A motor vehicle includes two hinge joints to swingably connect a front gate to the vehicle body. Each hinge joint includes a body-side hinge lower part and a gate-side hinge upper part that includes an upper part portion swingably arranged on another upper part portion, with the upper part portions being detachably secured by a locking member. Pivot struts swingably connect the hinge lower and upper parts to one another, with one pivot strut including a strut portion arranged on an upper part portion and movable translatorily in relation to another strut portion. To raise the front gate for protection, an actuator is activated to thereby release the locking member and pivot one upper part portion relative to the other one upper part portion, thereby translatorily moving one strut portion relative to the other strut portion, and with the one upper part portion pivoting relative to the other pivot strut.