Ford Kuga

 Service Manual

Body Repairs - General Information » Body Construction
Convertible

The protected passenger compartment with strong pillars, rocker panels and doors with integral side impact protection increase occupant protection.

Opening of the doors is ensured, even if there is extreme deformation.

NOTE: Repair work must always be performed according to the established workshop literature.

All the safety requirements must be guaranteed after any repair work has been performed !

The body of a convertible differs from the principle of the integral body-frame of a saloon due to the lack of a roof construction. The body has a high degree of torsional stiffness. This is achieved by using high, super-high and maximum-strength sheet steel and body reinforcements in specifically-targeted areas.

These reinforcements can be installed in the area of the doors (diagonal braces etc.) or on the underfloor. In contrast to the saloon (or other non-convertibles) with square-section side members (closed profile), these reinforcements have a profile which is open on the underside (U-section).

Special constructional changes within the bodywork structure:

• Reinforcing or increase in the thickness of the sheet steel in the pillar area.
• Reinforcing or increase in the thickness of the sheet steel in the floor pan structure (rocker panel area).
• Use of heavily structured reinforcing panels in the rocker panel and pillar area.
• In the area of the windshield frame and A-pillars, thick-walled reinforcing tubes are used (roll-over protection).
• Because there is no roof, the bridge construction principle cannot be used as it is on the saloon for example. Flexural and torsional rigidity must be ensured by other components.

General

Integral body-frame

Convertible

Non-monocoque bodywork

Special points

Deformation behavior

Crash element