Body Structure
Lightweight and Highly Rigid BodyDescription
The body of the ECHO has been made lightweight and highly rigid through the refinement of the shape and construction of each part, optimized allocation of reinforcements and members, and use of high strength sheet steel.
High Strength Sheet Steel
High strength sheet steel is used for the hood, fender, door panels, luggage compartment panel, and members. We tried to lighten the weight by increasing the use of high strength sheet steel sections.
Body Shell
The panels and reinforcements have been effectively located to ensure high rigidity and to realize excellent stability and controllability.
1. Reinforcements have been effectively located in the side members to ensure the joining of the pillars and the roof side rails.
2. The upper back panel has been shaped straight to enhance its rigidity.
3. A roof side outer panel has been provided on the rear pillar to enhance its rigidity.
^ By adopting the instrument panel reinforcement, dash cross member, pillar brace, dash reinforcement and cowl side reinforcement, thus results in having the structure to disperse the impact at the collision. Also, at the same time, the vibration of the dash panel and the front window is restrained.
Under Body
By making the main framework straight and optimizing the joint structure of each framework, thus result in improving the body more light-weight and with high rigidity.
Floor Panel
By making the configuration of the floor tunnel straight, dividing the floor panel in ten sheets and making their structure rounded, thus rigidity improvement and road noise reduction are realized.
Also, by adopting the floor brace in the floor tunnel, driveability and tranquillity in the compartment are improved.