Honda Car Forum

A more rigid yet lightweight body design

Structural innovations throughout the body and frame increase rigidity with minimal additional weight. New for 2009, the Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure enhances vehicle rigidity as well as frontal collision safety. Strengthening of stress-bearing areas in the frame helps reduce vibration. The proportion of high-tensile steel in the Fit's body has increased from 40% to 54%. Front body rigidity has similarly increased 164%. The result is a high-performance body with exceptional handling and enhanced safety performance.

• Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure NEW

• High-tensile steel used in 54% of body NEW

• Front body rigidity increased 164% NEW

• Enhanced frame design for a quieter ride NEW

High-rigidity, lightweight body - key features

High-rigidity body for superior handling

Stronger front end

Load-dispersing frame

The ACE™ body structure with load-dispersing frame enhances vehicle rigidity and frontal collision safety. A lower member has been added and joined to the front frame structure to achieve a highly rigid design. Frame member configuration has also been changed, replacing the current arched shape with one that thrusts upward to join with the lower dashboard member. This provides for a stronger joint construction of local body member connecting points, enhancing body rigidity.

Front bulkhead: fully enclosed box-tyep cross-section

The front bulkhead features a fully-enclosed box-type cross-section design for improved torsional rigidity.

Stronger rear end

Rear frame: larger cross-section side rails and additional center rail. The thinner-gauge steel rear frame rails feature a larger cross-section and a third center frame rail has been added, improving both rigidity and packaging efficiency. The side-sill extension has also been formed into one seamless piece, making it more rigid.

Rear tailgate opening: continuous L-shaped upper-half perimeter construction

The upper corners of the rear tailgate opening are now an integral part of the continuous L-shaped upper-half tailgate perimeter, for strengthened joint construction and improved rigidity.

Suspension mounting points: improved assembly efficiency

The redesigned rear trailing arm bushing mounting points feature a high-efficiency construction in which loads are absorbed within the side wall of the mid cross-member. The improved rigidity results in an outstandingly solid feel when driving. A stiffener connecting the rear shock absorber mounting point to the rear tailgate perimeter frame has also been added,improving vertical rigidity to ensure a more comfortable ride.

A more efficient frame design for a quieter ride

The new Fit features a number of design innovations to minimize noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) and ensure a quieter, more comfortable ride.

Body rigidity increased for optimum vibration frequency control

Idling noise, vibration and cruising hum each has its own specific resonance frequency. Honda engineers thus focused on the areas where stresses accumulate - areas such as the attachment points connecting the front pillar lower-base stiffener, the center pillar lower base stiffener, and the side sill member. More rigidly connecting these frame members increases overall rigidity, and dispersing the respective resonance frequencies to ensure a smooth, quiet ride.

Frame member connecting points: highly-efficient joint construction

Lightweight, high-rigidity body - 54% high-tensile steel

The ratio of strong, lightweight, high-tensile steel has been increased to 54% overall. Along with structural innovations such as the use of polygonal cross-section frame members and strategically located weld beads, this helps increase body rigidity without adding weight.

Combining design with body rigidity

The new Fit's super-forward aero-form design positions the base of the front pillar right above the center of the front wheel. This design, along with a narrower pillar cross-section, allows for a larger front quarter window, for an improved field of vision. Along with this new design, rigidity and collision safety have also been enhanced by measures including modifications to the shape of the pillar-to-roof ridgelines and optimized stiffener design.