Engine compartment hood latch structure for a motor vehicle

A hood latch structure (1) for a motor vehicle body having a soft-nose outer skin panel (2) and a hood (3) providing an overlying structure for a grille opening reinforcing front cross member (4), comprises at least one hood latch (5) carried by a mounting member (6) attached said front cross member and protruding towards the front of said vehicle, said mounting member (6) being designed to collapse downwards (Z) causing hood latch (5) to move downwards (Z) when subjected to longitudinal (X) loads above a predetermined threshold distributed thereupon by said overlying structure such that said hood latch (5) moves away to provide a forgiving upper leg impact zone for the protection of pedestrians in the event of a collision with the motor vehicle, with said hood latch structure further comprising a supporting member (7) extending between a forward end of mounting member (6) and an underlying vehicle structure (8), and with a reinforcing energy beam (9) extending between said soft-nose outer skin panel (2) and said mounting member (6), which energy beam (9) carries a trigger (10) which is configured such that it will be brought into contact with supporting member (7) and trigger collapse thereof in the event of a pedestrian collision with the motor vehicle.