Abstract: A step unit that guides a sliding door of a vehicle includes a step member and a rail plate member. The step member includes first and second lower rails. The first lower rail has two ends that face toward each other to form a cutout portion in between. The rail plate member is arranged in the cutout portion. The step member includes an insertion hole and an extended portion. The insertion hole is located at a position corresponding to the cutout portion. The extended portion is extended from at least one of the two ends to support the rail plate member against a load received by the rail plate member from the roller. The rail plate member is inserted through the insertion hole from above the upper side of the step member and fixed by a fastening member to the step member.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a crush area disposed in front end part of each side sill, the crush area being crushable under a collision load upon collision in order to absorb the collision load. A bulkhead is disposed on the rear of the crush area inside the side sill. A reinforcing frame is attached to a side surface of the side sill facing a vehicle interior, one end of the reinforcing frame being joined to surface part of a portion, where the bulkhead is disposed, of the side sill such that the reinforcing frame extends rearwardly and inwardly in a vehicle width direction, the other end thereof being joined to a floor frame.

Abstract: A front structure for a vehicle is provided, the structure including (i) a pair of front rails spaced apart in a widthwise direction with each rail extending lengthwise, and where each rail is comprised of a polygonal-shaped upper hollow channel and a polygonal-shaped lower hollow channel with the upper and lower channels sharing a common wall; and (ii) a pair of curvilinear torque boxes, where one curvilinear torque box is mechanically attached to the upper and lower polygonal-shaped channels of each front rail, where each curvilinear torque box is mechanically coupled to a rocker panel, where the upper polygonal-shaped channel of each front rail is in a horizontal plane located above the top surface of the corresponding rocker panel, and where the lower polygonal-shaped channel of each front rail is in a horizontal plane that is aligned with the corresponding rocker panel.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an interior garnishment assembly may include a pillar garnishment coupled to a vehicle pillar, a door opening trim engaged with the pillar garnishment and the vehicle pillar, and a scuff plate coupled to the pillar garnishment. The pillar garnishment may include a ledge portion that extends at least partially along a W direction, a datum orifice formed in a low end of the ledge portion, and a datum feature joined with the ledge portion. The datum feature can be substantially hook shaped. The door opening trim may include a biased member that can clamp the datum feature to the vehicle pillar along the W direction. The scuff plate may include an attachment member that can be engaged with the datum orifice of the pillar garnishment. The datum feature of the pillar garnishment can control alignment of the door opening trim and the scuff plate.

Abstract: A load transmission performance of transmitting load efficiently in a vehicle longitudinal direction of a rocker is improved. At a load input portion of a rocker, a sectional surface area, that is orthogonal to the vehicle longitudinal direction, of a rocker outer panel is greater than a sectional surface area, that is orthogonal to the vehicle longitudinal direction, of a rocker inner panel. Accordingly, load is sufficiently distributed and inputted to the rocker outer panel. Accordingly, a bending moment, that bends toward a vehicle transverse direction inner side at the rocker inner panel, is suppressed.

Abstract: A sillboard arrangement of a motor vehicle body is provided with a sillboard outside panel, a sillboard inside panel and a lateral wall outside panel. The sillboard inside panel and sillboard outside panel are joined together by at least one connecting flange hat extends in the longitudinal direction of the sillboard, and the lateral wall outside panel is attached to a bottom side of the sillboard outside panel in an area spaced apart from the connecting flange. The lateral wall outside panel can have secured to it an end cap, which at an end lying in the longitudinal direction of the sillboard profile exhibits a floor section that is essentially indentation free in relation to the transverse direction of the vehicle and spaced apart in the vertical direction of the vehicle from a bottom side of the lateral wall outside panel.

Abstract: A rocker panel assembly for attachment to a vehicle, comprising a rocker panel body, a first end feature situated on a first end of the rocker panel body, and a second end feature situated on a second end of the rocker panel body. The rocked panel body has an outside surface generally presented in the form of a convex surface, and an inside surface generally presented in the form of a concave surface. The outside surface of the rocker panel body extends outwardly of the vehicle, to present an outboard section having a predetermined profile based on targeted aesthetic/performance characteristics. The inside surface of the rocker panel body has at least one transverse rib positioned therein, the transverse rib being arranged generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the rocker panel body.

