BUMPER ARRANGEMENT

The invention relates to a bumper arrangement for a motor vehicle with a bumper which is mounted in such a way that it can be moved between a rest position and an operating position, a spring energy store which acts on the bumper and is prestressed in the rest position of the bumper, a locking device which holds the bumper in the rest and/or operating position, a control unit which actuates the locking device as a function of signals from an accident detection sensor system, and means for returning the bumper from an operating position to the rest position. When the locking device is unlocked, the spring energy store moves the bumper abruptly into an operating position, in which the bumper absorbs in a purely elastic manner impact loads resulting from relative velocities of up to 8 km/h between the motor vehicle and an obstacle.