US Patent 7699385 Vehicle body structure

Provided is an automotive vehicle body structure which is light weight but demonstrates an improved mechanical strength during a frontal collision. A pair of front side frames extend in a fore-and-aft direction in a mutually spaced relationship in a front part of a vehicle body, and a pair of floor frames having forward ends joined to rear ends of the corresponding front side frames, respectively, extend in the fore-and-aft direction. A front cross member is provided with a pair of lateral ends that are joined to inboard sides of the rear end portions of the corresponding front side frames, and is arch shaped. A middle cross member is placed behind the front cross member and extends across the floor frames. Tunnel frames extend in a fore-and-aft direction in a central part of the vehicle body to join a dashboard lower panel, front cross member and middle cross member.