During my research time at the North American International Auto Show in January, I was able to get several good images of Body-In-White vehicles on display by the American Iron & Steel Institute.
I want to share several of these images with my fellow vehicle extrication instructors. I think these images and several others I will make available, will be great to add to your training program; especially when discussing the new steels in modern-day vehicles.
The purple-color (see Photo 1) represents hot stamped ultra-high strength steels on a Acura TLX. It is actually one stamped side unit; not individual pieces. The green represents steel with a 980 KPa tensile strength. Even the tan color is 590 KPa tensile strength steel. You better have a new generation power cutter if you want to get through these advanced steels at a crash scene.
The tan-colored steel (see Photo 2) that continues along the upper rail structure represents 590 KPa tensile strength steel on this Acura TLX. Note that the A-pillar is covered with a styrofoam-like material to strengthen it even further. The purple instrument panel structure on this 2015 vehicle is constructed of magnesium.
I will be making additional Body-in-White images available, including some good pictures of a Nissan Murano SUV Body-in-White and a new Chevy Colorado pickup truck structure to share with you in the future.
