Close coupled four rail front structure system transferring compressive loads into a single center torsion/compression member

A system for providing structural transmittal of force through a vehicle body of a mid-engine vehicle, comprising:

• an elongated single member torsional box comprising a closed rectangular cross-section and four corners, each corner comprising a respective elongated enclosed section running along an entire length of the elongated single member torsional box, the elongated single member torsional box spanning a passenger compartment from a vehicle-forward portion of the passenger compartment to a vehicle-rearward portion of the passenger compartment, parallel to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle body, and laterally centered upon a longitudinal centerline of the vehicle body;
• four rails in a vehicle-forward position relative to the elongated single member torsional box, parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle body, and offset from the elongated single member torsional box;
• and
• four diagonal support members, each diagonal support member being connected at a respective first end to a respective one of the four rails and at a respective second end to a respective one of the four corners of the elongated single member torsional box.

A method for providing structural transmittal of a frontal force through a vehicle body of a mid-engine vehicle, comprising:

• receiving the frontal force to four rails in a vehicle-forward position, the rails being oriented parallel to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle body;
• transmitting the frontal force from the four rails to four diagonal support members, each located in a vehicle rearward position relative to the four rails, each diagonal support member being connected at a respective first end to a respective one of the four rails and at a respective second end to an elongated single member torsional box;
• and
• transmitting the frontal force from the four diagonal support members to the elongated single member torsional box located in a vehicle rearward position relative to the four diagonal support members, the elongated single member torsional box spanning a passenger compartment from a vehicle-forward portion of the passenger compartment to a vehicle-rearward portion of the passenger compartment and being parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle body and laterally centered upon a longitudinal centerline of the vehicle body.