Abstract: A rocker molding for attachment to a rocker panel of a vehicle includes a rocker garnish with an arcuate cross section. A garnish shelf extends from an upper edge of the rocker garnish such that the garnish shelf is substantially perpendicular to the rocker garnish. A riser portion extends from an inboard edge of the garnish shelf in a substantially vertical direction. A cap shelf extends from a top edge of the riser portion in an inboard direction. When the rocker molding is installed on the rocker panel of the vehicle, the garnish shelf extends from the rocker panel in an outboard direction, the riser portion is substantially flush with a skin of a vehicle door when the door is in a closed position, and a bottom edge of the vehicle door is spaced apart from the garnish shelf by at least a height H of the riser portion.

Abstract: A vehicle body rocker structure includes a plate-like inner member and a plate-like outer member that extend in a vehicle backward-forward direction and join with each other in a vehicle width direction as a structure member for constituting a rocker, wherein respective cross-sections of the inner member and the outer member include upper joint portions, lower joint portions, at least one convex portion caused to project to opposite sides joining therebetween, and concave portions disposed between the upper and lower joint portions as well as on a vehicle body upper and lower side of the convex portions, respectively, and the upper joint portions, the lower joint portions, and the convex portions of the inner member and the outer member are joined with each other, respectively and plural closed cross-sections are formed in the vehicle body up-down direction.

Abstract: An inner center pillar member has a section passed through the interior of a side sill into outer and inner spaces. An outer load transmitting member is provided within the outer space in opposed relation to the passed-through section of the inner center pillar member, and an inner load transmitting member is provided within the inner space in opposed relation to the outer load transmitting member with the passed-through section interposed therebetween. A door beam provided within a door has a rear end portion located close to the outer load transmitting member and lapped over a corner portion of a center pillar.

Abstract: A front structure for a vehicle is provided that includes a pair of front rails (i.e., front left hand rail and front right hand rail) spaced apart in a widthwise direction with each rail extending lengthwise and mechanically coupled to the vehicle's bumper and a torque box. Each front rail is comprised of a polygonal-shaped upper hollow channel and a polygonal-shaped lower hollow channel, where the upper and lower channels share a common wall.

Abstract: A vehicle body (12; 12A; 12B) including: left and right side sills (15, 15) extending in the front-rear direction of the vehicle (11); and rear wheel wells (17, 17) located behind the left and right side sills and covering the left and right rear wheels (16, 16). The left and right side sills are formed in a closed cross-sectional shape continuous from the front ends to the rear ends thereof. The rear end sections (35, 35) of the left and right side sills are joined, with the closed cross-sectional shape maintained, to the left and right rear wheel wells by joining members (18, 18; 18A, 18A; 18B, 18B).

Abstract: A rocker molding for attachment to a rocker panel of a vehicle includes a rocker garnish with an arcuate cross section. A garnish shelf extends from an upper edge of the rocker garnish such that the garnish shelf is substantially perpendicular to the rocker garnish. A riser portion extends from an inboard edge of the garnish shelf in a substantially vertical direction. A cap shelf extends from a top edge of the riser portion in an inboard direction. When the rocker molding is installed on the rocker panel of the vehicle, the garnish shelf extends from the rocker panel in an outboard direction, the riser portion is substantially flush with a skin of a vehicle door when the door is in a closed position, and a bottom edge of the vehicle door is spaced apart from the garnish shelf by at least a height H of the riser portion.

Abstract: The invention relates to a carrier element for a motor vehicle made of steel, which comprises at least one closed cross-sectional area and at least one rolled profile produced from a tailored strip, which extends in longitudinal direction of the carrier element. In addition to this, the invention relates to a body of a motor vehicle. The object of making available a carrier element for a motor vehicle that cannot only be produced in a simple manner and can provide high strengths with same manufacturing costs is solved in that through the rolled profile a carrier element having at least one at least partially closed cross-sectional area is formed.

Abstract: In a vehicle-body structure of a vehicle which comprises at least one vehicle-body forming member forming a closed-section portion continuously in a specified direction, a partition member extending in the specified direction and partitioning an inside of the closed-section portion, and a bulkhead provided in the closed-section portion and joined to the vehicle-body forming member, the bulkhead is joined to an inner face of the vehicle-body forming member at specified positions which are located on both sides of the partition member, and the bulkhead is joined to a specified portion of the partition member which is located in the vicinity of opening portions formed at the partition member or to an end portion of the partition member in the specified direction.

