The Front end of a vehicle is the aggregate of components located in its front part which carry out many functions (esthetical, structural, aerodynamical, engine cooling, safety) and which are preassembled as subassembly ready to be installed into the vehicle.
The Front end is based on a structural carrier (in plastics with local metal reinforcements) on which the following main components are assembled:
- headlamps
- bonnet lock
- horns
- fan shroud
- water radiator
- condenser
- fan
- fan controller
- wiring harness
- crash-box beam
Furthermore, for top versions, the following components can be added:
- intercooler
- oil cooler
- cruise control sensor
- crash sensor
The Front end is a basic part of the vehicle chassis and external style and has to accomplish the following functions:
- style in order to make pleasant to sight and touch the different surfaces and the fit and finish between the esthetical components
- active safety allowing through the headlamps a correct visibility in all environmental conditions and through the cruise control sensor to keep the correct distance from the preceding vehicle
- passive safety absorbing energy during the crash and allowing through the crash sensor the timely air-bags explosion
- protection of the other road users (pedestrians, cyclists) assuring an adequate space between the vehicle external surfaces and the underlying components
- stiffness collaborating during both driving and crashes to vehicle chassis structural function
- aerodynamics and cooling carrying out an optimal air flow both for engine cooling system components operation (during both normal and low speed driving) and for permeability increase
Car makers requirements have in the last years rapidly changed imposing to the biggest suppliers a complete reorganisation both from technical and management point of view , as they have to move from components suppliers to systems and modules suppliers.
DENSO Thermal Systems S.p.A. has carried out this process extending its own competence area from engine cooling systems to the development and assembly of complete Front end modules.