The present invention relates to the use, at the front of a motor vehicle, of a fender and of a hood defining a fender-hood junction leaving predetermined clearance between an edge of the hood and an edge of the fender, in combination with an air bag for deploying to the outside of the vehicle. This use is performed in such a manner that while the air bag is deploying, it deforms the fender and/or the hood in such as a manner as to enlarge the clearance and create a passage between the edge of the hood and the edge of the fender. The invention also relates to retaining means and to a fender support, to a fender, to a fender module, and to a hood for a motor vehicle.