A vehicle engine compartment hood is provided for a vehicle body having a
hood opening. A hood panel normally closes the engine compartment. A hood
base panel underlies the hood panel and is pivotally mounted on the
vehicle body for pivotal opening movement to lift the hood panel and
allow access to the engine compartment through the hood opening. A
mechanism acts between the hood panel and the hood base panel for
selectively elevating the hood panel above the hood base panel and the
hood opening when the vehicle is in a pedestrian rich environment. The
mechanism absorbs energy when an impact is received against the hood
panel.