Abstract: In lower structures for vehicle front pillars, there are paired right and left side sills arranged in lower portions on both sides of a vehicle, respectively; an outer portion, in a vehicle width direction, of each side sill is formed of an outer reinforcement for a side sill; a inner panel for the side sill is arranged on an inner side, in the vehicle width direction, of each side sill; the front pillars are formed so as to stand on front ends of the side sills, respectively; outer panels for side bodies cover outer reinforcements for the respective front pillars and parts of the respective side sills; each outer reinforcement for side sill is segmented, in the vehicle front and rear direction, into three parts, that is to say, first to third components positioning sequentially from a front of the vehicle; strengths of the first to third components are set to be higher sequentially in this order; and the first, second, and third components are joined and integrated together.

Abstract: A reinforcing element has a dual-chamber profile produced by a rolling method to define an outer profile part supported with respect to an inner profile part. The two profile parts have a common wall as a straight web to which legs, offset in the same vertical plane, of the outer and inner profile parts adjoin. Reinforcing tubes are provided transversely with respect to the profile parts of the reinforcing element and are connected firmly to the profile parts. The reinforcing tubes preferably are directed toward seat crossmembers of the vehicle floor to improve side crash behavior.

Abstract: A battery protection structure for an automobile includes a rocker placed in a side portion of a body, a floor panel whose outer end in a body width direction is secured to the rocker, a reinforcement located more inward in the body width direction than the rocker, and secured to the floor panel, the reinforcement forming a part of a frame of the body, a battery located more inward in the body width direction than the rocker, and placed below the floor panel in the body, and an input member that connects between the rocker and the reinforcement, and configured to input, upon input of a collision load directed inward in the body width direction to the rocker, a part of the collision load to a midsection of the floor panel between the rocker and the reinforcement as a component directed upward of the body.

Abstract: A rocker panel assembly for attachment to a vehicle, comprising a rocker panel body, a first end feature situated on a first end of the rocker panel body, and a second end feature situated on a second end of the rocker panel body. The rocked panel body has an outside surface generally presented in the form of a convex surface, and an inside surface generally presented in the form of a concave surface. The outside surface of the rocker panel body extends outwardly of the vehicle, to present an outboard section having a predetermined profile based on targeted aesthetic/performance characteristics. The inside surface of the rocker panel body has at least one transverse rib positioned therein, the transverse rib being arranged generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the rocker panel body.

Abstract: A motor vehicle body is provided. The motor vehicle body includes a sill extending under a door opening and a fender fastened to the sill. A sill bulkhead seals off an inner hollow space of the sill at a face end and a first fastening point on the sill bulkhead fastens the fender to the sill.

Abstract: A support is provided for an entrance trim panel on a carrying element of a motor vehicle, particularly a passenger car. The space for accommodating an electrical wire harness is formed between the entrance trim panel and the carrying element. In such a support, it is proposed that the space for accommodating the electrical wire harness is formed above the carrying element, and that a supporting element is arranged between the carrying element and the entrance trim panel. The supporting element is rigidly connected to the carrying element in the region of one end and the entrance trim panel is supported in the region of the other end.

Abstract: A vehicle body (12; 12A; 12B) including: left and right side sills (15, 15) extending in the front-rear direction of the vehicle (11); and rear wheel wells (17, 17) located behind the left and right side sills and covering the left and right rear wheels (16, 16). The left and right side sills are formed in a closed cross-sectional shape continuous from the front ends to the rear ends thereof. The rear end sections (35, 35) of the left and right side sills are joined, with the closed cross-sectional shape maintained, to the left and right rear wheel wells by joining members (18, 18; 18A, 18A; 18B, 18B).

Abstract: A side part structure of a vehicle body capable of reliably dispersing a collision load applied from the side of a vehicle is disclosed. A bulkhead arranged in a rocker has an outer bulkhead joined to an outer rocker and an inner bulkhead joined to an inner rocker. Facing walls of the outer bulkhead and the inner bulkhead are provided with proximity portions which are engageable with each other, which allow a collision load at a side collision to be reliably transmitted from the outer rocker to the inner rocker via the proximity portions formed on the mutually facing walls, thereby reliably dispersing the collision load from the side of the vehicle.

Abstract: A motor vehicle body has at least two sills running laterally in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle. An auxiliary frame is provided in a region of a front axle and at least one strut is provided, the strut running between the auxiliary frame of the front axle and one of the two lateral sills. This makes it possible in particular to increase the natural frequency of a vehicle front end by structurally simple and also cost-effective measures.

