Vehicle front structure for improved compatibility during a frontal crash

A front structure for a vehicle, comprising:

• a bumper beam;
• a side member for supporting the bumper beam, wherein the side member extends along a longitudinal axis between a first end of the side member for connecting to the bumper beam and a second end of the side member for connecting to a bulkhead;
• a lateral extension member extending substantially perpendicular with respect to the longitudinal axis of the side member, and outward with respect to the front structure, wherein the lateral extension member is connected to the side member, and wherein the lateral extension member is configured to exert a bending moment to the side member, and wherein a first bending strength of the lateral extension member in a backward direction towards the side member is higher compared to a second bending strength in a forward direction away from the side member;
• an impact absorbing unit connected to the bumper beam and the first end of the side member, and defining a deformation zone between the bumper beam and the side member for smooth reduction of a vehicle impact velocity;
• and
• a mounting system for mounting the lateral extension member to at least one of the impact absorbing unit or the first end of the side member, and configured to exert the bending moment to the side member, wherein the mounting system is connected to the impact absorbing unit and the first end of the side member.

A vehicle safety system, comprising:

• a bumper beam;
• a side member for supporting the bumper beam, wherein the side member extends along a longitudinal axis between a first end of the side member for connecting to the bumper beam and a second end of the side member for connecting to a bulkhead;
• a lateral extension member extending substantially perpendicular with respect to the longitudinal axis of the side member, and outward with respect to a front structure of the vehicle safety system, wherein the lateral extension member is connected to the side member, and wherein the lateral extension member is configured to exert a bending moment to the side member, and wherein a first bending strength of the lateral extension member in a backward direction towards the side member is higher compared to a second bending strength in a forward direction away from the side member;
• an impact absorbing unit connected to the bumper beam and the first end of the side member, and defining a deformation zone between the bumper beam and the side member for smooth reduction of a vehicle impact velocity;
• and
• a mounting system for mounting the lateral extension member to at least one of the impact absorbing unit or the first end of the side member, and configured to exert the bending moment to the side member,
• wherein the lateral extension member further comprises a pair of mounting projections, and at least one mounting projection of the pair of mounting projections comprises a beveled end for facilitating swiveling of the at least one mounting projection of the pair of mounting projections out of the mounting system.