A bumper device for an automobile includes a bumper beam consisting of a fiber-reinforced resin and bumper extensions which consist of a fiber-reinforced resin. The bumper device for an automobile is characterized in that the bumper beam has a Θ-shaped cross-section and in that the bumper beam and the bumper extensions are molded integrally. The bumper device for an automobile has desirable strength and rigidity and is capable of exhibiting excellent energy absorption performance when a large load is inputted to the bumper beam.

A bumper device for an automobile includes a bumper beam consisting of a fiber-reinforced resin and bumper extensions which consist of a fiber-reinforced resin. The bumper device for an automobile is characterized in that the bumper beam has a Θ-shaped cross-section and in that the bumper beam and the bumper extensions are molded integrally. The bumper device for an automobile has desirable strength and rigidity and is capable of exhibiting excellent energy absorption performance when a large load is inputted to the bumper beam.

A bumper reinforcement includes a body portion joined to a vehicle body front end portion through portions of the body portion on a first direction side and a second direction side in the vehicle width direction, and a reinforcing member joined to the body portion along the body portion. The body portion includes a first standard rigidity region, a high rigidity region, and a second standard rigidity region arrayed next to each other in this order in the vehicle width direction. The high rigidity region has rigidity higher than rigidity of the first standard rigidity region and rigidity of the second standard rigidity region and is positioned in a center of the body portion in the vehicle width direction. The reinforcing member is provided so as to at least partially overlap the high rigidity region and the first standard rigidity region through a first boundary position.

A bumper reinforcement includes a body portion joined to a vehicle body front end portion through portions of the body portion on a first direction side and a second direction side in the vehicle width direction, and a reinforcing member joined to the body portion along the body portion. The body portion includes a first standard rigidity region, a high rigidity region, and a second standard rigidity region arrayed next to each other in this order in the vehicle width direction. The high rigidity region has rigidity higher than rigidity of the first standard rigidity region and rigidity of the second standard rigidity region and is positioned in a center of the body portion in the vehicle width direction. The reinforcing member is provided so as to at least partially overlap the high rigidity region and the first standard rigidity region through a first boundary position.

Motor vehicle exterior part comprising: a wall comprising a face intended to be visible from outside the vehicle, the face being coated with a first layer; a second layer covering the first layer; and a heating element arranged between the two layers on the first layer, the first layer comprising an area of increased thickness and the heating element being arranged only on the area of increased thickness of the first layer.

Motor vehicle exterior part comprising: a wall comprising a face intended to be visible from outside the vehicle, the face being coated with a first layer; a second layer covering the first layer; and a heating element arranged between the two layers on the first layer, the first layer comprising an area of increased thickness and the heating element being arranged only on the area of increased thickness of the first layer.

A bumper module for a vehicle includes a cross beam and two fastening flanges for fastening the cross beam to a longitudinal body beam. A layer included of fiber-reinforced plastic extends continuously from the cross beam until into the fastening flange.

A bumper module for a vehicle includes a cross beam and two fastening flanges for fastening the cross beam to a longitudinal body beam. A layer included of fiber-reinforced plastic extends continuously from the cross beam until into the fastening flange.

A die apparatus including a first die element, a plurality of second die elements, a plurality of actuators, and a controller is provided. Each of the plurality of actuators is mounted to one of the plurality of second die elements. The controller is programmed to activate the actuators to contact and compress portions of a blank disposed between the die elements at separate pressures to influence microstructure forming for one of a geometry transition region, a deformation region, and a joining region. One of the separate pressures applied to one of the portions of the blank may be approximately 5 N/mm.sup.2 or less to form a soft strength zone. The pressure of approximately 5 N/mm.sup.2 or less may be applied to the one of the portions of the blank for approximately one to two seconds.

Presented are multilayer, fiber-reinforced impact protection structures with honeycomb-core or corrugated-layer designs, methods for making/using such structures, and vehicles with traction battery packs supported on skid plates fabricated from such structures. A multilayer impact protection structure includes a first layer with continuous fibers embedded in a polymeric matrix, and a second layer that is attached to the first layer and includes an elastomeric polymer. A third layer, which is attached to one side of the first layer opposite that of the second layer, includes a fiber-reinforced polymer honeycomb and/or corrugated structure. An optional fracture detection circuit is attached to the first or third layer, and is configured to detect a break in the impact protection structure. The corrugated structure may include multiple reinforcement ribs that are interposed within and substantially orthogonal to a series of mutually parallel, elongated ridges. Comparatively, the honeycomb structure includes a lattice of adjoining polygonal cells.