FUNCTION
Safety Features
Impact Absorbing Structure for Frontal Collision
Through the adoption of a body structure that disperses collision energy to multiple frame components, collision energy is efficiently absorbed to suppress cabin deformation.
The front side members are utilized to absorb and disperse energy in a frontal collision.
A spacer has been added to the front side of the front side member. The spacer transmits impact received outside of the front bumper reinforcement to the front side member. (on left side)
The front body pillar reinforcements are strengthened to optimize dispersal of collision energy to the roof rail, rocker panel and floor panel.
| *1 | Front Bumper Reinforcement | *2 | Spacer |
| *3 | Front Side Member | *4 | Front Body Pillar Reinforcement |
|
Impact | |
Impact Flow |
Impact Absorbing Structure for Side Collision
Ultra high tensile strength steel is used for the center pillar outer reinforcement, center pillar beltline reinforcement, center pillar hinge reinforcement, rocker panel inner reinforcement and rocker panel outer reinforcement to ensure high strength.
Bulkheads are placed on both sides of the floor crossmembers and center floor side crossmember to efficiently transmit impact load from the impact beam to the floor crossmembers.
The use of roof reinforcements enables a construction that transmits load to the opposite side of the vehicle in a collision.
Optimal placement of the impact protect beams enables a construction that efficiently transmits load.
The impact support box is optimally placed on the front floor between the driver seat and front passenger seat to ensure that load is transmitted from the center pillar to the seat pipe, impact support box, and seat pipe on the opposite side, thus helping secure sufficient survival space.
A rear door box is provided inside the bottom of the rear door. In the event of a side collision, the rear door box strikes the rear crossmember gusset, absorbing the impact by transmitting it to the center floor member.
| *1 | Center Pillar Outer Reinforcement | *2 | Front Floor Crossmember |
| *3 | Center Floor Crossmember | *4 | Roof Reinforcement |
| *5 | Rocker Panel Reinforcement | *6 | Impact Protect Beam |
| *7 | Impact Support Box | *8 | Seat Pipe |
| *9 | Rear Door Box | *10 | Center Crossmember Gusset |
|
Impact | |
Impact Flow |
When the roof is subjected to an impact, the impact is dispersed to the roof reinforcements, front pillars and center pillars, thereby minimizing deformation of the cabin.
|
Impact | |
Impact Flow |
Impact Absorbing Structure for Rear Collision
Straight rear side members are used to reduce body deformation in a rear collision.
Lessening Pedestrian Injury
A hood reinforcement is provided for the hood inner panel to help ensure excellent pedestrian protection performance and tensile rigidity.
| *1 | Longitudinal Ribbed Structure | *2 | Dent Reinforcement (Impact Absorbing Structure) |
An impact absorbing bracket is used for the mounting portion of the front fender panel to absorb impact energy to the head of a pedestrian in a collision, thus dampening impact to the head.
| *1 | Impact Absorbing Bracket (Front) | *2 | Impact Absorbing Bracket (Rear) |
| *a | A-A Cross Section | *b | B-B Cross Section |
| *c | Before Collision | *d | After Collision |
|
Impact | - | - |
The cowl uses an open section structure that collapses easily in an impact from the top, thus reducing the impact and head injuries sustained by a pedestrian in an accident.
| *1 | Windshield Glass | *2 | Cowl Top Panel Sub-assembly |
| *a | A-A Cross Section | *b | Before Collision |
| *c | After Collision | - | - |
|
Impact | - | - |
Aerodynamics
Aero stabilizing fins are provided on the outer rear view mirror bases and on the rear combination light lenes for enhanced aerodynamics.
After passing the aero stabilizing fin, the air speed will increase and a vortex will be generated.
This vortex increases the speed of the surrounding air while at the same time pulling the airflow towards the vehicle body.
The airflow with higher speed passes near both sides of the vehicle body and ends at the rear of the vehicle. This helps to hold the vehicle body, thus stabilizing the vehicle.
| *a | Aero Stabilizing Fin | *b | Vortex |
|
Airflow | |
Holds the Vehicle from Both Sides |
Various types of airflow routing parts are provided under the floor to control airflow. In addition, an undercover is provided to make the under floor area flat in order to ensure excellent aerodynamic performance.
A fin-shaped engine under cover and rear under cover have been adopted to achieve higher diffuser efficiency, ensuring stability..
|
Undercover Area | - | - |
CONSTRUCTION
Lightweight and Highly Rigid Body
High strength steel and ultra high strength steel are used in order to realize excellent body rigidity and a lightweight body.
| *1 | High Strength Sheet Steel | *2 | Ultra High Strength Sheet Steel |
Rust-resistant Body
Anti-corrosion steel sheet is used as shown in the following illustration:
| *A | Models with Sliding Roof System | - | - |
|
Anti-corrosion Steel Sheet | - | - |
For rust resistance, sealant has been applied to the floor panel to prevent water from entering through the mating surfaces of the panels. Under coat has been also applied to reduce damage to the body from chipping, contributing to rust resistance.
| *a | Sealant | - | - |
|
Undercoat | - | - |
Body Shell Construction
The cowl top panel sub-assembly outer, which is straight, is used to connect the left and right front spring supports, improving lateral rigidity and ensuring front suspension input point rigidity and body rigidity.
| *1 | Cowl Top Panel Sub-assembly | - | - |
A closed shape has been adopted for the upper back panel. The upper back panel, which is straight, is used to connect the left and right back side panels, realizing a lightweight yet rigid body.
| *1 | Under Back Panel | - | - |
Along with the optimal positioning of frame components such as rear side members, center floor members, the rear floor crossmembers and rear sub-frame, the usage of a small number of parts has realized a lightweight design while also ensuring excellent rigidity and handling stability.
| *1 | Rear Side Member | *2 | Center Floor Crossmember |
| *3 | Rear Floor Crossmember | *4 | Rear Sub-frame |
Low Vibration and Low Noise Body
The following body structures are used in order to reduce panel vibration and body frame movement.
| Panel vibration reduction structure |
|
| *1 | Crossmember of The Dash Panel | *2 | Tunnel Reinforcement |
| *3 | Floor Pan Panel | *4 | Bead |
Damping coatings are provided, combining enhanced quietness and reduced weight.
|
Damping Coating | - | - |
Silencer pads are provided on the engine compartment side and cabin side of the dash panel, minimizing penetration of engine noise and road noise into the cabin.
| *1 | Dash Panel Insulator Outer | *2 | Dash Panel |
| *3 | Dash Panel Insulator Inner | - | - |
The layout of the sound-absorbing material is optimized to reduce noise and vibration.
| *a | A-A Cross Section | *b | B-B Cross Section |
| *c | C-C Cross Section | - | - |
|
Sound-absorbing Material | - | - |
Silencers are provided inside the rear wheel housings to minimize the penetration of splashing noise generated in the wheel housings into the cabin.
| *1 | Rear Wheel House Silencer | - | - |
| *a | A-A Cross Section | - | - |
Weatherstrips are provided for the front and rear doors at the rocker panel to minimize the penetration of road noise into the cabin.
| *1 | Weatherstrip | - | - |
| *a | A-A Cross Section | - | - |