JP2008037198A - Vehicle body structure - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To properly protect an occupant from an impact at the time of a collision of a vehicle, while maintaining a seated position of the occupant in a favorable state in a vehicle body structure of an automobile comprising a driver seat disposed at a car width center in a cabin. <P>SOLUTION: The vehicle body structure for an automobile is provided with the driver seat 6 installed at the vehicle width center on a cabin floor 5, an operation pedal 56 disposed around a forward end center in the cabin around the foot of the occupant seated on the driver seat 6, and pair of right and left front side frames 42 and 42 extended forward and backward at a front part of a vehicle body, and disposed on the vehicle width direction outer side of an installation part of the operation pedal 56. On the side surface of the cabin at the lower end of a dash panel 10 and the forward end of the cabin floor 5, frame reinforcing members 50 are provided at right and left positions corresponding to an installation part of a frame connection part 45 of a front side frame 42. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle body structure of an automobile in which a driver's seat is disposed at the center in the vehicle width direction in a vehicle interior.

In recent years, compact and lightweight automobiles have been demanded in order to reduce fuel consumption. Such an automobile requires a device for ensuring as much space as possible for an occupant in the passenger compartment while having a compact configuration. For example, in Patent Document 1 below, the driver's seat is disposed in the center of the vehicle interior in the vehicle width direction, that is, at a position away from both left and right ends of the vehicle body, so that A large space has been secured.
JP 7-156807 A

  By the way, in the compact and lightweight automobile as described above, it is necessary to properly protect the occupant from a relatively large impact received from another large vehicle or the like when the vehicle collides. For this purpose, for example, it is conceivable to enhance the rigidity of the vehicle body by appropriately reinforcing the frame constituting the vehicle body. However, if a reinforcing member for reinforcing the frame is provided in a state of protruding into the vehicle interior, depending on the installation location, etc. There is a risk that the seating posture of the occupant becomes tight because the boarding space in the passenger compartment is narrowed.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and maintains a seating posture of an occupant in a good state in a vehicle body structure in which a driver's seat is disposed in the center of a vehicle width direction in a vehicle interior. However, it aims at protecting a passenger | crew appropriately from the impact at the time of a vehicle collision.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a boarding / alighting opening formed in a side surface of a passenger compartment, a side door that opens and closes the passenger's opening / closing opening, and a dash that partitions the engine room and the passenger compartment. A passenger compartment floor installed to extend from the lower end of the panel to the rear side of the vehicle body, a driver seat installed in the center of the vehicle width direction on the passenger compartment floor, and a passenger seated on the driver seat An operation pedal disposed near the center of the front end of the vehicle interior corresponding to the foot portion, and a pair of left and right fronts that extend in the front-rear direction at the front of the vehicle body and that are disposed on the outer side in the vehicle width direction than the installation portion of the operation pedal A vehicle body structure including a side frame, wherein the front side frame includes a frame front portion extending rearward from a front portion of the engine room, and a front rear side along a lower surface of the vehicle compartment floor. A frame rear portion extending along the vehicle interior side surface at the lower end portion of the dash panel and the front end portion of the passenger compartment floor so as to connect the front portion and the rear portion of the frame, Frame reinforcement members are provided on the left and right sides of the vehicle interior side at the lower end of the dash panel and the front end of the passenger compartment floor to reinforce the frame connecting portion. (Claim 1).

  According to the present invention, a pair of left and right front side frames extending in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body from the front part of the engine room to the lower surface part of the passenger compartment floor are provided, and the front part and the rear part of the front side frame are connected to each other. The frame connecting part is reinforced by frame reinforcing members provided at the left and right two positions on the vehicle interior side at the lower end of the dash panel and the front end of the passenger compartment floor. The impact load is efficiently transmitted to the rear portion of the frame through the reinforced frame connecting portion, and the impact load is effectively dispersed and absorbed in each part of the vehicle accordingly, thereby properly protecting the passenger in the vehicle interior. be able to. Furthermore, the present invention has a driver seat disposed in the center of the vehicle width direction on the passenger compartment floor, and an operation pedal disposed near the center of the front end of the passenger compartment corresponding to the feet of the passenger seated on the driver seat. With this configuration, since the pair of front side frames can be disposed on the outer side in the vehicle width direction than the installation portion of the operation pedal, the frame provided corresponding to the installation portion of the frame connecting portion in the front side frame There is an advantage that the reinforcing member can effectively avoid a situation where the foot space of the occupant is narrowed or installation of the operation pedal at an appropriate position is hindered. As a result, it is possible to realize a vehicle body structure that can appropriately protect an occupant from an impact at the time of a vehicle collision while maintaining the seating posture of the occupant in a good state.

