A hybrid impact beam, suitable for use as a reinforced impact beam in vehicle bumpers, includes an extruded aluminum section, a fiber reinforced polymeric (FRP) section, and a structural adhesive bonding them together. The components are arranged so that during an impact, the aluminum section experiences compression and receives the direct impact, the FRP section experiences tension, and the adhesive experiences minimal stress by being on a neutral plane of the beam's bending moment. The extruded aluminum beam is preferably extruded as an open section, but becomes a closed section when the polymeric section is attached. The FRP section is preferably a continuous carbon fiber reinforced polymeric section, although different reinforcements can be used. A related method includes bonding an extruded aluminum and fiber-reinforced polymeric section together to form a closed bumper impact beam.