Structural tube for a motor vehicle unibody

摘要

A front end assembly for a motor vehicle is provided including a U-shaped cross-car support member capable of being spot welded to a pair of cowl members and a pair of rail members. The U-shaped cross-car support member preferably comprises a hydroformed tube having a lower section disposed laterally with respect to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle, a pair of upwardly projecting side sections extending essentially orthogonal to the lower section, and a pair of outwardly projecting end sections extending essentially orthogonal to the upright sections so as to be nearly parallel to the lower section. A cowl bracket is connected to each of the end sections and is spot welded to each of the cowl members. Similarly, a rail bracket is connected to each of the side sections and is spot welded to each of the rails. Advantageously, the ability to spot weld the cowl and rail brackets enables the U-shaped support member to be installed within the front end assembly in a high speed automated process. Further, the welds between the support member and the cowls and rails substantially strengthens the cross-car stiffness of the front end assembly.