A multifunctional support configured for mounting of functional elements of a motor vehicle on the vehicle body, the multifunctional support including: securing elements for securing the multifunctional support to at least one associated element of the body, or a fender support and/or a liner of an A-pillar; and mounting elements for maintaining at least one headlamp and/or a bonnet on the multifunctional support, the headlamp performing a lighting function and the bonnet closing a vehicle engine compartment when in the closed bonnet position. The support includes mounting elements for maintaining all or part of a header tank on the multifunctional support, the header tank configured to collect water and/or separate air to be conveyed to a ventilation circuit of the vehicle.

A closure panel including an outer shell for closing an opening defined by a vehicle body and an inner reinforcement. The outer shell and inner reinforcement are formed as a plurality of additive layers. The inner reinforcement includes an integral thickened edge formed around the periphery of the outer shell, an integral latch buttress provided on a first side of the inner reinforcement and a pair of integral hinge buttresses provided on a second side of the inner reinforcement. Internally threaded protrusions may be formed as additive deposits on the integral buttresses.

A bonnet for a vehicle and a control unit. The bonnet includes a front edge and a rear edge. A recessed longitudinal channel is formed in the bonnet and extends from the front edge towards the rear edge. An airflow modification device is disposed transversely across the longitudinal channel for controlling airflow over the bonnet, wherein the airflow modification device and the recessed channel form a conduit, the conduit having a cross-sectional area which is diverging as the conduit extends towards the rear edge and/or a movable element may be provided to change the cross-sectional area.

A hood assembly for a vehicle includes an inner hood, an outer hood, and a plurality of deployable devices. The outer hood is fixed relative to the inner hood. The plurality of deployable devices are spaced apart from each other between the inner hood and the outer hood. The deployable devices each define an inflation chamber and are formed of thermoplastic elastomer. Upon detection of impact between the vehicle and a pedestrian, the deployable devices are deployed to separate the outer hood and the inner hood. As such, during impact of the pedestrian with the outer hood, the outer hood may deform and/or the outer hood may space the pedestrian from relatively hard components under the hood assembly.

The present disclosure provides a utility vehicle front body cowl assembly. The cowl assembly generally comprises a front body cowl and a cargo rack disposed within a reservoir of the front body cowl. More particularly, the front body cowl is connectable to at least a portion of a utility vehicle chassis forward of a passenger compartment dash console of the vehicle, and comprises a pair of opposing shoulders and a rack reservoir or recess provided between the shoulders. The cargo rack is disposed within the reservoir/recess such that the cargo rack and any gear disposed with cargo rack create little or no impedance to a line-of-sight an operator of the vehicle 10. Accordingly, the front cowl assembly provides good visibility and a substantially unimpeded field-of-view for the vehicle operator.

In a car body or component thereof with at least one first component of sheet metal of a first aluminum alloy and at least one second component of sheet metal of a second aluminum alloy, the first and second aluminum alloys are of type AlMgSi and in the sheet metal of the second aluminum alloy a substantial part of the elements Mg and Si, which are required to achieve artificial ageing in solid solution, is present in the form of separate Mg.sub.2Si and/or Si particles in order to avoid artificial ageing. By reduction of the hardening capacity of the second component during artificial ageing of the body as part of the paint baking cycle, the car body has an improved impact protection for pedestrians in comparison with solutions according to the prior art.

A fender mounting structure of a vehicle includes: a fender mounting bracket assembly; and a support bracket assembly that includes an inner flange formed toward inside and an outer flange formed outside in a width direction of the vehicle. In particular, the support bracket assembly is mounted through the inner flange on an outer side of a fender apron upper member along the width direction and disposed along the width direction between the fender apron upper member and a mount end of a fender panel. The fender mounting bracket assembly is mounted on the outer flange of the support bracket assembly and connected to the mount end of the fender panel.

This disclosure details exemplary portable power systems for vehicles. The portable power systems may be configured as a secondary battery pack that is removably stored within a front trunk of a vehicle. The portable power systems may include a plurality of individually removable battery units that can be used to extend vehicle driving range or power electrically powered devices that are separate from the vehicle. In some embodiments, when the portable power system is stored in the vehicle and an electrically powered device is connected to the portable power system, the vehicle may be controlled in a Following Mode in which the vehicle is autonomously moved to follow an operator of the electrically powered device.

A workpiece includes a plurality of knots and webs, which are formed in one piece, of a sheet metal, in particular a steel plate. Each web extends between two openings from one knot to another knot, and at least three webs meet at each knot. A plurality of the webs has a cross section, which includes at least one hardened and one unhardened area.

A rainwater collection system is provided for a motor vehicle. That rainwater collection system includes a rainwater collector, a gate for the rainwater collector and a controller. The controller is configured to open and close the gate in response to data input respecting the occurrence of precipitation, a level of windshield washer fluid in a windshield washer system of the motor vehicle and in accordance with other monitored parameters including motor vehicle speed and battery voltage level. A related method is also disclosed.