  When an instrument panel member extending in the vehicle width direction is installed behind the dash panel and above the frame reinforcement member, the instrument panel member and the frame reinforcement member are coupled via a coupling bracket. It is preferable to adopt a configuration (claim 2).

  If it does in this way, an instrument panel member can be reinforced with a frame reinforcement member with high rigidity, and the support rigidity can be improved effectively.

  The connection bracket includes a boss portion extending in the vehicle width direction along the instrument panel member, and a leg portion extending in the vertical direction so as to connect the boss portion and the frame reinforcing member. A steering support portion for supporting a steering for vehicle steering is provided at a position corresponding to the vehicle width direction center portion of the instrument panel member, and the boss portion offset from the installation portion of the steering support portion to the outside in the vehicle width direction. It is preferable that the upper end portion of the leg portion is coupled to the predetermined portion.

  As described above, the boss portion of the connecting bracket that extends in the vehicle width direction along the instrument panel member is provided with the steering support portion that is positioned at the center portion in the vehicle width direction of the instrument panel member and supports the steering, and the vehicle width from the steering support portion. When the upper end portion of the leg portion connecting the boss portion and the frame reinforcing member is coupled to the position offset to the outside in the direction, the relatively large 2 having the central portion in the vehicle width direction as a node is connected to the instrument panel member. There is an advantage that the support rigidity of the instrument panel member and the steering supported by the instrument panel member can be effectively improved while effectively avoiding the occurrence of the next vibration.

  In the above configuration, it is preferable to include a pair of rear seats disposed so as to overlap with the rear portion of the driver seat in a side view and sandwich the driver seat from the left and right in a plan view. 4).

  In this way, there is an advantage that the vehicle body can be configured to be compact and light while securing a relatively large foot space for the occupant.

  As described above, according to the present invention, in a vehicle body structure of an automobile in which a driver's seat is disposed at the center in the vehicle width direction in a vehicle interior, while maintaining the seating posture of a passenger in a good state, The passenger can be properly protected from the impact of the vehicle.

  FIGS. 1-5 has shown the vehicle body structure of the motor vehicle concerning one Embodiment of this invention. The automobile shown in this figure includes a boarding opening 1 and 2 formed on a side surface of a passenger compartment, side doors 3 and 4 for opening and closing the passenger opening 1 and 2 respectively, and left and right sides of the passenger compartment. A passenger compartment floor 5 extending in the front-rear direction between the side sills 11, 11 installed along the side portion, a driver seat 6 installed in the vehicle width direction center on the passenger compartment floor 5, and the driver seat A pair of rear seats 7, 8 disposed on the left and right rear sides of the seat 6, an instrument panel 40 installed at the front end of the passenger compartment, and a rearward projecting from the center of the instrument panel 40 in the vehicle width direction The vehicle is provided with a steering 9 for steering the vehicle and a pair of left and right front side frames 42, 42 extending in the front-rear direction at the front of the vehicle body.

  The vehicle compartment floor 5 includes a substantially flat front floor portion 12 installed so as to extend from the lower end portion of the dash panel 10 separating the engine compartment and the vehicle compartment to the rear side of the vehicle body, and an installation portion of the driver seat 6. The first kick-up portion 13 in which the central portion in the vehicle width direction located on the upper side is raised upward, and the central portion in the vehicle width direction located between the installation portions of the left and right rear seats 7 and 8 is from the first kick-up portion 13. And a second kick-up portion 14 that further protrudes upward. A fuel tank 15 and an exhaust pipe 37 are disposed below the first kick-up portion 13 and the second kick-up portion 14, and a vehicle is mounted on the lower surface of the rear end portion of the first kick-up portion 13. A cross member 16 extending in the width direction is provided.

