Front vehicle body structure
Front vehicle body structure includes left and right front side frames, a subframe provided on the undersides of the side frames, and left and right mounting brackets for connecting the side frames and subframe. Engine-transmission unit is mounted on the subframe. Respective rear half portions of the side frames extend toward the rear of the vehicle body while gradually approaching the centerline of the vehicle body. Left and right mounting brackets are provided, on the respective rear half portions, to project toward the centerline. The left and right mounting brackets are detachably connected to the subframe. When an impact load greater than a predetermined intensity has been applied, the left and right mounting brackets are detached from the subframe and then squashed by the engine-transmission unit while effectively absorbing the impact.
1. A front vehicle body structure comprising:
a vehicle body frame including left and right front side frames;
a subframe provided on an underside of said vehicle body frame and supporting an engine-transmission unit;
an impact absorbing section formed by respective rear half portions of said left and right front side frames extending toward a rear of the vehicle body while gradually approaching a centerline of the vehicle body, said impact absorbing section preventing the engine-transmission unit from being displaced toward the rear of the vehicle body when a load has been applied from front ends of said left and right front side frames toward the rear of the vehicle body; and
left and right mounting brackets provided, on the respective rear half portions of said left and right front side frames forming said impact absorbing section, to project toward the centerline of the vehicle body, said left and right mounting brackets being detachably connected to said subframe,
wherein, when an impact load has been applied to said left and right front side frames, said left and right mounting brackets are detached from said subframe, and then the detached left and right mounting brackets are squashed by the engine-transmission unit while absorbing the impact.
2. A front vehicle body structure according to claim 1 wherein, when a predetermined load has been applied, said left and right mounting brackets are detached from said subframe by breakage of lower portions of said mounting brackets.
3. A front vehicle body structure according to claim 1 wherein, as viewed in plan, said left and right mounting brackets each have a U plane cross-sectional shape and are opposed to each other with the centerline of the vehicle body therebtween.