A vehicle front structure includes side frames in pairs, a bumper beam, lower frames in pairs, and a lower beam. The lower beam extends in a vehicle width direction on a vehicle lower side of the bumper beam. The lower beam is coupled to vehicle-front-side end parts of the lower frames. The lower beam includes a front lower beam member and lower beam members in pairs. The front lower beam member constitutes a vehicle-front-side part of the lower beam. The front lower beam member extends in the vehicle width direction. Longitudinal-direction end parts of the front lower beam member are disposed outward in the vehicle width direction, as seen from the lower frames. The rear lower beam members constitute a vehicle-rear-side part of the lower beam. The rear lower beam members are joined respectively to both of the longitudinal-direction end parts of the front lower beam member.

A connecting structure for exterior members includes: a first exterior member provided on a vehicle body; a second exterior member disposed adjacent to the first exterior member; an engaging portion provided on one of the first and second exterior members; and an engaged portion provided on the other one of the first and second exterior members. The connecting structure has a parting line formed between the first exterior member and the second exterior member by disposing the second exterior member on the vehicle body adjacent to the first exterior member. Sliding one of the first and second exterior members relative to the other one of the first and second exterior members along, the parting line causes the engaging portion and the engaged portion to be brought into engagement with each other in a direction intersecting a sliding direction of the one of the first and second exterior members.

A vehicle beam assembly includes a hollow tubular member configured to be formed with steel tube air forming. The tubular member includes a varied cross section along a length of the tubular member. For example, the hollow tubular member includes a center portion having a first cross-sectional shape, a pair of end portions that extend past corresponding crush cans in a direction away from the center portion, where the pair of end portions extend at an angle of 40-70 degrees, and at least one transition portion disposed between the center portion and one of the pair of end portions. A cross-sectional shape of the center portion, a cross sectional shape of one of the end portions, and a cross-sectional shape of the transition portion are all different cross-sectional shapes.

A vehicle rear portion structure includes: a center frame that is disposed closer to a center portion of a vehicle in a vehicle width direction than both side portions of the vehicle in the vehicle width direction, that is disposed on a rear side in the vehicle, and that extends in a front-rear direction of the vehicle; and a bumper beam that is disposed on a rear side of the center frame to be next to the center frame, that is disposed at a position which overlaps the center frame when viewed from a front-rear direction, and that is configured to be crushable due to a rear collision load.

A vehicle rear portion structure includes: a rear side frame extending in a front-rear direction of a vehicle; a bumper beam disposed on a rear side of the rear side frame; and a rear panel provided between the rear side frame and the bumper beam. The rear panel includes a peripheral edge frame structure which is provided at an upper part of the bumper beam, and which has a closed cross-sectional structure. An upper projection of the bumper beam is in contact with a panel of the peripheral edge frame structure.

A vehicle body structure includes an extension to be held between a bumper beam extending in a vehicle width direction and a side frame extending in a vehicle front-rear direction. The extension includes: a fixing plate made of a plate member and fixed to a projecting end of the side frame so as to face in the vehicle front-rear direction; a crushing body arranged on the fixing plate; and a coupling strip made of a plate member, extending along the vehicle front-rear direction, and coupling an outer end in the vehicle width direction of the fixing plate with an outer end in the vehicle width direction of the bumper beam so as to integrally continue to the fixing plate and the bumper beam.

A vehicle body structure includes an extension to be held between a bumper beam extending in a vehicle width direction and a side frame extending in a vehicle front-rear direction. The extension includes: a fixing plate made of a plate member and fixed to a projecting end of the side frame so as to face in the vehicle front-rear direction; a crushing body arranged on the fixing plate; and a coupling strip made of a plate member, extending along the vehicle front-rear direction, and coupling an outer end in the vehicle width direction of the fixing plate with an outer end in the vehicle width direction of the bumper beam so as to integrally continue to the fixing plate and the bumper beam.

Energy conversion systems and methods are disclosed. In one aspect, the system is for converting or redirecting energy received by an impact to an automobile in a proximal direction into another type of energy. The system includes a body having a first engagement structure and an impact member configured to be installed within an outer perimeter compartment of the automobile to receive an impulse. The impact member having a second engagement structure and a third engagement structure. The second engagement structure being configured to engage with the first engagement structure of the body to facilitate the impact member translating in the direction relative to the body. The system further includes a converter having a fourth engagement structure, the fourth engagement structure being configured to engage with the third engagement structure of the impact member and convert the energy received by the impact member into another type of energy. The system may change or redirect a direction of a force vector associated with the received impulse.

Energy conversion systems and methods are disclosed. In one aspect, the system is for converting or redirecting energy received by an impact to an automobile in a proximal direction into another type of energy. The system includes a body having a first engagement structure and an impact member configured to be installed within an outer perimeter compartment of the automobile to receive an impulse. The impact member having a second engagement structure and a third engagement structure. The second engagement structure being configured to engage with the first engagement structure of the body to facilitate the impact member translating in the direction relative to the body. The system further includes a converter having a fourth engagement structure, the fourth engagement structure being configured to engage with the third engagement structure of the impact member and convert the energy received by the impact member into another type of energy. The system may change or redirect a direction of a force vector associated with the received impulse.

A beam assembly includes a first beam that has a first tubular portion and a first projecting portion that extends from the first tubular portion. A second beam has a second tubular portion and a second projecting portion that extends from the second tubular portion. The elongated interior of the first tubular portion defines a first hollow area and the elongated interior of the second tubular portion defines a second hollow area. The first beam is attached to the second beam with the first projecting portion attached to the second tubular portion and the second projecting portion attached to the first tubular portion to define a third hollow area between the first and second projecting portions.