Abstract: Disclosed is a vehicle body structure which has a sub-window plate and a front fender each disposed at the rear of a headlamp lens on a sidewall of a vehicle body. In the vehicle body structure, a longitudinally-extending concave portion 60 is defined between the front fender 4 and a combination of a front pillar 52 and a hood 2. The concave portion 60 has at least a frontward region partly receiving therein a headlamp lens 10 and a rearward region receiving therein the sub-window plate 30 at the rear of the headlamp lens 10, whereby a plurality of components including at least the headlamp lens 10 and the sub-window plate 30 are received in the concave portion 60 to form a belt-line surface module F which continuously covers the concave portion 60 to define a transparent or semi-transparent exterior surface on the sidewall of the vehicle body.

Abstract: A vehicle is equipped with a slide door, a seat provided near an ingress-egress opening, and an ingress-action detector to detect a passenger's ingress action through the ingress-egress opening. The vehicle is further equipped with an illumination device which comprises lower illuminators which are configured to illuminate lower areas which are located below a beltline of the vehicle such that a passenger's upper body is not illuminated, vehicle-inside upper illuminators which are configured to illuminate an upper-specified area in the vehicle compartment which is located above the beltline, and an illumination controller to control the illuminators. When the ingress action is detected by the ingress-action detector, the illumination controller prohibits the illuminations of the illuminators and starts the illuminations of the illuminators.

Abstract: Disclosed is a vehicle body structure which has a sub-window plate and a front fender each disposed at the rear of a headlamp lens on a sidewall of a vehicle body. In the vehicle body structure, a longitudinally-extending concave portion 60 is defined between the front fender 4 and a combination of a front pillar 52 and a hood 2. The concave portion 60 has at least a frontward region partly receiving therein a headlamp lens 10 and a rearward region receiving therein the sub-window plate 30 at the rear of the headlamp lens 10, whereby a plurality of components including at least the headlamp lens 10 and the sub-window plate 30 are received in the concave portion 60 to form a belt-line surface module F which continuously covers the concave portion 60 to define a transparent or semi-transparent exterior surface on the sidewall of the vehicle body.

Abstract: An engine positioning structure is used for a rear wheel drive automobile, with an engine mounted in an engine compartment driving the rear wheels. In the automobile having a passenger compartment and the engine compartment, where the two compartments are separated by a dash panel, the engine is positioned so that a rotation axis of the engine is at a position higher than the height of a floor panel of the passenger compartment, and a rear end part of the engine is positioned behind a general plane defined by a position corresponding to the position of a passenger relative to a dash panel. The engine positioning structure enables a retreated layout of the engine to be obtained. It also reduces Yaw moment of inertia, and improves the steering stability.

Abstract: An engine positioning structure is used for a rear wheel drive automobile, with an engine mounted in an engine compartment driving the rear wheels. In the automobile having a passenger compartment and the engine compartment, where the two compartments being separated by a dash panel, the engine is positioned so that a rotation axis of the engine is at a position higher than the height of a floor panel of the passenger compartment, and a rear end part of the engine is positioned behind a general plane defined by a position corresponding to the position of a passenger relative to a dash panel. The engine positioning structure enables to obtain retreated layout of the engine. It also reduces Yaw moment of inertia, and improves the steering stability.

Abstract: An engine room structure of an automotive vehicle is provided with a power transmission unit consisting of, for example, a transfer, between a pair of left-hand and right-hand front side frames, a front axle extending outside from the power transmission unit in the transverse direction of the vehicle body. The steering rack functioning as an element of the front-wheel steering mechanism is so disposed within the engine room as to extend in the transverse direction of the vehicle body and as to lie in the position underneath the spower transmission unit. In other words, the power transmission unit is disposed in the position above the steering rack. This arrangement for the power transmission unit and the steering rack can provide a space between them, thereby lowering the positions of the front side frames.

Abstract: A power plant support structure for supporting a power plant of a vehicle includes a center frame extending in a lengthwise direction of the car body. The center frame is connected, at its lengthwise ends, to front and rear cross members, disposed forward and rearward of the power plant and extending between front side frames. A front mount is secured to the center frame before the power plant and connects the power plant to the center frame. The center frame absorbs an impact exerted on the power plant during a front-end collision of the vehicle.

Abstract: A power plant support structure for supporting a power plant of a vehicle includes a center frame extending in a lengthwise direction of the car body. The center frame is connected, at its lengthwise ends, to front and rear cross members, disposed forward and rearward of the power plant and extending between front side frames. A front mount is secured to the center frame before the power plant and connects the power plant to the center frame. The center frame absorbs an impact exerted on the power plant during a front-end collision of the vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle suspension mounting structure for mounting a suspension device to a vehicle body. At least the upper arm of the suspension device is constituted by two link members disposed to be spaced apart by a predetermined distance in the vertical direction of the body with respect to a vehicle wheel support member. The suspension mounting structure includes a mounting member for mounting the rear end of the upper link member to an upper frame extending along the back-and-forth direction of the vehicle body.

Abstract: A is a vehicle suspension mounting structure for mounting a suspension device to a vehicle body. At least the upper arm of the suspension device is constituted by two link members disposed to be spaced apart by a predetermined distance in the vertical direction of the vehicle body with respect to a vehicle wheel support member. The suspension mounting structure includes a mounting mechanism for mounting the rear end of the upper link member to a dash panel.

Abstract: A wiper mounting structure for a vehicle having a dash lower panel separating a cabin from an engine compartment, a dash upper panel connected to the upper portion of the dash lower panel and a cowl panel connected with the dash upper panel and supporting the lower end of a front window glass at one end thereof, the other end of the cowl panel being disposed in the vicinity of the rear end of a bonnet, the wiper mounting structure including a wiper secured to the cowl panel and a wiper driving device secured to the dash lower panel, the wiper and the wiper driving device being connected by a link member, and being capable of reducing the air resistance of the vehicle and resulting in a vehicle having good appearance.

Abstract: An automobile back door structure includes a back door body formed to include a rear window opening and pivotally attached to the rear portion of an automobile body so as to open and close the rear of the vehicle, and a window glass fixedly mounted on the back door body so as to close the rear window opening. The back door body includes outer and inner panels respectively defining outer and inner surfaces of the back door body. The outer and inner panels are joined to each other at positions where their outer peripheries and the rear window opening meet. The outer panel includes an upper portion having the rear window opening formed at the approximate center thereof and including an outer surface on which the window glass is fixedly secured, and a lower portion joined to the upper portion at a lower part thereof located below the window opening and formed to include a recess for a license at the approximate center thereof.