Yeah that's what I was thinking except that the bomb triggered on her opening the car door (which has me wondering then why she was on the passenger side... wasn't she?).
I think I agree with DJMacWow, it made for better TV to have Tony cradling her. I do think sometimes they make demands on our abilities to suspend disbelief in favor of 'good TV.' There were so many of those "wait that doesn't make sense!" moments in season 3 that that ended up being my least favorite season.
My husband said she was dead the moment she went out the door of the apartment.
Thats another thing, was it opening the door or unlocking the door. And yes it did seem she was on the passenger side. Electric door locks?
I had been reading on various boards for 2 weeks or so that 2 main characters die within the first 10 minutes. And Kiefer said it in the Charlie Rose interview. So when she went out the door, I knew who was next.
And it doesn't make sense that she'd be alive. Tony was in one blast and is at deaths door and she was in 2. I think she's gone. And I think it's because this is Jacks last season. I believe characters are being "cleared out". Kiefer talked about ways the show could continue after Jack leaves. I believe his days are numbered. (not neccesarily dead)
Put her bag in the passenger seat?