Abstract: A vehicle is provided. The vehicle may include a first A-pillar, spanning between a roof rail and shotgun, and a frame assembly. The first A-pillar may carry a windshield. The frame assembly may include a second A-pillar, spanning between the roof rail and a hinge pillar, and a C-pillar. The frame assembly may define a side ingress/egress opening of a cabin having a rearward-facing front seat. The opening may span between the second A-pillar and C-pillar without a B-pillar.

Abstract: A tow hook assembly includes a U-shaped tow hook received in a housing. The U-shaped tow hook includes first and second legs where the first and second legs each include forward and rearward locking flanges. The legs of the U-shaped tow hooks are received in a housing. The housing includes springs which bias the U-shaped tow hook in a forward direction and the locking flanges prevent the U-shaped tow hook from moving in a forward direction. The springs allow the U-shaped tow hook to deflect in a rearward direction upon a forward impact with the U-shaped tow hook.

Abstract: A vehicle structure including a roof beam and a first pillar and a second pillar each fixed relative to the roof beam. The first pillar and the second pillar are spaced from each other defining a door opening extending from the first pillar to the second pillar. A front door and a rear door are both disposed in the door opening. A panel is pivotally connected to the roof beam and pivotable relative to the roof beam to a lowered position. The panel, in the lowered position, extends across the door opening from the first pillar to the second pillar.

Abstract: A vehicle underbody assembly including a pair of rockers, a pair of rear rails, a first cross member, and a second cross member is provided. Each of the pair or rear rails extends from one of the rockers and each includes a rear portion, a first mid-portion, a second mid-portion, and a forward portion. Each of the forward portions is secured to one of the rockers at one of a first joint and a second joint. The first cross member extends between the rear rails at a transition region between the second mid-portion and the forward portion. The second cross member extends between the rear rails at locations adjacent the first and second joints. Each of the rear rails is thermally treated so that the second mid-portions form a hard strength zone. The hard strength zone may further be defined as a zone having a fully martensitic microstructure.

Abstract: A vehicle underbody assembly may include a pair of front rails, a pair of hinge pillars, a pair of crush cans, a pair of bumper supports, and a bumper. Each of the front rails includes a front portion, a mid-portion, and a backup portion. Each of the hinge pillars may be attached to one of the backup portions. Each of the crush cans may be attached to one of the front portions. Each of bumper supports may be secured to one of the crush cans. The bumper may be attached to the bumper supports. The front portions and the backup portions may be heat treated to have a higher strength than the mid-portions. Each of the front portions and the backup portions may be heated to define a hard strength zone and the mid-portion may be heated to define a medium strength zone.

Abstract: A bumper assembly may include a pair of crush cans and a bumper beam. The pair of crush cans are for securing to a vehicle body. The bumper beam is secured to the crush cans and includes a first end and a second end each extending outboard of one of the crush cans, and a middle portion extending between the first and second ends. The bumper beam is thermally treated to provide the first and second ends with less tensile strength than the middle portion. The middle portion may have a tensile strength between 1000 MPa and 1900 MPa. Each of the first and second ends may have a tensile strength between 600 MPa and 900 MPa.

Abstract: A vehicle underbody assembly including a pair of rockers, a pair of side rails, a first cross member, a second cross member, and a fuel tank is provided. Each of the pair of side rails is secured to a rearward portion of one of the rockers. The first cross member extends between the side rails and is thermally treated to form a first central hard strength zone between two first soft strength zones. The second cross member is arranged with the pair of side rails and the first cross member to form a rectilinear frame and is thermally treated to form a second central hard strength zone between two second soft strength zones. The fuel tank is secured between the pair of side rails so that the fuel tank is located within a rectilinear frame formed by the pair of side rails and the cross members.

Abstract: A vehicle structure including a first rocker, a second rocker, and a reinforcement. The first rocker is spaced from the second rocker. The reinforcement has a forward beam and a rearward beam spaced from each other. The reinforcement includes a first side member and a second side member each extending from the forward beam to the rearward beam. The first side member abuts the first rocker, and the second side member abuts the second rocker.

