Abstract: A vehicle airflow control apparatus (900) has an air inlet (902) at the rear quarter glass (906) of the vehicle and ducting (908) leading via an openable joint (912) and rear ducting (912) past a bend (916) to an exit blowing aperture (918), a concertina element (928) allowing duct movement, the openable joint having a self-alignment cup (938) with wedging inner sides (944, 946), an interface seal connecting the rear ducting and the cup, a deployable spoiler (920) having a drive system (978), 10 outboard positional control of the spoiler being provided by a rod (998) with cone surfaces (1000, 1002).

Abstract: A wheel carrier assembly (104) for a vehicle (110) is clamped on a frame (14) and a carbon composite brake disc 41 of the assembly is bedded by pneumatically applying the brake pads to the brake disc so as to heat the disc in cycles, the wheel carrier assembly then being removed from the frame and fitted to the vehicle.

Abstract: A decklid (12) for an automobile (10) has an integral aerofoil (24) providing an aero duct (26) between the aerofoil (24) and an upper face section (16) of the decklid (12), the aerofoil (24) being produced hollow using a mandrel (106) to consolidate workpiece material (133) of the (aerofoil 24) inside a void (132) within mould parts (102), (104), the method and apparatus providing the decklid (12) with smoothly merging and continuous A surfaces, as well as smoothly merging B surfaces.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a structural composites component in a mold comprising first and second mold halves is provided. The method comprises the steps of providing a fiber or fabric preform, providing a resin layer that is separate from the preform, inserting one of the preform or the resin layer into the first mold half of the mold, then separately inserting the other of the preform or the resin layer into the first mold half such that the one of the preform or the resin layer is disposed on top of the other of the preform or the resin layer in the first mold half. The second mold half is then closed over the first mold half and the mold is pressurized in a compression press to cause the resin film to impregnate the preform, the mold being maintained at a constant temperature throughout the method of manufacture.

Abstract: A vehicle assembly comprising a vehicle body panel and hinge means connecting the vehicle body panel to a vehicle structure, spacing means arranged with the hinge means for maintaining at least a part of the vehicle body panel in a predetermined spacing from the vehicle structure when the hinge means is in a first position, the spacing means being configured to suffer substantially brittle failure when a predetermined load is applied thereto.