Mazda Develops Impact-Absorbing Structure for Aluminum Hood to Enhance Pedestrian Protection (http://www.media.mazda.com/news_release/product_info/2003/0402e.html)

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Good find, Good Duck!
I guess I never considered that automakers (specifically Mazda) were designing components to better protect pedestrians.

I also found it interesting the hood of the RX-8 weighs less than the Maita's, and this design of hood will be incorporated in other Mazda models.

Thanks again.

Yeah... and when you park your new Rx-8 in the driveway for the first time overnight, the neighbors cat is going to come pay a visit and put some lovely dents in that aluminum hood... :D

Good find indeed! I was wondering how that worked. Apparently, other manufacturers are designing bumpers with pedestrian in mind.

I wonder if this hood will help Bambi next time we meet on the freeway...

The demo at the Rev it Up on San Francisco had a Aluminum hood.. many FC's and all FDs had aluminm hoods, no problems with random animals leaving dents. =p

Originally posted by MarkRx
Yeah... and when you park your new Rx-8 in the driveway for the first time overnight, the neighbors cat is going to come pay a visit and put some lovely dents in that aluminum hood... :D
It'll be garaged EVERY night. :D

Just gotta make sure none of our friends will get the crazy idea of sitting on our hood and take a picture !