Abstract: A restraints control module (RCM) assembly attached to the tunnel in the floor of a vehicle. The bracket includes a base plate supporting the restraints control module. A helmet shield is secured over the RCM and encloses the RCM on three sides. The helmet shield includes slots that extend downwardly and outwardly from opposite side of the helmet shield that receive a plurality of bolts as the helmet shield is moved in a vertically downward direction. Two vertically extending sidewalls of the helmet shield are assembled over the RCM with a clearance being defined between the sidewalls and the RCM. The helmet shield is adapted to protect the RCM in a side impact collision.

Abstract: A bracket and restraints control module assembly attached to the tunnel in the floor of a vehicle. The bracket includes a base plate and an intermediate plate supporting the restraints control module. The intermediate plate defines a plurality of holes and is secured by a limited slip connector assembly that extend through laterally elongated slots defined by the base plate and holes in the intermediate plate, respectively. The connector assembly is tightened to a predetermined level of torque so that the intermediate plate can slide relative to the base plate on upper and lower slide surfaces when a collision force of sufficient magnitude is applied to the bracket and RCM assembly.

Abstract: A bumper assembly includes a beam and a plurality of members attached to and positioned sequentially along the beam. Each member includes an outer tube extending transverse to the beam and an inner tube extending parallel to and in the outer tube. Adjacent ones of the members are configured to contact each other when both adjacent ones of the members are deformed.

Abstract: An impact absorbing system includes a vehicle floor, a rocker, and a reinforcement member. The rocker is disposed below the vehicle floor. The reinforcement member is supported on the rocker. The reinforcement member is deployable from an undeployed position beneath the vehicle floor to a deployed position above the vehicle floor.

Abstract: A vehicle structure including a first rocker, a second rocker, and a reinforcement. The first rocker is spaced from the second rocker. The reinforcement has a forward beam and a rearward beam spaced from each other. The reinforcement includes a first side member and a second side member each extending from the forward beam to the rearward beam. The first side member abuts the first rocker, and the second side member abuts the second rocker.

Abstract: A restraints control module (RCM) assembly attached to the tunnel in the floor of a vehicle. The bracket includes a base plate supporting the restraints control module. A helmet shield is secured over the RCM and encloses the RCM on three sides. The helmet shield includes slots that extend downwardly and outwardly from opposite side of the helmet shield that receive a plurality of bolts as the helmet shield is moved in a vertically downward direction. Two vertically extending sidewalls of the helmet shield are assembled over the RCM with a clearance being defined between the sidewalls and the RCM. The helmet shield is adapted to protect the RCM in a side impact collision.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a body and a door moveable relative to the body between the open and closed position. The vehicle includes a seat fixed relative to the door. The seat includes a seat back and a seat bottom. The body has a longitudinal axis, and the seat bottom extends from the seat back toward the longitudinal axis along a cross-vehicle direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis when the door is in the closed position.

Abstract: A vehicle structure including a roof beam and a first pillar and a second pillar each fixed relative to the roof beam. The first pillar and the second pillar are spaced from each other defining a door opening extending from the first pillar to the second pillar. A front door and a rear door are both disposed in the door opening. A panel is pivotally connected to the roof beam and pivotable relative to the roof beam to a lowered position. The panel, in the lowered position, extends across the door opening from the first pillar to the second pillar.

Abstract: A bumper assembly includes a beam and a plurality of members attached to and positioned sequentially along the beam. Each member includes an outer tube extending transverse to the beam and an inner tube extending parallel to and in the outer tube. Adjacent ones of the members are configured to contact each other when both adjacent ones of the members are deformed.

Abstract: A battery housing for a traction motor battery of a vehicle is disclosed that includes a plurality of elongated impact absorbing carbon fiber reinforced polymer members attached to the walls of the enclosure. The impact absorbing members may be corrugated members that have ridges and furrows connected by ramp surfaces that define trapezoidal spaces relative to the sides of the enclosure. The ridges are designed to be deformed into the trapezoidal space in the event of an impact to absorb impact forces and protect the battery. The impact absorbing members may be retained by T-shaped guides on the outer surface of the walls of the enclosure or may be adhesively attached to the sides of the enclosure.