Disclosed is a wheelhouse structure of a vehicle, including an inner panel with an inner flange that includes a straight portion, and an outer panel with an outer flange sized and shaped to interface with the inner flange along at least the straight portion. The outer panel includes a stiffening bead situated forward from, or proximate to a forward portion of, the straight portion. The wheelhouse structure also includes a plurality of joins coupling the inner flange to the outer flange, and a gap in the plurality of joins that is aligned with the first stiffening bead. When a rear portion of the wheelhouse structure is subjected to a loading force in a forward direction, the outer panel bends in locations proximate to the stiffening bead more easily than in locations remote from the stiffening bead.

Disclosed is a wheelhouse structure of a vehicle, including an inner panel with an inner flange that includes a straight portion, and an outer panel with an outer flange sized and shaped to interface with the inner flange along at least the straight portion. The outer panel includes a stiffening bead situated forward from, or proximate to a forward portion of, the straight portion. The wheelhouse structure also includes a plurality of joins coupling the inner flange to the outer flange, and a gap in the plurality of joins that is aligned with the first stiffening bead. When a rear portion of the wheelhouse structure is subjected to a loading force in a forward direction, the outer panel bends in locations proximate to the stiffening bead more easily than in locations remote from the stiffening bead.

A vehicle structural support is disclosed having first and second metallic members. A first metallic member has first and second sides, where the second side has a reduced thickness section. A second metallic member is coupled to a first side of the first metallic member. A third member is coupled to the first metallic member and positioned in the reduced thickness section. The second metallic member extends beyond the reduced thickness section to at least partially overlap the third member. The third member may be a fender for a vehicle.

A vehicle structural support is disclosed having first and second metallic members. A first metallic member has first and second sides, where the second side has a reduced thickness section. A second metallic member is coupled to a first side of the first metallic member. A third member is coupled to the first metallic member and positioned in the reduced thickness section. The second metallic member extends beyond the reduced thickness section to at least partially overlap the third member. The third member may be a fender for a vehicle.

An apparatus and method for improving the safety and performance of an automobile in crash events is disclosed. The apparatus includes a front crash pad, rear crash pad, and a connection beam. Both crash pads and the connection beam are coupled to an automobile in such fashion as to absorb and dissipate energy by converting kinetic energy into strain energy.

Provided are a vehicle body and a vehicle. The vehicle body includes: a front longitudinal beam; a first bracket; an upper side beam having a front lower end connected to an outer end of the first bracket; a front floor longitudinal beam having a front end connected to a rear end of the front longitudinal beam and having a linear configuration; a rocker panel having a front end connected to the rear end of the front longitudinal beam; and a rear floor longitudinal beam connected to a rear end of the front floor longitudinal beam and a rear end of the rocker panel to make the front floor longitudinal beam, the rocker panel, and the rear floor longitudinal beam form a closed-loop force transmission structure.

A device for reducing a rolling noise of a vehicle having at least one tire, the tire rolling on a roadway on a tire contact patch, wherein the device comprises at least one sound absorption element attached to the vehicle in front of, behind and/or laterally of the tire contact patch in the direction of travel (F) of the vehicle and having at least one resonance frequency and a curved first absorber membrane facing the tire contact patch, wherein the entire first absorber membrane is oriented normally to a direction of sound propagation (S) emanating from the tire contact patch, and the sound absorption element is located at a distance from the tire contact patch which corresponds to a multiple of half a wavelength (λ) assigned to the resonance frequency.

Embodiments include a mud flap having a barrier section configured to intercept and deflect matter discharged from the tire when rotating during vehicle operation. The barrier section including a plurality of horizontal louvers, each horizontal louver forming an elongate member having a length extending primarily in a direction of the mud flap width, where the plurality of horizontal louvers are spaced apart in the direction of the mud flap height in the form of an array, where the plurality of horizontal louvers are configured to intercept and deflect matter of a minimum size traveling along any linear trajectory path from the outer circumference of the tire/wheel assembly towards the front side of the mud flap while substantially maximizing the spacing between adjacent louvers to minimize aerodynamic drag. Other embodiments provide a method of using the mud flap.

An outer panel structure includes a front fender panel, which is an outer panel, and a charging receiver module or fuel receiver module. The front fender panel is provided at a side part of a vehicle, and includes a frame part formed therein by having a part thereof perforated in a thickness direction. The charging receiver module or fuel receiver module is inserted and fixed in the frame part. The charging receiver module or fuel receiver module includes a lid that can be opened and closed. The outer panel structure further includes a reinforcement bracket mounted to the front fender panel at a part located below an opening/closing hinge axis of the lid in terms of a vehicle height direction.

An outer panel structure includes a front fender panel, which is an outer panel, and a charging receiver module or fuel receiver module. The front fender panel is provided at a side part of a vehicle, and includes a frame part formed therein by having a part thereof perforated in a thickness direction. The charging receiver module or fuel receiver module is inserted and fixed in the frame part. The charging receiver module or fuel receiver module includes a lid that can be opened and closed. The outer panel structure further includes a reinforcement bracket mounted to the front fender panel at a part located below an opening/closing hinge axis of the lid in terms of a vehicle height direction.