D Car — July 2004

“Wait, this is a kit? I want one!” Mr. Ito explains how the tilt-up bonnet came about. “I thought, why not have a bonnet that opens forward? I just happened to think of it (laughs).” There was a reason for the idea: “You often see cars at shows with the bonnet open to display the engine, right? But if the point is to show the engine, shouldn’t the bonnet open this way?”

Weld releases...

A close look at the tilt-up bonnet kit!!

Kit overview

Currently fits the Mark II only… but wait! A Honda version is confirmed, too!!

Hyaku-shiki (Type 100)

The kit includes custom link arms to control the movement, bonnet support brackets, and even a carbon-fiber bonnet—all for ¥98,000, under ¥100,000. A pretty good deal, right? Weld tilt-up carbon bonnet kit

¥98,000

JZX100

Compatible model

“…you can show off the bonnet. If you have taken the trouble to apply vinyl and make it look good, of course you want people to see it. Don’t you think it should open like this?” This tilt-up bonnet is a kit, not a one-off. It currently fits only the JZX100, but Civic and Integra versions are in development. Stay tuned!

Brackets

Bonnet

The outer panel is carbon fiber!

Kit contents

First, it looks cool—and…

The hood striker (latch) is reused from the stock car, so the kit is surprisingly simple. The bonnet itself needs modification to fit a stock one, so a dedicated bonnet is available.

Vol. 1

“Using hood pins would be the easiest, but then it would simply open—there would be no clever trick. That is why I deliberately kept the stock striker…” — President Ito

The link arm loops around the other parts in a U shape to support the bonnet. The four pieces inside are bonnet support brackets.

A custom carbon bonnet has molded recesses for the link-arm mounts near the hood section. The pictured early prototype is made of FRP.

“…and went with that.”

How the system works

Bonnet

Front grille-side bracket

The offset system that clears the grille is the key! A simple forward-opening bonnet would hit the grille. Instead, it first lifts upward, then shifts forward before opening. That clever mechanism is the key detail.

When opening…

When…

When closing…

As the link arm folds like this, it shifts the bonnet forward.

How does it move?

This recess secures the link arm to the bonnet.

The bracket folds…

The bonnet and link arms fit together like this. The side piece of the bar at the top of the link arm is the bracket that attaches to the body.

Rotates in this direction

Rotates in direction 2

Here is a simple diagram of how Weld’s tilt-up bonnet works. To release it from the striker, you first open it upward as usual. The link arms then fold, shifting the bonnet forward to open.

With the striker released, it still looks just like a normal bonnet at first.

Then the bonnet slides forward. This unique action makes people stop and ask, “What is going on?!”

This is the bonnet shifted forward. See how it moves ahead? This clears it from the grille.

Then all that remains is to lift the bonnet up and let it swing open. The engine…

The link arms are installed on a JZX100 and shown open. You can clearly see how they fold forward and shift the bonnet.

A'PEXi

Windshield-side bracket (body)

Windshield-side bracket (bonnet)

It is received like this

This body-side bracket catches the bonnet when it is closed. It is installed beside the engine bay, at the rear near the bulkhead.

…as the bonnet slides forward.

The body-mounted bracket is shaped like a guide rail. The bonnet-side bracket has a collar that slides along it…

A bracket is installed at the rear edge on each side of the bonnet. The round white collars are important: they create a sliding joint with the body-side bracket.

D Car — July 2004

About this issue

Page 57 — English draft translation