  Above the first kick-up portion 13, a pair of left and right seat slide rails 17 that support the driver's seat 6 so as to be slidable in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body are installed. The seat slide rail 17 has a lower rail 19 fixed to the upper surface of the first kick-up portion 13 via a mounting bracket 18 and an upper rail 20 supported so as to be slidable along the lower rail 19. A seat cushion 21 of the driver seat 6 is supported on the upper surface of the upper rail 20. Then, the upper rail 20 that supports the seat cushion 21 slides along the lower rail 19 of the seat slide rail 17, so that the driver seat 6 is slid in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body, and the longitudinal position thereof is adjusted. It is like that.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the second kick-up portion 14 is formed with left and right seat placement portions 25 and 25 on which the seat cushions 23 of the rear seats 7 and 8 are placed. Between the left and right seat placement portions 25, 25, that is, at the center in the vehicle width direction of the second kick-up portion 14, a raised portion 27 is formed that protrudes higher than the surroundings.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the rear seats 7 and 8 placed on the left and right seat placement parts 25 and 25 in the second kick-up part 14, respectively, As shown in FIG. 1, the inclined line A is installed so that the driver's seat 6 is sandwiched from the left and right in plan view, and the front surface of each seat is set to face obliquely outward in the vehicle width direction. , A.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the fuel tank 15 is formed in a shape corresponding to the height and width dimensions of the first kick-up portion 13 and is disposed below the first kick-up portion 13. And a rear tank 33 that is connected to the rear end portion of the front tank 30 and is disposed below the second kick-up portion 14. Among these, as shown in FIG. 4, the rear tank 33 includes a pair of left and right side extending portions 35, 35 extending in the vehicle width direction along the seat placing portion 25 of the second kick-up portion 14. Between the side extension parts 35 and 35, it has the bulging part 34 which bulges upward along the protruding part 27 of the said 2nd kick-up part 14. As shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, a recess 36 for preventing interference with the cross member 16 is formed on the upper surface of the rear end portion of the front tank 30.

  2 and 5, the front side frame 42 includes a frame front portion 44 that extends rearward from the front side of the engine room, and a frame rear portion 46 that extends in the front-rear direction along the lower surface of the vehicle compartment floor 5. The frame connection disposed along the vehicle exterior side surface at the lower end portion of the dash panel 10 and the front end portion of the vehicle compartment floor 5 (front floor portion 12) so as to connect the frame front portion 44 and the frame rear portion 46. The part 45 is constructed by welding to each other. The front side frame 42 is not limited to such a three-divided structure, and may be constituted by a single frame integrally formed by pressing or the like, or may be divided at a portion different from the above. Good. In the present invention, the frame front portion 44, the frame connecting portion 45, and the frame rear portion 46 are arranged at the three positions in the front-rear direction in the front side frame 42, regardless of the division structure of the front side frame 42. It is defined by referring to each part that is provided.

  The frame front portion 44 is formed in a rectangular tube shape, and is configured so as to form a closed cross section with high rigidity. On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the frame connecting portion 45 and the frame rear portion 46 are formed in a reverse hat shape when viewed from the cross section, and the flange portion formed at the upper end opening edge thereof is the dash panel 10 or the vehicle. By being joined to the outer side surface of the compartment floor 5, a closed section is formed together with these members so as to have high rigidity. As shown in FIG. 5, the frame rear portion 46 extends to the rear of the vehicle body, and its rear end portion is joined to the cross member 16.

  The front side frame 42 configured as described above alleviates the impact caused by the collision by dispersing and absorbing the impact load input from the front end portion of the vehicle body at other parts of the vehicle body at the time of vehicle collision (front collision). And has a function of protecting passengers in the passenger compartment. Specifically, the frame front portion 44 is crushed in order from the front side according to the impact load at the time of the vehicle front collision, and the impact load is transmitted from the rear end portion to the frame connecting portion 45 and the frame rear portion 46 in this order. The impact load is transmitted to the vehicle body parts such as the passenger compartment floor 5, the side sill 11, and the cross member 16 through the rear portion 46, so that the impact associated with the collision is alleviated and the deformation of the cabin is suppressed. Yes.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, an accelerator pedal 52 and a brake pedal 54 are disposed in the vicinity of the center of the front end portion of the vehicle interior corresponding to the foot portion of the driver seat 6 (FIG. 1) disposed at the center in the vehicle width direction. An operation pedal 56 and a footrest 58 on which the occupant's left foot is placed are disposed. The pair of front side frames 42 and 42 are arranged on the outer side in the vehicle width direction than the installation portions of the operation pedal 56 and the footrest 58.

