Active grille shutters for vehicles including integrated pedestrian guards

1. A vehicle comprising:

a vehicle body;

a support structure connected to the vehicle body and configured to provide a framework for one or more thermal components of the vehicle;

a reinforcement member connected to the vehicle body and configured to absorb impact forces;

an active grille shutter connected to the support structure, the active grille shutter including:

a main body;

at least one shutter movably connected to the main body; and

an actuator operably connected to the at least one shutter to facilitate opening and closure thereof to vary airflow into the vehicle; and

a pedestrian guard directly connected to the active grille shutter and configured for contact with a pedestrian's leg to protect the pedestrian's leg during an impact, wherein the pedestrian guard extends axially forward of the reinforcement member along a length of the vehicle, wherein the main body and the pedestrian guard are formed unitarily from a single piece of material.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the main body and the pedestrian guard are rigid in construction.

3. The vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the main body and the pedestrian guard are non-metallic in construction.

4. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the active grille shutter is positioned vertically below the reinforcement member.

5. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement member extends axially forward of the active grille shutter along the length of the vehicle.

6. The vehicle of claim 5 , wherein the pedestrian guard extends axially forward of the main body along the length of the vehicle.

7. The vehicle of claim 1 , further including a front end fascia positioned axially forward of: the vehicle body; the support structure; the reinforcement member; and the active grille shutter along a length of the vehicle.

8. The vehicle of claim 7 , wherein the pedestrian guard includes a front end positioned within a pocket defined by a lower end of the front end fascia.

9. A vehicle comprising:

a vehicle body;

a support structure connected to the vehicle body and configured to provide a framework for one or more thermal components of the vehicle;

a reinforcement member connected to the vehicle body and configured to absorb impact forces; and

an active grille shutter connected to the support structure, the active grille shutter including a pedestrian guard configured for contact with a pedestrian's leg to protect the pedestrian's leg during an impact, wherein the pedestrian guard extends axially forward of the reinforcement member along a length of the vehicle, wherein the active grille shutter and the pedestrian guard are formed unitarily from a single piece of material.

10. The vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the active grille shutter includes a main body movably supporting at least one shutter to thereby vary airflow into the vehicle, the main body and the pedestrian guard being unitarily formed from a single piece of rigid material.

11. The vehicle of claim 9 , further including a front end fascia positioned axially forward of: the vehicle body; the support structure; the reinforcement member; and the active grille shutter along a length of the vehicle.

12. The vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the pedestrian guard includes a front end positioned within a pocket defined by a lower end of the front end fascia.

13. A method of assembling a vehicle, the method comprising:

connecting a support structure to a body of the vehicle such that the support structure provides a framework for one or more thermal components of the vehicle;

connecting a reinforcement member to the body of the vehicle such that the reinforcement member is positioned to absorb impact forces; and

connecting an active grille shutter to the support structure such that a pedestrian guard formed integrally with the active grille shutter extends axially forward of the reinforcement member along a length of the vehicle, wherein the active grille shutter and the pedestrian guard are formed unitarily from a single piece of material.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein connecting the active grille shutter to the support structure includes positioning the active grille shutter vertically below the reinforcement member.

15. The method of claim 13 , further comprising connecting a front end fascia to the vehicle such that the front end fascia is positioned axially forward of: the body; the support structure; the reinforcement member; and the active grille shutter along the length of the vehicle.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein connecting the front end fascia to the vehicle includes concealing the pedestrian guard within the front end fascia.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein concealing the pedestrian guard within the front end fascia includes positioning a front end of the pedestrian guard within a pocket defined by a lower end of the front end fascia.