Abstract: The embodiments herein describe a fundamental layout between the inner panel of a door, side sill reinforcement, and uncrushable items within the door of the vehicle. During a side impact collision, a side impact sensor receives a G-signal resulting from the collision. The G-signal must ramp up to a threshold value in order to deploy the side airbag. The fundamental layout between the inner panel of a door, side sill reinforcement, and uncrushable items within the door of the vehicle ensures a more robust G-signal which results in early deployment of the side airbag relative to the movement of the door toward the occupant.

Abstract: A vehicle lower structure is equipped with a brace. The brace is configured to include an extension portion that extends in a vehicle width direction, and link portions that are provided at both ends of the extension portion respectively and have a generally V shape in a bottom view in such a manner as to be convex forward or rearward with respect to a vehicle body. The vehicle lower structure also has a body portion that is fastened to mounting portions, which are provided on both sides of a lower portion of a vehicle respectively, by the link portions.

Abstract: A vehicle roof support assembly is provided which includes a roof rail, a rocker panel, a first hollow support member and a second hollow support member. The first hollow support member and the second hollow support member each includes an inner wall, an outer wall, a front wall, a front wall and a rear wall. The first hollow support member and the second hollow support member each include a tubular lower area that extends upwardly from the rocker panel. The first hollow support member and the second hollow support member also each include an upper section that extends downwardly from the roof rail. The first hollow support member and the second hollow support member are spaced apart from one another in at least a middle area of the first and second hollow support members.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a crush area disposed in front end part of each side sill, the crush area being crushable under a collision load upon collision in order to absorb the collision load. A bulkhead is disposed on the rear of the crush area inside the side sill. A reinforcing frame is attached to a side surface of the side sill facing a vehicle interior, one end of the reinforcing frame being joined to surface part of a portion, where the bulkhead is disposed, of the side sill such that the reinforcing frame extends rearwardly and inwardly in a vehicle width direction, the other end thereof being joined to a floor frame.

Abstract: Disclosed is a vehicle chassis side structure comprising a side sill (15) whereupon a closed section is formed from a side sill outer (37) and a side sill inner (38). The side sill outer (37) comprises an upper wall portion (44) and a lower wall portion (45). The closed section is formed in a polygonal shape by forming an upper bead (47) from the leading end of the side sill (15) to the trailing end thereof, upon at least the upper wall portion (44) from among the upper and lower wall portions (44, 45). The vehicle chassis side structure further comprises a reinforcement member (64) upon a central joining portion (56) whereat a center pillar (17) is joined, which closes an opening (61) of the upper bead (47) and an opening (62) of a lower bead (48), forming the closed section.

Abstract: A vehicle frame assembly, system and method includes a vehicle frame assembly having a variable length longitudinal frame component. The longitudinal frame component is formed at a first length when used on a first vehicle type and formed at a second length when used on a second vehicle type.

Abstract: A vehicle side door structure includes a door and a rocker panel providing a show surface beneath the door. The rocker panel includes a trim portion providing the show surface and a connecting portion moveably connected to the trim portion by a region of weakness such that the connecting portion is movable relative to the trim portion while connected thereto between an unlatched position and a latched position. The trim portion includes a lowest point and an upwardly extending section that locates a lowermost point of the region of weakness above the lowest point of the trim portion with the connecting portion in the latched position.

Abstract: A rocker panel is provided for a motor vehicle, having a first oblong rocker panel part, on which a second oblong rocker panel part, having longitudinal axis (A) parallel thereto, is fastened so it is movable in relation thereto.

Abstract: A rocker includes a lower wall portion, which is an inclined surface inclined downward toward the inside of a vehicle body, on the lower surface of the rocker, and a floor panel is bonded to the lower wall portion. Accordingly, when an in-plane tensile force is applied to the floor panel the in-plane tensile force is applied not in a direction where the bonding between the rocker and the floor panel is separated but in a direction where the bonding between the rocker and the floor panel is shorn. As a result, it may be possible to improve bonding strength. Further, a corner portion is formed at the end portion of the inclined surface facing the floor panel, and a frictional force is generated at the corner portion between the floor panel and the rocker. Therefore, a load, which is applied to the floor panel, can be distributed to the rocker.

Abstract: A vehicle rocker panel is provided that is extruded as a single piece. As extruded, the rocker panel may include one or more interior reinforcing walls as well as interior and exterior design features.