  As shown in FIGS. 2, 6, and 7, the frame of the front side frame 42 is provided on the vehicle interior side surface at the lower end portion of the dash panel 10 and the front end portion of the passenger compartment floor 5 (front floor portion 12). A pair of frame reinforcing members 50, 50 formed in a cross-sectional hat shape are provided at two positions on the left and right sides corresponding to the installation portion of the connecting portion 45, and the rigidity of the frame connecting portion 45 is increased by the frame reinforcing member 50. It is designed to be reinforced.

  An instrument panel member for supporting the instrument panel 40, an in-vehicle device such as an air conditioning unit disposed therein, the steering 9 and the like, behind the dash panel 10 and above the frame reinforcing member 50 60 is installed. The instrument panel member 60 extends in the vehicle width direction across the left and right passenger compartment side walls, and both ends thereof are fixed to the side walls via brackets 61.

  The instrument panel member 60 is connected to one of the pair of frame reinforcing members 50, 50 via a connecting bracket 62 shown in FIGS. The connecting bracket 62 is vertically connected so as to connect the boss portion 66 made of a cylindrical body or the like extending in the vehicle width direction and surrounding the outer peripheral surface of the instrument panel member 60, and the boss portion 66 and the one frame reinforcing member 50. It has leg portions 64 extending in the direction, and reinforcing ribs 68 for ensuring the rigidity of the boss portions 66 and the leg portions 64.

  The boss portion 66 is installed so as to wrap the outer peripheral surface of the instrument panel member 60 over a range from the center in the vehicle width direction in the vehicle interior to above the installation portion of the one frame reinforcing member 50. A steering support portion 70 that supports the steering shaft 9a is provided on one end side of the boss portion 66 corresponding to the center portion in the vehicle width direction. And the upper end part of the said leg part 64 is couple | bonded with the other end side of the boss | hub part 66 arrange | positioned in the position offset from the installation part of this steering support part 70 to the vehicle width direction outer side. On the other hand, the lower end portion of the leg portion 64 is fastened to the side wall of the reinforcing member 50 with a bolt or the like.

  As described above, according to the above configuration, a pair of left and right front side frames 42, 42 extending in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body from the front portion of the engine room to the lower surface portion of the vehicle compartment floor 5 are provided. Frame reinforcing members 50 are provided at two left and right locations on the vehicle interior side of the lower end portion of the dash panel 10 and the front end portion of the vehicle compartment floor 5, respectively, for connecting the frame front portion 44 and the rear portion 46 of the frame 42. Therefore, the impact load input from the front portion 44 of the frame at the time of a vehicle collision is efficiently transmitted to the rear portion 46 of the frame via the reinforced frame connecting portion 45, and the impact load is accordingly transmitted. It is possible to effectively disperse and absorb each part of the vehicle body to properly protect the passengers in the passenger compartment.

  That is, the frame connecting portion 45 formed by bending along the shape of the lower end portion of the dash panel 10 and the front end portion of the passenger compartment floor 5 is a member that is relatively difficult to provide with high rigidity alone. When such a frame reinforcing member 50 is not provided, the front part of the cabin, which is the installation part of the frame connecting part 45, is crushed intensively at the time of a vehicle collision (front collision), and the rear frame rear part 46 is efficient. Although the collision load may not be transmitted well, if the frame connecting part 45 is reinforced by the frame reinforcing member 50 as described above, the front part of the cabin is effectively prevented from being largely crushed, and at the time of the collision. The impact load is efficiently transmitted to the rear frame rear portion 46 through the frame connecting portion 45, and the vehicle compartment floor 5 is further transmitted through the frame rear portion 46. Idosyl 11, it can be transmitted to the vehicle body units such as the cross member 16. As a result, it is possible to efficiently disperse and absorb the impact load at the time of collision in each part of the vehicle body with a simple configuration, and it is possible to mitigate the impact associated with the collision and effectively suppress the deformation of the cabin.

