Abstract: A load-bearing structure for motor vehicles has a load-bearing floor of lightweight construction merging at its front in a footwell region into an upwardly projecting end wall. The structure also has a front-end structure which forms a crumple zone, is supported in the region of the end wall, and includes lightweight structural panels running in the longitudinal and transverse directions of the vehicle. The footwell region is bounded laterally and at the top by a panel arrangement of lightweight construction which, together with the floor and the end wall, forms a supporting box for the front-end structure.

Abstract: The invention relates to a motor vehicle with a supporting structure provided at one end of a safety passenger compartment with a crumple zone and two wheel arches located in the vicinity of the crumple zone on the sides. A wheel is located in each respective wheel arch held by wheel guide members. A deflecting area extends diagonally to a central lengthwise axis of the motor vehicle for the associated wheel, between the safety passenger compartment and the rolling circumference of the two wheels in the straight-ahead position of the deflecting surface for the associated wheel against which the wheel moved by the crash-produced deformation of the crumple zone against the deflecting surface is deflected past the end of the safety passenger compartment. The deflecting surfaces are diagonally downwardly directed deflecting ramps by which the wheels are directed toward the safety passenger compartment and below the floor of the motor vehicle as the crumple zone collapses.

Abstract: In the illustrative embodiment of the invention as described an engine bonnet is articulated to the framework of a motor car. A gas spring is articulated to both the framework and the bonnet. The gas spring balances part of the weight of the bonnet when the bonnet is to be opened by hand. In case of an accident the framework and/or the bonnet may be crushed in longitudinal direction of the car. In such case the piston rod of the gas spring is pushed inward of the cylinder beyond the normal innermost operational position and a retaining device becomes effective so as to prevent the piston rod from returning towards its outermost operational position.