Abstract: A vehicle body superstructure includes a first side rail member, a second side rail member, a roof member, and a gusset. The gusset includes a rail side surface, a roof side surface, a first claw, a second claw, and a bead. The rail side surface extends along a vertical direction of a vehicle body and is connected to the first and second side rail members. The roof side surface extends along a breadthways direction of the vehicle body and is connected to the roof member. The first claw is provided at a first longitudinal end of the gusset and locked in a first locking portion provided in the first side rail member. The second claw is provided at a second longitudinal end of the gusset and is locked in a second locking portion provided in the second side rail member.

Abstract: In a frame structure for a vehicle having a reinforcement body provided inside a frame body, the frame body comprises a first face portion and a second face portion extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to a rotational-axis direction of a bending moment occurring when a torsional load acts on a vehicle body, and third face portions positioned between the first and second face portions, and the reinforcement body comprises third-face connection portions connected to the third face portions, a first-face connection portion connected to the first face portion at a corner portion, a first-face non-contact portion provided away from the first face portion, a second-face connection portion connected to the second face portion at a corner portion, and a second-face non-contact portion provided away from the second face portion.

Abstract: A sill arrangement of a motor vehicle body is provided that has a sill outer plate, a sill inner plate, and a side wall outer plate, the sill inner plate and the sill outer plate being connected to one another with at least one flange extending essentially in the sill longitudinal direction, and the side wall outer plate fastened at least regionally on a lower side of the sill outer plate at a distance from the connecting flange.

Abstract: A sillboard arrangement of a motor vehicle body is provided with a sillboard outside panel, a sillboard inside panel and a lateral wall outside panel. The sillboard inside panel and sillboard outside panel are joined together by at least one connecting flange hat extends in the longitudinal direction of the sillboard, and the lateral wall outside panel is attached to a bottom side of the sillboard outside panel in an area spaced apart from the connecting flange. The lateral wall outside panel can have secured to it an end cap, which at an end lying in the longitudinal direction of the sillboard profile exhibits a floor section that is essentially indentation free in relation to the transverse direction of the vehicle and spaced apart in the vertical direction of the vehicle from a bottom side of the lateral wall outside panel.

Abstract: A motor vehicle rocker panel is formed of a rocker inner panel and a rocker outer panel of generally C-shape that are spot welded together and cooperate to define an open space therebetween. An extruded aluminum reinforcement member is captured within an open space and includes a generally box-shaped structure having vertical sidewalls engaging respectively with the rocker inner panel and the rocker outer panel, and also integral flanges extending from the corners of the box-shape into engagement with the rocker inner panel and the rocker outer panel. Structural adhesive and screws act between the reinforcement member, the rocker inner panel, and the rocker outer panel, thereby providing a strong, lightweight, and economical reinforcement of the rocker panel. In addition, stiffening ribs are provided for strength and cavities are defined to receive the flow of any excess adhesive.

Abstract: A vehicle floor structure including: a floor tunnel frame arranged along a center in a vehicle width direction and extending in a vehicle length direction; side sills arranged on the right and left sides of a vehicle body and extending in the length direction; lateral frame members connecting the tunnel frame with the side sills; floor panels bridged between the tunnel frame and the side sills; obliquely extending portions provided on at least one of the lateral frame members and extending so as to be inclined to the length direction in a planar view, connecting respectively with the side sills; and concentric arc-shaped beads provided in the respective panels, with centers respectively at intersections of the side sills and the obliquely extending portions, wherein at least one of the beads has one end extending orthogonal to the side sill and the other end extending orthogonal to the width direction.

Abstract: Outer side sill member includes an upper wall section slanting upward in a horizontal, outer-to-inner direction, and a lower wall section slanting downward in the horizontal, outer-to-inner direction. At least one of upper and lower wall sections of the outer side sill member has a channel-shaped bead extending along the side sill, so that the side sill has a polygonal closed sectional shape extending in the front-rear direction of the vehicle. The bead has a bottom portion having a width greater than a vertical dimension in a direction orthogonal to the surface of the bottom portion. Each of bulkheads, partitioning the interior of the side sill, is fixedly joined to the outer side sill member with its recessed edge portion substantially fittingly engaging with the bottom portion of the depressed wall portion of the outer side sill member.

Abstract: In a motor vehicle body, plates of a rocker panel reinforcement situated inside a rocker panel are led up to a terminus part manufactured from plastic. A front wall of the terminus part is led up almost to a tire envelope curve. In the event of a crash of the motor vehicle, occurring forces are introduced particularly early into the plates of the rocker panel reinforcement.

