Closure latch and release mechanism

A latch assembly for a vehicle having a closure, comprising:

• a forkbolt movable between a released position and a restrained position, wherein the released position allows opening of the closure and the restrained position prevents opening of the closure;
• a forkbolt spring operatively attached to the forkbolt and configured to bias the forkbolt toward the released position;
• a primary detent mounted with respect to the forkbolt and movable between an open position and a closed position, wherein the open position of the primary detent allows the forkbolt to move into the released position and the closed position of the primary detent does not allow the forkbolt to move into the released position;
• a secondary detent mounted with respect to the primary detent and movable between an unlocked position and a locked position, wherein the unlocked position of the secondary detent allows the primary detent to move into the open position and the locked position of the secondary detent will not allow the primary detent to move into the open position;
• a tension spring operatively attached to the secondary detent and configured to bias the secondary detent toward the locked position;
• an actuator configured to selectively move the secondary detent from the locked position to the unlocked position in the presence of an activation signal;
• a tension lever operatively connected to the secondary detent and the actuator, wherein the tension lever is configured to move the secondary detent from the locked position to the unlocked position in the presence of the activation signal to the actuator;
• and
• an auxiliary activation mechanism configured to selectively move the secondary detent from the locked position to the unlocked position, wherein the auxiliary activation mechanism is characterized by a lack of reliance on a power system of the vehicle.