require shoulder belt or airbag for middle front passenger, a lap belt is all that's required. (Middle back seat does require shoulder belt tho). 2016 Impala for example still used just lap belt, and that was the last car sold in US (not pickup) to offer 3 seats up front. Although most trucks that offer the split bench today do include shoulder belt for the middle, that's an optional safety feature, not a requirement. Same with center airbag, as someone earlier in the thread mentioned. That being said, a center airbag would be nice if there's room in the dash, which I think there is.

Maybe they could do something creative with mounts, such that the same bench seat intended for the SUV mode could be mounted up front....

 

[KevinRS]

This would probably require too much of a redo on design, because while shoulder belt and airbag might not technically be required for the center, they would still have to go through crash testing with that configuration, and the plan is still a 5 star rating. The design is probably 99% locked in at this point since they plan on producing certification test units early next year.

 

[Doctors Do Little]

This would probably require too much of a redo on design, because while shoulder belt and airbag might not technically be required for the center, they would still have to go through crash testing with that configuration, and the plan is still a 5 star rating. The design is probably 99% locked in at this point since they plan on producing certification test units early next year.

Agree, though they have been hearing about a bench seat want from us for 8 months? That would change many immediate wants for SUV back seat imo.