a front end assembly for a motor vehicle is provided including a u - shaped cross - car support member capable of being spot welded to a pair of cowl members and a pair of rail members . the u - shaped cross - car support member preferably comprises a hydroformed tube having a lower section disposed laterally with respect to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle , a pair of upwardly projecting side sections extending essentially orthogonal to the lower section , and a pair of outwardly projecting end sections extending essentially orthogonal to the upright sections so as to be nearly parallel to the lower section . a cowl bracket is connected to each of the end sections and is spot welded to each of the cowl members . similarly , a rail bracket is connected to each of the side sections and is spot welded to each of the rails . advantageously , the ability to spot weld the cowl and rail brackets enables the u - shaped support member to be installed within the front end assembly in a high speed automated process . further , the welds between the support member and the cowls and rails substantially strengthens the cross - car stiffness of the front end assembly .