Abstract: A device for deploying the hood of an automotive vehicle upwardly in the event of impact with a pedestrian includes a hinge assembly secured to the vehicle structure below the trailing edge of the hood and a guide track extending forwardly. A hinge arm has a pivot end rotatably connected to the hood adjacent the trailing edge and a slide end engaging the track for movement therealong. A pyrotechnically powered actuator is mounted on the body structure in front of the hinge assembly and engages the hinge arm, the actuator having a retracted condition wherein the hinge arm is in the normal operating position and movable to an extended condition to urge the hinge arm to the raised position, the actuator acting along a line of action generally parallel with the track. During normal vehicle operations, the piston is retracted, the hinge arm slide end is adjacent the forward end of the track, and the pivot end is engaged with the retaining member permitting normal opening and closing of the hood.