VEHICLE WITH BODY-MOUNTED ENERGY ABSORBER APPARATUS

摘要

A vehicle rear end assembly includes a closure panel subassembly forming a rear portion of a vehicle, and a beamless energy absorbing system directly engaging the closure panel subassembly and supporting a fascia on the closure panel subassembly. The energy absorbing system includes an injection-molded polymeric energy absorber with a plurality of spaced-apart hollow crush lobes abuttingly engaging an outer surface of the closure panel subassembly and that also engage/support the vehicle fascia, form pendulum-catching crush lobes, and include wraparound portions with laterally-facing side-impact crush lobes. The plurality of crush lobes are configured to spread and distribute stress from an impact to stiffer regions on the closure panel subassembly while also crushingly collapsing to absorb energy.