  Further, a driver's seat 6 is disposed in the center of the vehicle width direction on the passenger compartment floor 5, and an operation pedal 56 and a footrest are located near the center of the front end of the passenger compartment corresponding to the feet of the passenger seated on the driver's seat 6. According to the above-described configuration in which 58 is disposed, the pair of front side frames 42 and 42 can be disposed on the outer side in the vehicle width direction from the installation portion of the operation pedal 56 and the like. There is an advantage that the frame reinforcing member 50 provided corresponding to the installation portion 45 can effectively avoid a situation in which the foot space of the occupant is narrowed or the operation pedal 56 is prevented from being installed at an appropriate position. . As a result, it is possible to realize a vehicle body structure that can appropriately protect an occupant from an impact at the time of a vehicle collision while maintaining the seating posture of the occupant in a good state.

  When the instrument panel member 60 extending in the vehicle width direction and the frame reinforcing member 50 are connected via the connecting bracket 62 as in the above embodiment, the members such as the instrument panel 40 and the steering wheel 9 are used. There is an advantage that the support rigidity of the instrument panel member 60 for supporting the instrument can be effectively improved.

  Further, as in the above-described embodiment, the steering support portion that supports the steering 9 is located at the boss portion 66 of the connection bracket 62 that extends in the vehicle width direction along the instrument panel member 60 and is located at the center portion of the instrument panel member 60 in the vehicle width direction. When the upper end portion of the leg portion 64 that connects the boss portion 66 and the frame reinforcing member 50 is coupled to a position offset from the steering support portion 70 in the vehicle width direction, the instrument panel member It is possible to effectively improve the support rigidity of the instrument panel member 60 and the steering wheel 9 supported by the instrument panel member 60 while effectively avoiding the occurrence of a relatively large secondary vibration having a node in the center in the vehicle width direction. There is an advantage that you can.

  That is, for example, the boss portion 66 is provided only in the vicinity of the center portion in the vehicle width direction of the instrument panel member 60, and the leg portion 64 and the boss portion 66 are adjacent to the steering support portion 70 installed in the center portion in the vehicle width direction. However, in this case, a relatively large secondary vibration is generated in the instrument panel member 60 with the center portion in the vehicle width direction (and the left and right end portions) as nodes. There is a fear. On the other hand, when the connecting portion between the leg portion 64 and the boss portion 66 is arranged at a position offset from the center portion in the vehicle width direction of the instrument panel member 60 as described above, the secondary vibration as described above is generated. Therefore, uncomfortable vibrations can be prevented from occurring in the steering wheel 9 supported by the instrument panel member 60, and passenger comfort can be maintained satisfactorily. Further, the presence of the boss portion 66 extending in the vehicle width direction along the instrument panel member 60 can effectively improve the rigidity of the instrument panel member 60, and the steering support portion 70 provided on the boss portion 66 can be improved. The steering 9 can be supported with high rigidity. Furthermore, there is an advantage that the leg portion 64 can be easily disposed avoiding the installation portion of the operation pedal 56 and the like located at the center in the vehicle width direction.

  Further, as in the above-described embodiment, a pair of left and right rear seats 7 and 8 are arranged at positions where they overlap with the rear portion of the driver seat 6 in a side view and sandwich the driver seat 6 from the left and right in a plan view. When provided, there is an advantage that the vehicle body can be configured to be compact and light while securing a relatively large foot space for the occupant.

  That is, after the driver's seat 6 is installed in the vehicle width direction center on the passenger compartment floor 5, the rear portion of the driver's seat 6 overlaps with the pair of rear seats 7, 8 in a side view. When the driver's seat 6 and the rear seats 7 and 8 are arranged close to each other, the front and rear length of the indoor space can be prevented from increasing while securing the number of passengers that can be boarded. The vehicle body can be effectively made compact and lightweight according to the above. Further, by arranging the pair of rear seats 7 and 8 at a position where the driver's seat 6 is sandwiched from the left and right in a plan view, the space on the front side of the rear seats 7 and 8 becomes the driver's seat 6. In order to effectively prevent the foot space of the rear seat occupant from being blocked by the vehicle, even under the situation where the driver seat 6 and the rear seats 7 and 8 are arranged close to each other as described above, A relatively large foot space can be secured for the passenger.

