CHAPTER 5 - THE BODY

The body is the part of a motor vehicle designed to carry people, luggage or goods. Its shape is designed to provide strength, low weight, good visibility for the driver and, as far as possible, reduced resistance to forward motion.

Cars generally have a body of unitary construction, meaning they do not have a separate chassis. Apart from removable components, such as the doors, bonnet and wings, the other metal components form a load-bearing structure, usually assembled by welding.

The body also protects occupants in the event of an impact. In modern motor vehicles, this protection is enhanced by crumple zones, which deform in a controlled manner to absorb some of the impact energy, and more rigid sections, which help protect the people inside the motor vehicle.

The main components of the body are:

• body framework: the basic structure to which the other components are attached and which provides the strength of the assembly;
• front wings: fitted around the front wheels, they help protect the body from water, mud and stones thrown up by the wheels;
• rear wings: fitted around the rear wheels, they serve a similar purpose to the front wings;
• wheel arch liners: components fitted inside the wheel arches to protect against dirt, water and impacts from gravel;
• bonnet: covers and protects the engine compartment;
• boot lid: covers and protects the luggage compartment;
• longitudinal members: structural members running lengthwise that contribute to the rigidity of the motor vehicle's structure;
• doors: allow people to enter the motor vehicle and help protect its occupants.

For motor vehicles designed to carry goods, the body can take different forms depending on the vehicle's intended use and the type of goods transported:

• enclosed body with a separate cab, used on some light commercial vehicles;
• enclosed body or a body covered with a tarpaulin or canvas cover, with a separate cab, used on vehicles intended for goods transport;
• open body or a body covered with a tarpaulin, found on lorries;
• tipping body with a separate cab, used on tipper lorries;
• enclosed, thermally insulated body, used to transport perishable or temperature-sensitive goods.