Author Archives: Smitty

2020 Ford Escape Body Structure

The 2020 Ford Escape has a martensitic ultra-high-strength steel tubes running from the A-pillar to C-pillar in addition to other areas of the body structure. The martensitic roll-formed tube spanning from the A-pillar at the shotgun (The shotgun is the ...

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2019 Buick Regal Active-Hood Pedestrian Safety System

Buick’s latest rebranded European import is not a car or SUV, but rather a new safety system meant to protect pedestrians in case of an accident. It’s called the Active-Hood system and it will make its debut in the U.S. ...

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2019 Mercedes G-Class Body Structure

A body-in-white using a variety of steels and some aluminum exterior elements helped the next-generation 2019 Mercedes G-Class shed 375 pounds compared to its predecessor.

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2019 Dodge Ram 1500 eTorque

The 2019 Dodge Ram 1500 eTorque basically has an electrical generator and not a true alternator. The eTorque technology provides the electricity for the vehicle.

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2019 Volvo S60 T8 Plug-in Hybrid

Body Structure The 2019 Volvo S60 body structure uses Boron steel which accounts for 33 percent of the car’s body weight.  Previous models used this Boron steel in up to 10 percent of the construction of its cars. Safety Systems The ...

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2019 Mazda3 Body Structure

Mazda North American Operations

Body Structure The all new 2019 Mazda3 is not out on the roads yet.  These models should hit the streets in the next few months. The next-generation 2019 Mazda3 boosts the amount of ultra-high-strength steel 980 megapascals or higher to ...

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Tesla Red Light Accident

A crash in Miami Beach on Oct. 21, 2018, left three occupants of the SUV hit by a Tesla running a read light.

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2018 Honda Accord Hybrid Body Structure

Body Structure 2018 models have these body features: • Next-Generation Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure • Extensive use of high tensile strength steel (64.4%), including 36.5% in grades 780, 980, and 1,500 MPa • Roof attached with laser brazing ...

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2019 BMW X4 Body Structure

Share This:FacebookTwitterGoogle+LinkedInPinterestEmailShare BMW will launch a lighter, next-generation 2019 X4 in July, and repairers can expect higher-strength steels and some aluminum in the body-in-white. “An intelligent material mix has made it possible to bring about a substantial weight saving, not just in the chassis design but also in the body’s construction,” BMW wrote in a news release. “BMW EfficientLightweight measures led to the increase in the proportion of aluminum as well as high-strength and ultra-high-strength grades of steel. This has made the body structure more solid than ever, serving up benefits for both vehicle agility and occupant protection. Additionally, the car has a significantly lower center of gravity which enhances the Sports Activity Coupe’s cornering dynamics.” A diagram provided by BMW shows aluminum elements including the strut towers and a small crossmember on the floor. Door rings, rocker rails extending back to the quarter panel, both kickpans, the suspension tunnel and a roof frame crossmember are among the ultra-high-strength steel parts. Multiphase steel elements include the floorpans and roof frame rails.

The 2019 BMW X4 has higher-strength steels and some aluminum in the body-in-white. BMW used an increase in the proportion of

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