A bolster system for a vehicle comprising: a frame structure provided on said vehicle, said frame structure comprising a cross-bar beam and one or more extension beams extending therefrom; and a bolster assembly for mounting to said vehicle, said bolster assembly comprising a body; and wherein said bolster assembly is further characterized by a plurality of brackets provided on a front surface of said body, said brackets being arranged in paired sets, wherein each of said paired sets of brackets is comprised of a first bracket and a second bracket that are disposed in relation to each other to have a first surface and a second surface, respectively, that face each other; and a plurality of energy absorbing elements, wherein each energy absorbing element is operably associated with a respective bracket, and wherein within each paired set of brackets said energy absorbing element associated with the first bracket is disposed to extend from the first surface of the first bracket and said energy absorbing element associated with the second bracket is disposed to extend from the second surface of the second bracket such that said energy absorbing elements of each paired set of brackets are in adjacent relationship separated by a gap, wherein each of said paired sets of brackets is aligned such that a respective extension beam extends therebetween, said extension beam having a width greater than said gap, and wherein upon a crash event and forward displacement of said body, each of said paired sets of brackets is configured to engage said respective extension beam with said energy absorbing elements deforming during said forward displacement to absorb energy. a frame structure provided on said vehicle, said frame structure comprising a cross-bar beam and one or more extension beams extending therefrom; and a bolster assembly for mounting to said vehicle, said bolster assembly comprising a body; and wherein said bolster assembly is further characterized by a plurality of brackets provided on a front surface of said body, said brackets being arranged in paired sets, wherein each of said paired sets of brackets is comprised of a first bracket and a second bracket that are disposed in relation to each other to have a first surface and a second surface, respectively, that face each other; and a plurality of energy absorbing elements, wherein each energy absorbing element is operably associated with a respective bracket, and wherein within each paired set of brackets said energy absorbing element associated with the first bracket is disposed to extend from the first surface of the first bracket and said energy absorbing element associated with the second bracket is disposed to extend from the second surface of the second bracket such that said energy absorbing elements of each paired set of brackets are in adjacent relationship separated by a gap, wherein each of said paired sets of brackets is aligned such that a respective extension beam extends therebetween, said extension beam having a width greater than said gap, and wherein upon a crash event and forward displacement of said body, each of said paired sets of brackets is configured to engage said respective extension beam with said energy absorbing elements deforming during said forward displacement to absorb energy.