BODY STRUCTURE


  1. CONSTRUCTION


    1. Impact Absorbing Structure for Frontal Collision


      1. A structure that ensures collision energy absorption efficiency, dissipates impact and minimizes cabin deformation during a frontal collision has been achieved.


        • A frame construction which effectively transmits the impact load to the vehicle body parts during a frontal collision is used.

        • Ultra high strength sheet steel (Tensile Strength: 590 MPa class) rocker panel outer (*1 in illustration) and rocker panel reinforcement No. 1(*2 in illustration) are provided to help reduce the deformation of the rocker during a frontal collision.

        • Ultra high strength sheet steel (Tensile Strength: 590 MPa class) front body pillar reinforcement upper (*3 in illustration) and roof side rail outer (*4 in illustration) are used. The deformation of the front body pillars has been reduced during a frontal collision by overlapping the points at where the load concentrates most on the front body pillars during a frontal collision to provide further reinforcement.

        • The impact load is transmitted to the non-impacted side during an offset frontal collision to help reduce the vehicle deformation amount by providing a front bumper reinforcement No. 5 (*6 in illustration) within the cross section of the front bumper reinforcement sub-assembly (*7 in illustration).

          B002MV1C01
          *1 Rocker Panel Outer *2 Rocker Panel Reinforcement No. 1
          *3 Front Body Pillar Reinforcement Upper *4 Roof Side Rail Outer
          *5 Front Body Pillar Inner *6 Front Bumper Reinforcement No. 5
          *7 Front Bumper Reinforcement Sub-assembly - -
          *a A - A Cross Section *b B - B Cross Section
          *c C - C Cross Section - -
          B002N8P Front Impact Energy B002NKU Dissipate

        • The frame sub-assembly deformation pattern during a frontal collision is controlled to move the suspension tower, dash panel and pedals away from the passengers, reducing their level of injury.

          B002NGPC02
          *a Side View *b Plane View
          *c Step 1: Extension Bucking *d Step 2: Side Rail Collapsing Below Suspension Tower
          *e Step 3: Side Rail Collapsing *f Bucking
          *g Longitudinal Collapsing *h Lateral Collapsing
          *i Kick Region *j Deformation of the side-rail "kick" portionis controlled to reduce the deformation amount of the suspension tower, dash panel and pedals, reducing impact load delivered to the passengers during a collision.

    2. Impact Absorbing Structure for Side Collision


      1. A structure that ensures collision energy absorption efficiency, dissipates impact and minimizes cabin deformation during a side collision has been achieved.


        • A frame construction which effectively disperses the impact load during a side collision is used.

        • Ultra high strength sheet steel (Tensile Strength: 590 MPa class) rocker panel outer (*1 in illustration) is provided to help reduce the deformation of the rocker during a side collision.

        • During the initial operation of the airbags, the rocker extension outer (*3 in illustration) and rocker panel reinforcement No. 4 (*2 in illustration) transmits the impact load to the floor to help reduce vehicle body deformation during a side collision.

        • The center body pillar is provided with an ultra high strength sheet steel (Tensile Strength: 590 MPa class) center body pillar reinforcement upper (*4 in illustration) to help reduce the deformation of the center body pillar during a side collision.

          B002N49C01
          *1 Rocker Panel Outer *2 Rocker Panel Reinforcement No. 4
          *3 Rocker Extension Outer *4 Center Body Pillar Reinforcement Upper
          *a A - A Cross Section *b B - B Cross Section
          B002N8P Side Impact Energy B002NKU Dissipate

    3. Reduction Pedestrian Head Injury


      1. The following shape is used for around the front body, thus maintaining necessary rigidity and aiming for a reduction of impact against a pedestrian in a collision with a pedestrian.


        • The hood sub-assembly (*1 in illustration) uses a structure that places a sufficient space between the hood panel (*2 in illustration) and hood panel inner (*3 in illustration) to ensure an impact absorption stroke (*b in illustration) in order to reduce the impact to the head of a pedestrian during a collision.

          B002MU2C01
          *1 Hood Sub-assembly *2 Hood Panel
          *3 Hood Panel Inner - -
          *a A - A Cross Section *b Impact Absorption Stroke

        • The hood sub-assembly (*1 in illustration) uses a structure that places a sufficient space between the hood panel (*4 in illustration) and engine compartment parts (*5 in illustration )to ensure an impact absorption stroke (*b in illustration) in order to reduce the impact to the head of a pedestrian during a collision.

        • Deformation points (*c in illustration) are placed on the hood lock hook reinforcement No. 2 (*3 in illustration) to create an easily collapsible structure that can absorb the impact load effectively when a pedestrian collides with the hood lock area in order to reduce the impact to the head of a pedestrian.

          B002N7MC01
          *1 Hood Sub-assembly *2 Hood Panel Reinforcement
          *3 Hood Lock Hook Reinforcement No. 2 *4 Hood Panel
          *5 Engine Compartment Parts - -
          *a A - A Cross Section *b Impact Absorption Stroke
          *c Deformation Point *d Head Form

        • The cowl top panel inner (*1 in illustration) uses a crushable structure that has deformation points (*b in illustration) to improve the rate of energy absorption from the estimated collision direction when a pedestrian collides with the windshield glass (*2 in illustration) to reduce the impact to the pedestrian whose head, etc., struck the area.

          B002N26C01
          *1 Cowl Top Panel Inner *2 Windshield Glass
          *a A - A Cross Section *b Deformation Point
          *c Head Form - -

        • An impact absorption brackets (fender apron reinforce plate: *1 in illustration and front fender apron reinforcement RR: *2 in illustration) are provided around the front fender apron sub-assembly (*3 in illustration) to absorb impact load during a collision and collapse, forming a structure which reduces the impact to the pedestrian whose head, etc., struck the fender.

          B002NM9C01
          *1 Fender Apron Reinforce Plate *2 Front Fender Apron Reinforcement RR
          *3 Front Fender Apron Sub-assembly - -
          *a A - A Cross Section - -