A front suspension structure has a front portion on a first side member of a vehicle frame and a rear portion on the first side member rearward of the front portion. A front wheel is supported by a wheel support structure that is pivotally mounted to a front suspension structure of the first side member. A stop structure is installed to the first side member at the rear portion of the front suspension structure. The stop structure extends in an outboard of the first side member. The stop structure has a stop surface that defines an angle relative to the vehicle longitudinal direction between 110 and 130 degrees. In response to an impact event to a front area of the front wheel, the front wheel pivots relative to the wheel support structure moving a rear area of the front wheel into contact with the stop surface.

A push arm is coupled to a vehicle frame proximate an intersection of a first side member and a first cross-member. A rear surface of the push arm is located adjacent to a front suspension structure with a gap defined therebetween. The push arm extends forward and laterally outward such that a front surface of the push arm is located outboard of and spaced apart from a front end of the first side member. A energy absorbing structure is positioned within the gap and is attached to the rear surface of the push arm. The energy absorbing structure is spaced apart from the front suspension structure in a non-impacted state. The energy absorbing structure is configured such that in response to an off-center impact event, impact force to the energy absorbing structure pushes the energy absorbing structure into contact with the front suspension structure, such that the energy absorbing structure deforms and absorbs impact energy.

A push arm is coupled to a vehicle frame proximate an intersection of a first side member and a first cross-member. A rear surface of the push arm is located adjacent to a front suspension structure with a gap defined therebetween. The push arm extends forward and laterally outward such that a front surface of the push arm is located outboard of and spaced apart from a front end of the first side member. A energy absorbing structure is positioned within the gap and is attached to the rear surface of the push arm. The energy absorbing structure is spaced apart from the front suspension structure in a non-impacted state. The energy absorbing structure is configured such that in response to an off-center impact event, impact force to the energy absorbing structure pushes the energy absorbing structure into contact with the front suspension structure, such that the energy absorbing structure deforms and absorbs impact energy.

An off-center impact reinforcement structure includes a push arm and a first diagonals structure installed to elements of a frame of a vehicle structure. The push arm is coupled to the frame proximate an intersection of a first side member and a first cross-member and extends in a forward and laterally outboard direction from the intersection. The first diagonal structure extends rearward and laterally inboard from proximate the intersection toward a section of a second side member rearward of the first cross-member. The off-center impact reinforcement structure is configured such that during an off-center impact event in which a stationary barrier impacts against a front surface of the push arm during forward movement of the vehicle frame, impacting forces from the impact event are transferred through the push arm to the vehicle frame at the intersection and from the intersection to the first diagonal structure.

An off-center impact reinforcement structure includes a push arm and a first diagonals structure installed to elements of a frame of a vehicle structure. The push arm is coupled to the frame proximate an intersection of a first side member and a first cross-member and extends in a forward and laterally outboard direction from the intersection. The first diagonal structure extends rearward and laterally inboard from proximate the intersection toward a section of a second side member rearward of the first cross-member. The off-center impact reinforcement structure is configured such that during an off-center impact event in which a stationary barrier impacts against a front surface of the push arm during forward movement of the vehicle frame, impacting forces from the impact event are transferred through the push arm to the vehicle frame at the intersection and from the intersection to the first diagonal structure.

A vehicle frame includes: a pair of right and left side frames; plural cross members connecting the pair of right and left side frames; and a pair of right and left push members obliquely extending forward and also toward the outside in the vehicle width direction, from right and left ends of one of the cross members in front of a cabin. The frame further includes: a pair of right and left first diagonal members obliquely extending backward from positions opposing the push members across one cross member to connect the one cross member with an intermediate portion of another cross member behind the one cross member; and a second diagonal member obliquely extending backward in V shape from a position opposing the first diagonal members across the other cross member to connect the other cross member with inner surfaces of the right and left side frames behind it.

A vehicle lower portion structure has: a tunnel portion disposed at a vehicle transverse direction central portion of a floor portion; a front side member whose rear portion is disposed at a vehicle lower side of the floor portion and a vehicle transverse direction outer side of the tunnel portion; a first member including a first horizontal wall that extends from the rear portion toward a vehicle transverse direction inner side, and a first vertical wall bent toward a vehicle upper side from the first horizontal wall; and a second member spanning an opening portion of the tunnel portion. The second member includes a second horizontal wall, and a second vertical wall that is bent toward the vehicle upper side from the second horizontal wall, is disposed parallel to the first vertical wall, and is joined to the first vertical wall.

A vehicle lower portion structure has: a tunnel portion disposed at a vehicle transverse direction central portion of a floor portion; a front side member whose rear portion is disposed at a vehicle lower side of the floor portion and a vehicle transverse direction outer side of the tunnel portion; a first member including a first horizontal wall that extends from the rear portion toward a vehicle transverse direction inner side, and a first vertical wall bent toward a vehicle upper side from the first horizontal wall; and a second member spanning an opening portion of the tunnel portion. The second member includes a second horizontal wall, and a second vertical wall that is bent toward the vehicle upper side from the second horizontal wall, is disposed parallel to the first vertical wall, and is joined to the first vertical wall.

A composite compression limiter (44) includes a cylindrical body (46) extending axially with an aperture (48) extending axially therethrough to receive a fastener (18), the body (46) being made of a continuous fiber polymeric tape reinforced by a plurality of fibers ranging from approximately 20% to approximately 65% by weight.

A kart includes a chassis having a pair of substantially parallel tubular rails extending longitudinally and connected to one another at each end by at least one transverse tubular element. The kart chassis includes, in the front portion thereof, at least two substantially flared-U-shaped tubes positioned facing one another and assembled in the middle portion such as to form an X-shaped structure between the tubular rails, and at least two substantially rectilinear tubes disposed on each side of the X-shaped structure and each having a first end solidly connected to one of the tubular rails and another end solidly connected to a central portion of the X-shaped structure.