Abstract: A method and apparatus for side impacting testing of motor vehicles at a sub-system level. By advancing a side impact barrier into the vehicle shell mounted on the fixture at a predetermined speed, full-scale crashworthiness for side impact collisions can be predicted, thereby significantly reducing development cost and time. The fixture includes a base for supporting the vehicle shell, a side portion for reinforcing a lateral side of the vehicle shell and protecting against deformation and a roll-over prevention structure. The fixture additionally includes a plurality of casters attached to the base.

Abstract: An air exhaust and water management system for a motor vehicle to allow air to flow out of the vehicle cabin and to restrict air and water from flowing into the vehicle cabin is provided. The system includes a vehicle body having an aperture formed therein. The system also includes an air exhauster received in the aperture including outboard actuating flaps to allow air to flow out of the cabin while restricting air from flowing into the vehicle. The system also includes a water diverter nested between the air exhauster and the vehicle body to collect and funnel water out of the cabin that may have entered the cabin through the aperture in the body.

Abstract: An apparatus for a motor vehicle which reinforces the body side panel comprises an unitarily constructed reinforcement member. The reinforcement member includes first and second hinge mounting portions interconnected by an intermediate portion. The reinforcement member is fixedly secured to the B-pillar and the hinge plates of a passenger door are interconnected to the first and second hinge mounting portions. In one embodiment, the reinforcement member includes first and second spaced apart flanges which extend substantially in an inboard direction. The first and second spaced apart flanges are welded or otherwise securely attached to the B-pillar. Further, in the preferred embodiment, the reinforcement member includes a first tab upwardly extending from the first hinge mounting portion and a second tab downwardly extending from the second hinge mounting portion which provide additional points for securing the reinforcement member to the B-pillar of the body side panel.

Abstract: An apparatus for offset impact testing of vehicle components at a sub-system level includes a mobile unit and a vehicle sub-system. In an exemplary application, the vehicle sub-system includes a toe-board and a torque box. A mounting flange is secured to the vehicle sub-system and provides for releasable attachment of the vehicle sub-system to the mobile unit. By advancing the mobile unit into a rigid barrier at a predetermined speed, full-scale toe-board intrusion and torque box crush can be accurately predicted at a significantly reduced cost and time.