Abstract: A tunnel-expansion portion is provided at a front portion of a tunnel portion. The tunnel-expansion portion projects upward greatly and widely so as to provide components of an exhaust system that extend rearward from an exhaust manifold therein (outside a vehicle compartment). Accordingly, there can be provided a front structure of a vehicle, in which an engine is laterally disposed in an engine room at a front portion of the vehicle, an intake pipe is disposed in front of the engine, and an exhaust pipe is disposed in back of the engine, which can improve an exhaust efficiency and a vehicle safety against a vehicle crash, without providing an improperly-large longitudinal space between the engine and the dash panel.

Abstract: A tunnel-expansion portion is provided at a front portion of a tunnel portion. The tunnel-expansion portion projects upward greatly and widely so as to provide components of an exhaust system that extend rearward from an exhaust manifold therein (outside a vehicle compartment). Accordingly, there can be provided a front structure of a vehicle, in which an engine is laterally disposed in an engine room at a front portion of the vehicle, an intake pipe is disposed in front of the engine, and an exhaust pipe is disposed in back of the engine, which can improve an exhaust efficiency and a vehicle safety against a vehicle crash without providing an improperly-large longitudinal space between the engine and the dash panel.

Abstract: An automobile rear body structure capable of allowing a space created between a rear bumper reinforcing member and a line connecting respective rear ends of a pair of rear side frames to be effectively utilized. In this automobile rear body structure, a rear end cross member (30) has an expanded portion (31a) formed to expand rearward relative to respective rear ends (10a) of a pairs of rear side frames (10), and a rear floor pan (20) has a rear edge including a protruded portion (21). The protruded portion (21) is formed to protrude relative to the rear ends (10a) of the pairs of rear side frames (10) toward the expanded portion of the rear end cross member (30) and connected to the rear end cross member (30), so as to allow a luggage compartment space to be enlarged rearward relative to the rear ends (10a) of the pairs of rear side frames (10).

Abstract: Disclosed is an automobile rear body structure capable of allowing a space created between a rear bumper reinforcing member and a line connecting respective rear ends of a pair of rear side frames to be effectively utilized. In this automobile rear body structure, a rear end cross member 30 has an expanded portion 31a formed to expand rearward relative to respective rear ends 10a of a pairs of rear side frames 10, and a rear floor pan 20 has a rear edge including a protruded portion 21. The protruded portion 21 is formed to protrude relative to the rear ends 10a of the pairs of rear side frames 10 toward the expanded portion of the rear end cross member 30 and connected to the rear end cross member 30, so as to allow a luggage compartment space to be enlarged rearward relative to the rear ends 10a of the pairs of rear side frames 10.

Abstract: A front body of a vehicle has a pair of front side frames, which are separately located in a transverse direction of the vehicle and extend in a lengthwise direction, from front to back, of the vehicle. Each front side frame is rigidly attached, at one side, with a front wheel apron, and at another side with an upper shroud beam which extends in the transverse direction so as to form a radiator grill receiving opening. A space for receiving a head lamp is formed between the front wheel apron and the upper shroud beam on the front side frame.

Abstract: In a front structure of a vehicle body having a cowl box, the cowl box is formed by a closed cross-section windshield holding member for holding the windshield, a front cowl plate and a dashboard upper panel. The front cowl plate defines the front face of the cowl box and the dashboard upper panel defines the bottom and the rear face of the same. The windshield holding member and the dashboard upper panel separate upon vehicle impact and resultant cowl box deformation such that the windshield and holding member remain engaged.

Abstract: A steering system in an automobile comprising a steering wheel and a steering shaft rotatable together with the steering wheel, a steering linkage connecting between spaced wheel carriers, a steering gear connecting between the steering shaft and the steering linkage for, when the steering wheel is rotated in one of the opposite directions from a neutral position, causing the steering linkage to displace in one of the opposite directions generally longitudinally thereof for steering the road wheels, an adjustable damper capable of exerting an adjusted damping force and disposed between a portion of an automobile body structure and a portion of the steering linkage for minimizing an oscillatory motion of the steering linkage in a direction generally longitudinally thereof, a valving mechanism for adjusting the damping force exerted by the damper, a detector for detecting a parameter representative of the steered condition of the road wheels and generating an output indicative of the parameter when the paramete