Abstract: A rear frame of a trailer has an elongated horizontal sill having a closed cross-section which is rigid in bending and in torsion. The elongated horizontal sill is formed of a fantail and a base plate attached to an underside of the fantail. The base plate has front and rear sections that are not notched as notching of the sill can weaken it. The front section is horizontal and the rear section is angled upwardly relative to the horizontal front section at a predetermined angle of approximately 22 degrees. The angling of the base plate provides a specialized geometry for accommodating a tuck-under lift gate. The sill also has minimal vertical dimensions to aid in the non-interference with legs of the tuck-under lift gate.

Abstract: Because a vehicle lower portion 6 and a bracket 3 have an equal level of thermal expansion or thermal contraction, a bonded surface of the bracket 3 can be prevented from losing the bond with the vehicle lower portion 6 due to any deformation difference that might be caused if they have different thermal expansion coefficients. A side under spoiler 4 can be kept supported on the bracket 3 even if the side under spoiler 4 thermally expands or thermally contracts, and hence the side under spoiler 4 made of a different material from that of a vehicle body 2 can be more securely mounted on the vehicle body 2. The bracket 3 and the side under spoiler 4 after mounted can maintain their ability to be joined to the vehicle body 2 for a long term.

Abstract: A side sill beam having a shape of an arch concave outwards in a vehicle-width direction is placed in a side sill, and includes first and second ends welded to joining areas with front and rear floor cross members, respectively. A first impact detection element that detects an impact from the outside in the vehicle-width direction is disposed near the joining areas of the side sill and the front or rear floor cross member, and a second impact detection element that detects an impact from the outside in the vehicle-width direction is disposed offset from the first impact detection element in a vehicle front-rear direction as viewed in the vehicle-width direction.

Abstract: A bulkhead and a bulkhead are provided in a rocker so that a portion of the rocker, which portion is subject to bending due to buckling, is positioned between the bulkheads. If the portion of the rocker is bent due to buckling, for example, at the time of vehicle collision, a bulkhead is caught between the bulkheads, and absorbs a load applied to the bulkheads. In this way, when the rocker is deformed, the load is absorbed by the bulkhead.

Abstract: A vehicle frame assembly, system and method includes a vehicle frame assembly having a variable length longitudinal frame component. The longitudinal frame component is formed at a first length when used on a first vehicle type and formed at a second length when used on a second vehicle type.

Abstract: A rocker includes a lower wall portion, which is an inclined surface inclined downward toward the inside of a vehicle body, on the lower surface of the rocker, and a floor panel is bonded to the lower wall portion. Accordingly, when an in-plane tensile force is applied to the floor panel the in-plane tensile force is applied not in a direction where the bonding between the rocker and the floor panel is separated but in a direction where the bonding between the rocker and the floor panel is shorn. As a result, it may be possible to improve bonding strength. Further, a corner portion is formed at the end portion of the inclined surface facing the floor panel, and a frictional force is generated at the corner portion between the floor panel and the rocker. Therefore, a load, which is applied to the floor panel, can be distributed to the rocker.

Abstract: In a vehicle body structure, a frontal crash performance is improved by establishing a transmission path of a frontal crash load by a floor frame (28) without increasing the weight of the vehicle body, manufacturing cost or the number of welding spots. The floor frame (28) is attached to a lower surface of a floor panel (12), and extends from a rear end of a front side frame (20) from a longitudinally intermediate part of the floor panel. A rear part of the floor panel is formed with a side bead (34) extending in a fore and aft direction in alignment with the floor frame. The rear end of the floor frame is connected to the front end of the side bead via a slope section (32) of the floor panel, and the rear end of the side bead is connected to a middle cross member (18) extending laterally along the rear edge of the floor panel.

Abstract: The reinforcement member of a body structure is composed of two member elements which are of u-shaped profile in cross section and which are arranged nested one inside the other. Turned-up limb portions of the outer member element have edge-side retaining lugs between which are arranged edge-side cutouts. The retaining lugs can be connected to turned-up limb portions of the inner member element, and connecting points to the bodywork outer shell are arranged in the interposed cutouts. The outer member element is composed of a high-strength steel material, with the inner member element being composed of a relatively low-strength steel material, and the terminating bodywork outer shell is formed from an aluminium material.