  In particular, when the left and right rear seats 7 and 8 are arranged along the inclined lines A and A set so that the front surfaces thereof face the outside of the vehicle as in the above-described embodiment, The seat width of the seats 7 and 8 can be secured sufficiently wide, and the driver's seat 6 is obstructed when the rear seat occupant indicated by the phantom line in FIG. 1 sits with his legs extended obliquely forward. There is an advantage that the foot space can be sufficiently secured without being done.

  In the above embodiment, the passenger compartment floor 5 (front floor portion 12) where the frame reinforcing member 50 is installed is formed substantially flat. However, as shown in FIG. 8, the frame reinforcing member 50 is installed. A raised portion 72 may be provided on the vehicle interior floor 5 of the portion. In this way, the rigidity of the frame connecting portion 45 can be more effectively improved by further increasing the section modulus of the installation portion of the frame reinforcing member 50, and a vehicle body structure that is superior in collision resistance performance can be realized. Can do.

It is a top view which shows the vehicle body structure concerning one Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing along the II-II line of FIG. It is sectional drawing along the III-III line of FIG. It is sectional drawing along the IV-IV line of FIG. It is a top view which shows the structure of a vehicle interior floor part. It is a perspective view which shows the front part of a vehicle interior. It is sectional drawing along the VII-VII line of FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the deformation | transformation Example of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 2 Entry / exit opening part 3, 4 Side door 5 Car compartment floor 6 Driver's seat 7, 7 Rear seat 9 Steering 10 Dash panel 42 Front side frame 44 Frame front part 45 Frame connection part 46 Frame rear part 50 Frame reinforcement member 56 Operation Pedal 60 Instrument Panel Member 62 Connection Bracket 64 Leg 66 Boss 70 Steering Support

Claims (4)

Installed to extend to the rear side of the vehicle body from the lower end of the dash panel that divides the engine room and the passenger compartment, the side door that opens and closes the passenger door, and the entrance door formed on the side of the passenger compartment A vehicle seat floor, a driver's seat installed at the center of the vehicle width direction on the vehicle floor, and a center of the front end of the passenger compartment corresponding to the feet of a passenger seated on the driver's seat A vehicle body structure including an operation pedal and a pair of left and right front side frames that extend in the front-rear direction at a front portion of the vehicle body and are disposed on the outer side in the vehicle width direction than the installation portion of the operation pedal,
The front side frame is configured to connect a frame front portion extending rearward from the front portion of the engine room, a frame rear portion extending in the front-rear direction along the lower surface of the vehicle compartment floor, and the frame front portion and the rear portion. A frame connecting portion disposed along a vehicle exterior side surface at a lower end portion of the dash panel and a front end portion of the vehicle compartment floor;
Frame reinforcement members are provided on the left and right sides of the vehicle interior side at the lower end of the dash panel and the front end of the passenger compartment floor to reinforce the frame connecting portion. Body structure characterized by The vehicle body structure according to claim 1,
An instrument panel member extending in the vehicle width direction is installed behind the dash panel and above the frame reinforcing member,
A vehicle body structure, wherein the instrument panel member and the frame reinforcing member are connected via a connecting bracket. The vehicle body structure according to claim 2,
The connection bracket has a boss portion extending in the vehicle width direction along the instrument panel member, and a leg portion extending in the vertical direction so as to connect the boss portion and the frame reinforcing member,
The boss portion is provided with a steering support portion for supporting a steering for vehicle steering at a position corresponding to the center portion of the instrument panel member in the vehicle width direction. A vehicle body structure characterized in that an upper end portion of the leg portion is coupled to a predetermined portion of the boss portion offset to. The vehicle body structure according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A vehicle body structure comprising a pair of rear seats that overlap with a rear portion of the driver seat in a side view and are disposed so as to sandwich the driver seat from the left and right in a plan view.

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