Abstract: A motor car (10) has windows (28, 49) which can have a first H1 fully closed position and a lower H2 position in which water tightness is still provided but opening of a frameless window assembly/door assembly can be achieved more quickly from the point in time in which the door handle 44, 46) is operated. The Hi position may be selected as the vehicle accelerates above a given speed and the H2 position may be selected when the vehicle door is closed, and the window may also have a short-drop H3 lower re-spool H4 position or in the case of a rear window a three quarter lowered H5 position.

Abstract: A crash load absorption structure for a motor vehicle. The structure includes a compressible load absorbing structure. The compressible load absorbing structure includes a front portion and a rear portion. The front portion and the rear portion are arranged to compress under a crash load along a generally longitudinal direction. The compressible load absorbing structure also includes a structural joint located within the compressible load absorbing structure, the joint is between at least two structural members. A load transfer element is configured to promote breaking of the structural joint during a vehicle crash.

Abstract: A window assembly (118) comprises: a window regulator (144) for driving a main window (124) up and down, a connection system (196) with a latch (198), a division bar (122), and quarter-light window (206) which may be driven down by the regulator (144) to a controlled index position at which the latch (198) disengages such that the quarter-light may be left in a slightly lowered index position while the main window may be further lowered, the latch reengaging once the main window is raised again, the raising and lowering of the quarter-light window (120) enabling the quarter-light to securely engage with a seal (246) positioned between its top edge (204) and an A-pillar (106) of the vehicle (100) and also allowing a door to which the assembly to be opened and closed without interference between the quarter-light and the seal (246).

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a structural composites component in a mould comprising first and second mould halves is provided. The method comprises the steps of providing a fibre 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 mould half of the mould, then separately inserting the other of the preform or the resin layer into the first mould 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 mould half. The second mould half is then closed over the first mould half and the mould is pressurised in a compression press to cause the resin film to impregnate the preform, the mould being maintained at a constant temperature throughout the method of manufacture.

Abstract: A motor vehicle front subframe includes a pair of main longitudinal beams each formed from an extrusion with a flange casting at the rear end and a suspension tower at the other end. Two lower longitudinal beams extend parallel to the main longitudinal beams and are connected by a cross member. Each lower longitudinal beam has a horizontal front flange where it is attached to a corresponding flange face at the lower end of the adjacent suspension tower. Two intermediate longitudinal beams are attached to the suspension towers and to a main cross-member and forward are two crush cans to which is attached a bumper armature. The vehicle has a body with a passenger compartment and vertical pillars just forward of the passenger compartment. Suitable bolts or set screws are then inserted to secure the front subframe to the body and the rear subframe is attached to the body.

Abstract: An oil tank for a dry sump engine has a housing having an upper region and a lower region in which the oil is contained. The lower region has an oil outlet to feed a pump which supplies oil to the engine. The upper region houses a swirl tube connected to an oil inlet for air to separate from the incoming oil. The upper region includes an air outlet and is provided with two dished baffle plates each shaped to form a collector area which slopes towards the swirl tube in order to reduce droplets of condensation formed in the upper region flowing into the lower region. The wall of the swirl tube is heated by the incoming oil to promote vaporization of droplets of condensation collected in the collector area.

Abstract: The present invention relates to (with reference to FIG. 3) a land vehicle having a pillar (16) which is a structural component of the vehicle and which is secured in position by setting of a root portion of the pillar (16) in resinous material (20) provided in a cavity defined in a pillar support structure (15).